Racin' & Internet Stuff:

By Tom Avenengo

Volume # 109

09/13/2012

First:

Starting off a little different this week with a little about how to make most any car a hybrid:

The Kit That Turns Any Car into A Hybrid

Even with an increasing number of car manufacturers building hybrid cars, it's hard for a lot of people to justify buying a new car for an extra 10 miles per gallon in fuel savings.

But a former IBM engineer and current professor at Middle Tennessee State University named Charles Perry and his students have designed a hybrid retrofit kit that may soon turn any gas powered car or truck into a hybrid.

It's been in the works for the past few years, but the technology is getting closer to becoming a reality. We spoke with Professor Perry this week to find out more.

Prof. Perry's design takes a lot of the confusion out of hybrid technology, making it more realistic and accessible to car owners. The kit attaches to the rear wheels of just about any car or truck, and is powered by a lithium ion battery in the trunk. Sure, not everyone could install it themselves, but Perry insists that if you can change your brakes, you can install the kit.

When it comes to market he hopes to retail the kit for around $3,000, with battery costs as the main factor in determining the price.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/this-could-be-big-abc-news/kit-turns-car-hybrid-170717691.html

Second:

If you don’t want to read about politics and the current administration, and what has, and what could happen, you might want to skip this part of the column. It is a tad bit lengthy, but quite interesting, none the less!

From an e-mail that was forwarded to me:

TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL PERSUASION. PLEASE READ THIS AND LET IT SINK IN. WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS IN OUR HISTORY. JR

anyone interprets the following as "nonsense" is and perhaps chooses to be uninformed. Do so at your own and our country's risk.

Carol

----- PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG...

Read over the following article and let it sink in. We no longer have the checks and balances that our founding fathers gave us. What muscle does the congress have? They do not control any part of the military, FBI, Border Patrol, ICE, and the list goes on. All of those police and military force type agencies fall under the executive branch. The only power the congress has is the purse and with a president who is willing to force the issue by shutting things down congress will yield. Forget the courts. Who can enforce their rulings? The executive branch does. The last four years have painted us into a corner that can only be solved by changing presidents. This election is for ALL of the marbles and don't ever forget that.

HE DOESN'T EVEN SPELL OUT THE DISASTER THAT HE COULD DO TO THE SUPREME COURT FOR YEARS TO COME.

What you are about to read is accurate and it is scary.

From: John Porter

To: Americans everywhere

I was sitting at my keyboard halfway through my writing a letter to you about how Barack Obama was fulfilling his pledge to "Transform America" by "Changing the fundamentals of America," so that our government would become the plantation, he the owner, and we the slaves, when this article by Steve McCann appeared in my in box. After checking it for accuracy, and finding it to be so, I put my writing on hold and here present it to you, for I could not say it better.

Obama's Second Term Transformation Plans

The 2012 election has often been described as the most pivotal since 1860.This statement is not hyperbole. If Barack Obama is re-elected the United States will never be the same, nor will it be able to re-capture its once lofty status as the most dominant nation in the history of mankind.

The overwhelming majority of Americans do not understand that Obama's first term was dedicated to putting in place executive power to enable him and the administration to fulfill the campaign promise of "transforming America " in his second term regardless of which political party controls Congress. That is why his re-election team is virtually ignoring the plight of incumbent or prospective Democratic Party office holders.

The most significant accomplishment of Obama's first term was to make Congress irrelevant. Under the myopic and blindly loyal leadership of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, the Democrats have succeeded in creating an imperial and, in a second term, a potential dictatorial presidency.

During the first two years of the Obama administration when the Democrats overwhelming controlled both Houses of Congress and the media was in an Obama worshipping stupor, a myriad of laws were passed and actions taken which transferred virtually unlimited power to the executive branch.

The birth of multi-thousand page laws was not an aberration. This tactic was adopted so the bureaucracy controlled by Obama appointees would have sole discretion in interpreting vaguely written laws and enforcing thousands of pages of regulations they and not Congress would subsequently write.

For example, in the 2,700 pages of ObamaCare there are more than 2,500 references to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. There are more than 700 instances when he or she is instructed that they "shall" do something and more than 200 times when they "may" take at their sole discretion some form of regulatory action. On 139 occasions, the law mentions that the "Secretary determines." In essence one person, appointed by and reporting to the president, will be in charge of the health care of 310 million Americans once ObamaCare is fully operational in 2014.

The same is true in the 2,319 pages of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act which confers nearly unlimited power on various agencies to control by fiat the nation's financial, banking and investment sectors. The bill also creates new agencies, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, not subject to any oversight by Congress. This overall process was repeated numerous times with other legislation all with the intent of granting unfettered power to the executive branch controlled by Barack Obama and his radical associates.

Additionally, the Obama administration has, through its unilaterally determined rule making and regulatory powers, created laws out of whole cloth. The Environmental Protection Agency on a near daily basis issues new regulations clearly out of their purview in order to modify and change environmental laws previously passed and to impose a radical green agenda never approved by Congress. The same is true of the Energy and Interior Departments among many others.

None of these extra-constitutional actions have been challenged by Congress. The left in America knows this usurpation of power is nearly impossible to reverse unless stopped in its early stages.

It is clearly the mindset of this administration and its appointees that Congress is merely a nuisance and can be ignored after they were able to take full advantage of the useful idiots in the Democrat controlled House and Senate in 2009-2010 and the Democrat Senate in the current Congress.

Additionally, Barack Obama knows after his re-election a Republican controlled House and Senate will not be able to enact any legislation to roll back the power previously granted to the Executive Branch or usurped by them. His veto will not be overridden as there will always be at least 145 Democratic members of the House or 34 in the Senate in agreement with or intimidated by an administration more than willing to use Chicago style political tactics.

The stalemate between the Executive and Legislative Branches will inure to the benefit of Barack Obama and his fellow leftists.

The most significant power Congress has is the control of the purse-strings as all spending must be approved by them. However, once re-elected, Barack Obama, as confirmed by his willingness to do or say anything and his unscrupulous re-election tactics, would not only threaten government shutdowns but would deliberately withhold payments to those dependent on government support as a means of intimidating and forcing a Republican controlled Congress to surrender to his demands, thus neutering their ability to control the administration through spending constraints.

Further, this administration has shown contempt for the courts by ignoring various court orders, e.g. the Gulf of Mexico oil drilling moratorium, as well as stonewalling subpoenas and requests issued by Congress. The Eric Holder Justice Department has become the epitome of corruption as part of the most dishonest and deceitful administration in American history. In a second term the arrogance of Barack Obama and his minions will become more blatant as he will not have to be concerned with re-election.

Who will be there to enforce the rule of law, a Supreme Court ruling or the Constitution? No one. Barack Obama and his fellow-travelers will be unchallenged as they run roughshod over the American people.

Many Republicans and conservatives dissatisfied with the prospect of Mitt Romney as the nominee for president are insteadfocused on re-taking the House and Senate. That goal, while worthy and necessary, is meaningless unless Barack Obama is defeated . The nation is not dealing with a person of character and integrity but someone of single-minded purpose and overwhelming narcissism. Judging by his actions, words and deeds during his first term, he does not intend to work with Congress, either Republican or Democrat in his second term but rather to force his radical agenda on the American people through the power he has usurped or been granted.

The governmental structure of the United States was set up by the founders in the hope that over the years only those people of high moral character and integrity would assume the reins of power. However, knowing that was not always possible, they dispersed power over three distinct and independent branches as a check on each other.

What they could not imagine is the surrender and abdication of its constitutional duty by the preeminent governmental branch, the Congress, to a chief executive devoid of any character or integrity coupled with a judiciary essentially powerless to enforce the law when the chief executive ignores them.

Conservatives, Libertarians, the Republican Party and Mitt Romney must come to grips with this moment in time and their historical role in denying Barack Obama and his minions their ultimate goal. All resources must be directed at that end-game and not merely controlling Congress and the various committee chairmanships.

Steve McCann

May 12, 2012

I would add but 6 words to those above mentioned, Conservatives, Libertarians, the Republican Party and Mitt Romney, to say "and we the American people," must also come to grips with this moment in time and our role in denying Barack Obama his life long goal of "transforming" us into his slaves working on his government plantation.

Please forward this to all you can, maybe together we can save America for ourselves and those who will follow after us.

May God bless America,

John Porter 118 Approach Drive

Harrison, Arkansas 72601

870-741-4119

Third:

It was back 52 years ago, on September 11^th, 1960, when Joan Marie Rose said: “I do” to a question asked of her. I too said the same thing when it was asked of me. It’s been a blast – 5 kids – all great, 17 grandchildren – all great, and nine great grandchildren, with one more on the way. Through the tough times and the good times, we’ve survived. Hoping our health issues are behind us, now. Special thanks to our kids, Judy, Sandy, Tom Jr, Eric and Sarah, for being so great, and so helpful along the way!

Fourth:

2012 New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Pioneer Inductees Announced

Twenty racing pioneers considered central to the success of the sport in New England during its formative era will be inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday, November 18 at the Speedway Clubhouse located on the grounds of the Thompson International Speedway in Thompson, Connecticut.

Just completed, the selection follows a lengthy voting process administered by a committee of the region’s foremost auto racing historians.

Slated for induction are stock car drivers Tony Mordino, Sparky Belmont, Hank Stevens, Ed Patnode, Johnny Georgiades, Wally Silva, and Ray Brown.

Midget racing standouts Eddie Casterline, George Rice, Al Pillion, Billy Tibbert, Frank Simonetti, Charlie Ethier, and George Monson round-out the open-wheel inductees.

Completing the list of those entering the Hall of Fame are car owners Anthony “Beebe” Zalenski, Ed Stone, Wen Kelley, Bob Oliver, Gordon Ross, and owner & promoter of Connecticut’s former Plainville Stadium, Joe Tinty.

In the coming weeks additional information will be released providing a more in-depth look at each inductee’s accomplishments in the sport.

Many past HOF inductees have confirmed that they’ll be attending the ceremony.

In addition to the inductions, among the day’s activities will be a good-natured “Roast” of the Hall’s members administered by some of the region’s top raceway media figures including among others, Rollie Jacobs, John Spence, Pete Falconi, Ben Dodge, and Matt Buckler.

Several memorabilia exhibits will be part of the celebration, and the popular Pronyne Mobile Museum will be present for attendees desiring an “up-close & personal” view of the sports beginnings via our region’s only museum. Renowned Eastern racing photographer John Grady is attending, and with him he’ll bring his vast file of racing photographs. Lew Boyd’s Coastal 181 Publishing will also set-up shop for those looking to add to their personal auto racing libraries.

Doors open at 10:00 am, with dinner to be served at 1:00. Tickets are economically-priced at $35.00. Reservations may be made by sending payment to NEAR Pioneer Banquet, Box 172, Milldale, Connecticut, 06467.

For additional information, contact NEAR President Val LeSieur at 508.238.7797 or email vallesieur@aol.com

Since 1998, NEAR has inducted over one-hundred individuals into the New England Auto Racers Hall Of Fame, which is administered by the New England Antique Racers. Notable inductees include Richie Evans, Ron Bouchard, Bugs Stevens, Rene Charland, Pete Hamilton, Fred DeSarro, Ed Flemke, Sr. and Billy Greco among others.

Note: A photo of George Rice is towards the end of this column.

Fifth:

Undocumented Immigrant Drivers License Law Fails to Boost Number of Insured

When New Mexico began issuing driver’s licenses to non-citizens in 2003, then-Governor Bill Richardson had argued the policy would reduce the high number of uninsured drivers in the state.

Nearly a decade later, national statistics indicate the law failed to live up to its expectations.

New Mexico continues to rank near the top of the list of states with the most uninsured drivers, consistently registering nearly twice the national average, according to the Insurance Research Council.

Gas Prices Hit $8 in NJ in Lukoil Protest

Dozens of Lukoil franchise owners also gathered to protest at a station in this central New Jersey town where the posted prices were an eye-popping $8.99 a gallon.

More than 50 Lukoil gas stations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania jacked up prices to more than $8 a gallon Wednesday to protest what they say are unfair pricing practices by Lukoil North America that leave them at a competitive disadvantage.

Dozens of Lukoil franchise owners also gathered to protest at a station in this central New Jersey town where the posted prices were an eye-popping $8.99 a gallon.

The owners and the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience, Automotive Association said the protest was aimed at raising consumer awareness about the challenges facing Lukoil dealers and getting the company to respond to dealer grievances.

Station owners said Lukoil charges them more for gasoline than other companies charge their franchisees, forcing them to pass that increase onto consumers. It is not uncommon, they said, to see a competitor selling gas to the public for considerably less than what they're paying Lukoil per gallon.

WE WILL BE RUNNING OUR 358 MODIFIEDS NEXT (THIS) SATURDAY. WE WILL ALSO BE HOLDING A MEMORIAL FOR JC FLACH NEXT (THIS) SATURDAY AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL DRIVERS (COMPETING AND NON COMPETING) TO ATTEND.. THANK YOU.

Sun. Nov. 4

The L.V. 29th Annual SUPER SWAPMEET With Over 500 Vendors | Vendor Gates @ 6am | Front Gate @ 8am - 4pm RAIN OR SHINE!!

Found on Jayski’s website:

http://www.jayski.com/

Phoenix Racing could close shop at end of 2012 season:

James Finch, a 20-year-plus veteran NASCAR team owner, who this year has been fielding #51 Chevrolets for Kurt Busch, says unless there is a big change in economics in this sport "I'll have to hang it up at the end of this season." Finch says the new 2013 NASCAR stockers will obsolete his entire fleet of race cars. "I'll have to throw everything away," Finch says. Finch has no major sponsor this season, and his hauler here is painted stark black. He used Hendrick engineering, at a price of course, and he leased Hendrick engines, at a price too of course.(MikeMulhern.net)(9-8-2012)

Patrick still looking for Indy 500 ride:

Danica Patrick said she is still looking for an opportunity to race in the Indianapolis 500 next season if she can get a competitive ride. "I'd like to if it's with the right team," Patrick said at Richmond International Raceway. "If it's not, then there is no point for me. I feel like I'd still be able to get in a seat and get comfortable with the amount of practice time there is in Indy and have a shot to win the race. But again, if I don't have a shot to win the race or feel like it's a real opportunity, then I am not going to do it." Patrick made seven Indy 500 starts, with a best finish of third in 2009 the highest ever finish for a woman in the field. She left IndyCar at the end of last year for NASCAR and is scheduled to run the full Sprint Cup season in 2013. In that Cup job with Stewart-Haas Racing, Patrick would be committed to run NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day as the Indy 500. The last driver to run both races on the same day was Robby Gordon in 2003.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-8-2012)

RCR considering Kurt Busch:

The owner of Richard Childress Racing has discussed putting 2004 Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch in a fourth car next season if sponsorship can be found. "I have talked to Kurt about running a full season with a fourth team if we had sponsorship,'' Childress told ESPN.com on Friday at Richmond International Raceway. "He's a very, very talented driver. I like Kurt. Kurt and I would get along. There's just not a sponsor out there today that can fill a complete car.'' Busch through a team public relations representative said he had nothing to add to Childress' comments. Childress said he should know his entire driver lineup by mid-October. He plans to field three Sprint Cup teams with drivers Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Jeff Burton, as well as three Nationwide teams. Childress' grandson Austin Dillon will drive one of the full-time Nationwide cars with grandson Ty Dillon driving 8-10 Nationwide races while running a full-time Truck Series schedule. "He and I would get along, and he would listen to me,'' Childress said of Busch. "One thing he needs is somebody, when he does do wrong, to discuss how to handle it.'' Busch has spent this season driving for underfunded and primarily unsponsored #51 Phoenix Racing. Phoenix Racing general manager Steve Barkdoll told ESPN.com recently that owner James Finch would welcome Busch back in 2013 if sponsorship was found.(ESPN)(9-8-2012)

Petty to Chevy?:

According to sources, principals from RPM met with Richard Childress Racing management earlier this week to discuss the possibility of becoming a satellite team similar to the relationship that the Welcome, N.C.-based organization has with #78 Furniture Row Racing. "No comment on anything because I don't have a clue what's going on," Richard Petty said. "When we get everything squared away, we'll talk to you. Other than that, there ain't nothing. There ain't nothing there 'til we bring something there, and right now we have nothing." Sources say the move to Chevrolet would include technical support from the manufacturer in the form of sheet metal, wind tunnel time and engineering. Petty Enterprises last ran Pontiacs under the General Motors banner before switching to Dodge in 2001.(FoxSports)(9-8-2012)

Ambrose hopes to return to the #9 in 2013:

#9-Marcos Ambrose admitted Thursday that his contract status remains unsettled for next season and beyond at Richard Petty Motorsports, which fields his #9 Ford. "Does that worry me? Yeah, that worries me a little bit," Ambrose said. "I've had a pretty good season, and I want to be in NASCAR. I'm working with RPM. Hopefully I can be with them for a long time to come, but there is no guarantee. Obviously RPM has been through a lot this season, as they have the last few seasons. And I'm here to help them get to where they want to go, and hopefully it works out for me." Sammy Johns, director of operations for RPM, recently said that the company is working hard to keep Ambrose and Aric Almirola, driver of the #43, in the fold for next season. But he admitted that there are other matters that must be determined, such as which manufacturer umbrella RPM will operate under. "We've got a lot of things in the works right now," Johns said. Ambrose understands. He said he's also very confident it all will work out and he will remain in the #9 car for RPM. "They're telling me that they're good for two cars. And I believe 'em," Ambrose said. "I would love to drive one of them, but it's a matter of making it all work. We're hopefully going to get serious here soon and see how it all stacks up. But right now, we're just going to focus on this Chase. We've all got good intentions to keep it all together, so I don't see why it wouldn't all work out."(NASCAR.com)(9-8-2012)

Newman re-signs with Stewart Haas

Ryan Newman has agreed to a one-year contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing. The extension will ensure Newman is the driver of SHR's #39 Chevy through the end of the 2013 season. Newman and SHR have been involved in negotiations for several weeks. An official announcement from the team could come as soon as this weekend.(Charlotte Observer)

UPDATE:

Newman has agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the team, a Stewart-Haas Racing spokesman confirmed Thursday.(Sporting News)(9-6-2012)

UPDATE 2:

Ryan Newman confirmed Thursday he has signed a contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing for next season. Newman is in the final year of the deal he signed in 2009. The extension is a one-year agreement, and he said he took a cut in pay just as nearly every driver has of late. "I think in general everybody out there right now has taken a pay cut," Newman said. "No different than the cost of a seat in the grandstands is down. It all correlates." Newman said he isn't aware of any signed sponsors for next season on his #39 Chevy. "I feel fairly confident that we'll have good branding on the car," he said. "I can't sit here and say exactly who it is going to be and how it's going to lay out and what race they're going to be at. I can tell you this for sure - it's going to be multiple sponsorships."(Associated Press)(9-7-2012)

Penske plans to keep Hornish in 2013:

In part from a Penske Racing Media Teleconference featuring Joey Logano and Tim Cindric:

It was announced yesterday that Joey Logano will join the Penske Racing organization in 2013 as he will begin a multi-year agreement to drive the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Joey will join Brad Keselowski and the #2 Miller Lite Ford team to form a potent Cup Series combination for Penske Racing next season. One of the media questions for Penske Racing president Tim Cindric was about the future of Sam Hornish Jr., currently the full-time driver for Penske Racing in the Nationwide Series and in the #22 Sprint Cup Series ride.

Q.) Tim, where does this leave Sam (Hornish Jr.) with Penske Racing and plans for the future?

TIM CINDRIC: Obviously Sam has done a great job for us, picking up where we needed to go from Daytona onwards. I think we continue to see him grow in his abilities as a Cup driver, working with (crew chief) Todd Gordon and the guys. I think you saw that this weekend at Atlanta. I think we'll continue to move that forward. He's going to continue to drive the 22 car for the remainder of the year. We've continued to work on putting a Cup program together for Sam; we just haven't been able to close that process yet. I foresee Sam driving for us a full season Nationwide next year and hopefully some Cup races, as well.

Q.) Sam's future, is it possible you could put together a third Sprint Cup car for him next year?

TIM CINDRIC: That would certainly be our first preference, a third full-time Cup car. It's pretty late in the season. The potential we had for that in terms of sponsorship, they haven't come to fruition yet. I think you'll see him in a couple (Cup) races for sure. We haven't been able to build on that. We haven't been able to get more than a couple races at this time. As far as a full season Nationwide, that's what I envision happening for sure.(Penske Racing Media Conference)(9-6-2012)

No plans to for Logano to move to the #22 before 2013:

In part from a Penske Racing Media Teleconference featuring Joey Logano and Tim Cindric, one of the questions was about the possibility of Joey Logano moving to the #22 Penske Racing Dodge before the 2012 season ends, if Logano fails to make the Chase:

Q.) J.D. Gibbs said yesterday that he didn't think there would be (a chance) that Joey would get in the 22 car at all this year. I'm curious if Joey didn't make the Chase whether you would try to make that happen?

TIM CINDRIC: It's not something we've really even considered. I think I'd probably have to agree with J.D. It would be a pretty complicated situation. I think all of our sights are set on starting 2013 fresh in Daytona. Obviously we're making the move to Ford, so we have a lot of things that are going to be different in terms of 2013. We have a consistent group in Paul Wolfe and Brad. We can keep the consistency. Hopefully we're talking about a championship at that point in time, as well.(Penske Racing Media Conference)(9-6-2012)

National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel Statement about #27 penalty:

The National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel today heard and considered the appeal of the #27 Richard Childress NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. The penalties concern Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing; Section 12-4K: If, in the judgment of NASCAR Officials, race equipment that has been previously certified or previously approved by NASCAR for use in an event, pursuant to sub-section 8-12, has been altered, modified, repaired or changed in any matter. Intentionally modifying previously certified frame rails for the purpose of deceiving NASCAR's inspection gauges.
The penalties stemmed from a post-race inspection at the NASCAR Research and Development Center on Aug. 21 following the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 19.

The original penalties assessed were:

· Car owner (Richard Childress): Loss of 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship car owner points;
· Car driver (Paul Menard): Loss of 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship driver points;
· Crew chief (Richard Labbe): $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR for six weeks; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
· Car chief (Craig Smokstad): Suspended from NASCAR for six weeks; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
· Crew member (Grant Hutchens): Suspended from NASCAR for six weeks; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.
The Appellant did not appeal the loss of 25 championship car owner and 25 championship driver points or the $100,000 fine and six-week suspension of crew chief Richard Labbe, who began serving his suspension from NASCAR Sept. 4. The Appellant did appeal the six-week suspensions of Craig Smokstad and Grant Hutchens. The Appellant acknowledged that the #27 car failed post-race inspection.
Upon hearing the testimony and carefully reviewing the facts, it was a unanimous decision by the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. Therefore, both Smokstad and Hutchens' six-week suspensions from NASCAR will be effective immediately. The Appellant has the right under Section 15 of the rule book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer. The panel hearing the appeal were: Dale Pinilis, Robert Yates and Jack Housby. Jason Cohen is the Appellate Administrator and non-voting member.(NASCAR), see past news about the penalty and more on my 2012 Penalties page.(9-10-2012)

Gordon bringing back the stache:

#24-Jeff Gordon thinks he can rekindle some of his old on-track magic that made him a four-time champion when the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Why not? He's already taken one step to turn back the clock. Gordon announced Sunday that he would bring back the absurdly comical mustache he donned in the early 1990s as a young 21-year-old rookie in the NASCAR's premier series. On Twitter, Gordon's account said: "So as many of u may have heard, I made a statement that if we made the Chase I wud bring back the stache. I'm a man of my word."(USA Today)(9-10-2012)

Earnhardt, Jr. denies he's getting married:

Don't send those wedding gifts to Dale Earnhardt Jr. just yet. NASCAR's most popular driver says he's not getting married, no matter what the National Enquirer says. The National Enquirer posted a story online Wednesday saying that Earnhardt is expected to marry girlfriend Amy Reimann by the end of the year. Earnhardt, says, not so fast. "Totally false," Earnhardt said when asked about the report Wednesday during media day for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, which starts this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Earnhardt has dated Reimann for more than two years, and they have appeared in public more in the last year.(Sporting News)(9-12-2012)

NASCAR cuts Charlotte TV staff:

NASCAR Productions laid off about 15 percent of its Charlotte-based workforce this week in a restructuring of the unit that produces video for the motorsports giant. In all, 32 of 180 jobs were eliminated. Some of those employees will remain into the fall as the final leg of the NASCAR Sprint Cup races are run. Many of those laid off had more than a decade of experience in NASCAR and motorsports, including veteran project manager Chrissy Pellegrino and former WCNC (Channel 36) sports director Chuck Howard. Steve Herbst, who took over the unit in June during an earlier restructuring that saw the departure of chief operating officer Jay Abraham, said Tuesday the cutbacks were strategic moves reflecting the changing industry. After evaluating NASCAR Productions operations, executives decided to drop independent video production work on outside accounts not related to motorsports. It had been handling projects like Notre Dame hockey, University of Virginia football and music videos. Herbst said creating a NASCAR cable channel similar to the NFL's is still being considered for the Charlotte broadcast complex. "We've done quite a bit of thinking about it, but no decision has been made yet," he said.(Charlotte Observer)(9-12-2012)

2012 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:

[after Richmond, race 26 of 36]

1) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins], 2012

2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 2009, -3

3) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2009, -3

4) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 2009, -3

5) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 2006, -6

6) #15-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 2006, -6

7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2003, -9

8) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 2003, -9

9) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 2000, -12

10) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 2000, -12

WC1) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins, 11th in points], 2000, -12

WC2) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win, 12th in points], 2000, -12

(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)

(9-9-2012)

2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings (not chase):

[after Richmond, race 26 of 36]

1) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 914

2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 902, -12

3) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 897, -17

4) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 880, -34

5) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 868, -46

6) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 862, -52

7) #15-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 858, -56

8) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins], 850, -64

9) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 841, -73

10) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 810, -104

11) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 784, -130

12) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 777, -137

13) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 774, -140

(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)

See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf).(9-9-2012)

Going back, in time at OVRP’s Dirt Oval:

From Novemberfest – November 3, 2003:

http://www.whowon.com/Results.asp?TrackID=1904&StoryID=105854

191 entrants, which included 19 in the 2 Cycle KT 100 class. I wonder how many this year, if any?

Going back, in time:

More of the results from the Midget races that were held indoors at the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, N.Y.

This week covering from December 4, 1948 to the end of Midget racing – April 16, 1949.

1948-49

Dec. 4

1. Charlie Ethier Curtis Offy #8

2. Dutch Schaefer

3. Art Cross

4. Bob Disbrow

5. Larry Bloomer

6. Earl Krouza

7. Andy Van Heusen Mower #43

8. Jiggs Peters

9. Steve Yanigan

10. Tony Bonadies

25 laps 5:27.26

Dec. 11

1. Art Cross Wheeler Offy #21

2. Tony Bonadies Bourgnon Offy #5

3. Charlie Miller Paxson Ford #68

4. Charlie Ethier

5. Larry Bloomer

6. Vernon Land

7. Pickles Bickelhaupt

8. Jiggs Peters

25 laps no time

Dec. 18

1. Stan Disbrow Clark Ford

2. Pickles Bickelhaupt Frick Ford #1

3. Vernon Land Frankenfield Offy #8

4. Johnny Zeke Wozniak Offy #53

5. Art Cross Wheeler Offy #21

6. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #3

7. Larry Bloomer

8. Harry Sheeler

9. Steve Yanigan

25 laps 5:31.51

1949

January 8

1. Bob Disbrow Trio Offy #5

2. Dutch Schaefer #6 (Kurtis Kraft)

3. Stan Disbrow

4. Johnny Zeke

5. Pickles Bickelhaupt

6. Vernon Land

7. Larry Bloomer

25 laps 5:21.08

January 15

1. Joe Barzda Black Barzda Ford #33

2. Stan Disbrow Clark V-8

3. Bob Disbrow Trio Offy

4. Larry Bloomer Allen Offy

5. Johnny Zeke Wozniak V-8

6. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #3

7. Vernon Land

8. Dutch Schaefer

9. Art Cross

10. Pickles Bickelhaupt

25 laps 5:20.68

January 22

1. Larry Bloomer Allen Offy

2. Bill Schindler

3. Vernon Land

4. Bob Disbrow

5. Johnny Zeke

6. Art Cross

25 laps no time

January 29

1. Tony Bonadies Bourgnon Offy #5

2. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #3

3. Larry Bloomer Allen Offy

4. Steve McGrath Falk V-8

5. Len Duncan

6. Vernon Land

7. Art Cross

8. Charlie Ethier

9. Bill Randall

10. Mike Nazaruk Golden Arrow Offy

25 laps 5:20.76

February 5

1. Russ Klar Maier Cycle #9

2. Charlie Ethier Clayton Young V-8

3. Vernon Land Frankenfield V-8

4. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy

5. Johnny Kay Pauley V-8

6. Len Duncan Fray V-8

7. Stan Disbrow

8. Art Cross Wheeler Offy

9. Joe Barzda Barzda V-8

10. Steve McGrath Falk V-8

25 laps 5:21.39

Note: A photo of Russ, in that Maier Cycle, is towards the end of this column.

February 12

1. Stan Disbrow

2. Tony Bonadies

3. Vernon Land

50 laps

February 19

1. Steve McGrath

2. Johnny Zeke

3. Bill Schindler

25 laps

February 26

1. Bob Disbrow

2. Larry Bloomer

3. Bill Schindler

25 laps

March 5 1.

Larry Bloomer Allen Offy #18

2. Bill Schindler

3. Bob Disbrow

4. Steve McGrath

5. Tony Martino

6. Stan Disbrow

7. Al Keller

8. Johnny Zeke

9. Vernon Land

10. Don Morris

25 laps 5:13.47

March 12

1. Al Keller Willetts Offy

2. Bob Disbrow

3. Ernie McCoy Vargo Ford #1

4. Larry Bloomer

5. Art Cross Golden Arrow Offy

6. Tony Bonadies

7. Russ Klar

8. Bill Schindler

9. Stan Disbrow

10. Johnny Zeke

25 laps 5:15.95

March 19

1. Vernon Land

2. Larry Bloomer

3. Johnny Zeke

25 laps

March 26

1. Bob Disbrow Trio Offy

2. Vernon Land Frankenfield Offy

3. Larry Bloomer Allen Offy

4. Len Duncan Bonadies V-8

5. Andy Van Heusen Mower V-8

6. Bill Schindler

7. Joe Barzda

8. Stan Disbrow

9. Ernie McCoy

10. Tony Martino

25 laps 5:29.44

April 2

1. Bob Disbrow

2. Bill Schindler

3. Al Keller

4. Johnny Zeke

5. Art Cross McIlrath Ford #16

6. Stan Disbrow

7. Larry Bloomer

8. Russ Klar

9. Andy Van Heusen

10. Don Morris

50 laps 10:32.38

April 9

1. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #2

2. Stan Disbrow Chervanka V-8 #2

3. Tony Bonadies

4. Charlie Ethier

5. Bob Disbrow

6. Larry Bloomer

7. Vernon Land

8. Steve McGrath

9. Jiggs Peters

10. Ernie McCoy

25 laps 5:19.41

April 16

1. Steve McGrath Jolson Offy #5

2. Larry Bloomer Allen Offy

3. Bob Disbrow Trio Offy

4. Stan Disbrow Chervanka V-8

5. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #2

6. Tony Bonadies

7. Art Cross

8. Andy Furci

9. Jiggs Peters

10. Russ Klar

75 laps

Champion: Larry Bloomer

The end of the Kingsbridge Armory Midget results. Next week, another track.

News from the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

From the September 4^th issue:

There is/was a full page ad for the 42^nd annual BPG Racing Freedom 76 race that’s coming up on this Saturday, September 15^th. $50,000.00 to win.

Duane Howard has 9 feature wins at Grandview.

Racechaser Guy Smith now has visited 1,464 tracks.

Website for the Vintage TQ’s is: http://tqvintage.blogspot.com

The top 50 drivers of the AARN’s first 50 years has been voted on by a panel of judges – writers and photographers. Drivers must have competed in the AARN’s weekly coverage area. Starting this week, they list, in order:

50: Pete Bicknell, 49: Tony Hirschman, 48: Mitch Smith, 47: Rick Eckert, 46: Gary Stuhler, 45: Sammy Beavers, 44: Reggie Ruggiero, 43: Charlie Jarzombeck, 42: Lynn Paxton and 41: Bugs Stevens.

Ten names will be added over the next four weeks, and the final ten will be announced during the Motor Sports 2013 show. Yes, AARN’s reader to get to vote! The AARN will have as many from the list as possible appear at the show, for an autograph session.

A small article appeared on the proposed changes for 2013 at the Orange County Fair Speedway. Being mentioned is the moving of the pit area from the inside of the track to out side of turns 3 & 4. A Motocross track for the infield, which will be AMA sanctioned and would not interfere with the racing. No mention a tall of making a legitimate ¼ mile track inside the 5/8 miler. Racing on the “small” track is done for 2012. Plans for 10 to 12 races on the “small” track for 2013, are mentioned. (I take it that there will be NO ¼ mile track, then?)

Scheduled now to appear a the Thompson International Speedway, in Connecticut, in their “World Series Race Weekend” are the Valenti Modified Racing Series (VMRS), on Saturday with a 75 lap feature. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, IMSA Super Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions, the New England Race Trucks, Pro Four Modifieds and a host of “Outlaw” divisions are on the schedule.

John Snyder:

Mr. Snyder more or less confirms what my brother has told me about media coverage of auto racing down in Florida, where Mr. Snyder has been for awhile. It is practically non-existent. My brother lives in Satellite Beach, Florida, a little south of Daytona. At one time the 12 Hours of Sebring was a pretty big event, world wide. You would not know it, per the media, down there. Up here, too, I should add. And, no mention of other race in Florida, to an extent, too. If it ain’t NASCAR, it doesn’t rate space. Hey, same up here, folks!

Todd Heintzelman:

Tells us that when Frank Cozze won his first 410 Sprint Car feature, he was in quite a lot of pain due to a kidney stone. As much Advil as Frank could take eased the pain somewhat. Frank, who has at least 306 Modified wins, rates his 410 Sprint Car win as topping them all.

Brett Deyo:

Mentions that there has been another fight in a pit area – this time at Grandview. Contact between the cars of Gary Hager and Kyle Foilweiler, had Foulweiler ending up hard into the fourth turn wall. Kyle “visited” the Hager pit area, and Hager ended up with facial injuries. His father, 66 years old, received bumps and bruises. Also involved was Meme DeSantis. Meme was set down for the rest of the night. Kyle was set down for the night and also for September 8^th. Duane Howard also entered the Hager pit area, but he was only given a warning. Hager has a video of the proceedings via a camera in the race car.

Ernie Saxton:

Quite a bit about Andy Belmont in this weeks column – his leaving ARCA to work at the family business with his father. How Andy is fed up with the politics, broken promises and the effort he has had to put out to collect money owed him. Another good reason – his wife has had a $1,500.00 fine impose don her by ARCA, for something she posted on Facebook. There’s quite a bit more mentioned as to what’s happened between Andy and ARCA. Don’t be surprised if one day soon, Andy makes a return to dirt track racing!

Note: I can’t blame Andy for leaving ARCA after reading what’s happened.

Lenny Sammons:

Makes note that after 25 years of driving Sprint Cars, Todd Shaffer has retired.

DIRTcar will be inspecting fuel bladders at SDW, in advance, and then they’ll be sealed. A “Fuel window” will be put in place for the 200.

Note: I am under the impression that the fuel bladders were checked “in advance” last year. Didn’t help much, did it, if it was?

Sorry, but my thoughts – if you are illegal, you get DQ’d. You don’t keep a win and don’t get the money, either.

And what has some coverage in the September 11^th issue:

In AARN
This Week:

Tuscarora 50:
Port Royal Defies Weather,
Doug Esh Glad They Did

Bonsignore, Seuss
& Christopher
- All Yankees -
Sweep North/South
Showdown Races At Thompson

Rivals Are Cannon Fodder
As Pat Wins S'grove Feature,
358 Crown

Teenager Tommy Barrett Jr.
Earned Second VMRS Win
At Speedbowl

Brownell Lays Out
'Wheels, 'Port Vision -
But When Will He Get The Tracks?

Record Seventh
ISMA Star Classic To Russ Wood

Joey Grammes Claims Mod Win,
Track Championship At Penn Can

Lathroum Soars
In Roaring Knob's
Three State Flyer Feature

Piney Lasky Memorial
At Motordrome Is Steve Black's

Note: From a column of mine a couple of weeks ago -volume 107, found in the AARN section, about Brownell, WRG and the tracks:

“Lenny Sammons:

Lenny has some mention of Kim Lavoy a 26 year old female racer from Lebanon Valley who made headlines when she won a 358 Modified race at the Valley and in doing so, held off Brett Hearn and Andy Bachetti.

He also says that the proposed sale of Rolling Wheels to Jeff Brownsell is reportedly very close. By now they should have had a meeting with Brownsell and the WRG. All paperwork had been finished and contracts agreed upon, just waiting for Mr. Brownell to sign the paperwork.”

So what’s the hold up then????

Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:

Thanks to “Mother Nature”, there isn’t much to report on this week.

At Penn Can, in the Sportsman feature, Corey Ziegler was 1^st and Kyle Rohner 6^th.

At Accord, in the Modified feature, Danny Creeden was 5^th, Mike Doty 8^th and Tyler Boniface 10^th. In the Sportsman feature, Tyler Dippel was 1^st, Anthony Perrego 2^nd and Brad Szulewski 10^th. In the Spec Sportsman feature, Kyle VanDuser was 2^nd, Matt Janiak 3^rd, Tyler Dipple 7^th and Andrew Reeves 10^th. Jason Roe was 12^th in the Lightning Sprint feature.

Nick Pecko was 5^th in the Modified feature at Mountain Speedway.

Bobby Hackel, IV, was 27^th in the Sportsman feature at Albany/Saratoga (Malta).

More racin’ stuff:

JR Motorsports & Director of Competition Tony Eury Sr. Part Ways

JR Motorsports and its competition director of five years, Tony Eury Sr., announced today the decision to amicably part ways, effective today.

Eury is a winner of 55 NASCAR races in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series as a crew chief. He has 28 years in the NASCAR industry, the last five of which were served as competition director and crew chief for JR Motorsports. The company has amassed all nine of its victories under Eury’s watch. JR Motorsports’ last victory came on Sept. 4, 2010, with driver Jamie McMurray.

“The conversation Tony Sr. and I had was one of the most difficult I’ve ever been a part of,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “I believe Tony Sr.’s passion for the sport is exceeded only by his yearning to excel in it, and that itself became the issue that both he and I struggled with. At JR Motorsports we do this to win races and compete for championships, and lately we have not met that standard. Being the competitor that Tony Sr. is, I know that bothers him more than anyone.”

http://rpm2night.com/view/jr-motorsports-director-of-competition-tony-eury-sr-part-ways.13717/

Press Releases:

Mohawk International Raceway to Host DIRTcar Northeast Series Sept. 14 and 15

Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Friday, DIRTcar 358-Modifieds and DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds Saturday

AKWESASNE, N. Y. - September 9, 2012 - Four DIRTcar Northeast traveling tours head to Mohawk International Raceway next weekend, September 14 and 15, for two action-packed racing nights. The Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series and DIRTcar Pro Stock Series run Friday night, Sept. 14, and the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series and DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series run Saturday, Sept. 15

Season standout and Mohawk 358-Modified track champion Billy Dunn hasn't won a Super DIRTcar Series race since he started following the series in 2007, but this year could be his chance. After four top-five finishes and five top-tens, the Watertown, N. Y., native is fourth in points for the series, and set to challenge leader Matt Sheppard, runner-up Jimmy Phelps, and third-place Brett Hearn when he brings his Number One Speed Racing No. 49 American Traditions-Fast Lube of Watertown-Frosty's Ice Cream/Bicknell Big-Block to his stronghold track.

"We're looking forward to going up. It's just a really nice place. Don and John have put a lot into making that place one of the nicest tracks around. The track is smooth every week and it's a racey track," said Dunn, who claimed victory June at Mohawk's DIRTcar 358-Modified Series event. "We've been running pretty good on the series and we've been running good with the 358 up there weekly so hopefully that can translate into a good finish."

For live updates during Friday's 100-lap Super DIRTcar Big-Block Series event, follow @SuperDIRTcar on Twitter. Follow @DIRTcarNE for updates during Friday's DIRTcar Pro Stock Series event and Saturday's DIRTcar 358-Modified Series and DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series events.

Mohawk International Raceway Sept. 14-15 Schedule of Events

Friday, September 14 DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Round 5

Super DIRTcar Series Round 12

Saturday, September 15 DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series Round 5

DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Round 7

News from Bridgeport Speedway's 'Poker Series'

Promoter: Doug Hoffman - 610-398-4923

'Poker Series' Publicity: Brett Deyo - Deyo99H@aol.com or 845.728.2781

For Immediate Release/Sept. 9, 2012

Two-Day 'Wild Card Weekend' To Conclude Bridgeport Speedway Season Nov. 9-10; ‘Poker Series’ Titles Decided With Extra Money Posted

BRIDGEPORT, NJ - The inaugural Bridgeport Speedway season under the leadership of Doug and Gena Hoffman will end in spectacular fashion.

The Hoffmans have set plans for a two-day 'Wild Card Weekend' to bring down the curtain on the 2012 campaign at the five-eighths-mile clay oval in Logan Township. The year-end event is set for Friday-Saturday Nov. 9-10.

On Friday night (Nov. 9), Pennsylvania-style 358-Modifieds will take center stage in a 30-lap feature paying $3,000 to the winner and $225 to take the green. A solid contingent of regulars from Big Diamond and Grandview speedways in Pennsylvania is expected to do battle on the spacious Bridgeport oval.

The final hand of the five-race Crate Sportsman 'Poker Series' of events is set for Friday. The 30-lap Crate Sportsman headliner offers $1,000 to the winner and $75 to take the green flag.

Outlaw Stocks complete the card with a 20-lap feature. Joe LaClaire of Black Flagged Racing will coordinate special lap money and bonus awards for the full-fender contingent.

Divisions looking to secure practice laps in advance of Saturday's events will be permitted to do so on Friday night.

For Friday night, gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing promptly at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday (Nov. 10), attention turns to the finale of the five-race 'Poker Series' for big-block/small-block Modifieds. The fifth and final hand of the series offers a $5,000 top prize should the winning driver post a $20 "gambler's fee" prior to the start of qualifying ($4,000 without). A full Race of Champions purse is set for the remainder of the field: $1,000 for fifth, $500 for 10th and $300 to take the green flag.

The overall Modified 'Poker Series' payout is lucrative. At each Modified 'Poker Series' event, the winner receives an Ace (A), second a King (K), third a Queen (Q) and so on down to the 13th-place finisher receiving a Deuce (2). Following the completion of the five-race series, the driver with the best poker hand earns $2,500, second $1,500 and third $1,000. The driver with the worst five-card hand receives $1,000. Drivers must participate in all five events to be eligible for a point fund.

Bridgeport will welcome the region's 'Open Sportsman' division for a 30-lap main with $1,500 at stake for the race winner and $100 to take the green flag. The popular TSRS 305 Sprint Cars (20 laps) and Garden State Vintage Stock Cars will join the show.

Gates open Saturday at noon. Hot laps are planned for 2:30 p.m. with racing to follow at 3 p.m.

Weekend camping is encouraged on the speedway grounds. A post-race party and bonfire is in the works.

Further information, pricing and rules for the 'Wild Card Weekend' will be made available as the event approaches. The weekend rain/weather date is Nov. 16-17.

For further information on Bridgeport Speedway, visit www.bpspeedway.com. Bridgeport Speedway, located just minutes from Pennsylvania and Delaware off I-295 Exit 14, is a state-of-the-art auto racing facility with a five-eighths-mile clay oval and a quarter-mile clay oval embedded in the center.

Devil's Bowl Speedway event schedule - Vermont 200 Weekend - Sept. 15/16

Hi everyone -

This is it, our last event of the year! Please find attached the schedule for the Vermont 200 Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. We will host a pig roast and bonfire on Saturday night following Late Model practice, and we hope you can join us!

Notes for the weekend...

MODIFIEDS:

--All teams planning to use a 358 engine, PLEASE contact us immediately! We need to be sure that we have enough restrictor plates and need time to build them. Please call Justin at (802) 355-3282 or Mike at (802) 236-9141.

--Spec tires or D500 tires will be allowed all weekend.

--Qualifying heats will be held on Saturday and lined up by random draw. The top 15 qualifiers will then take part in a re-draw on the front stretch on Sunday before post time. A last-chance consi will be held on Sunday to set the field.

--There will be a 10-lap non-winners shootout on Saturday for drivers with a minimum of 10 Devil's Bowl Speedway starts in 2012 who have not won a feature event.

LATE MODELS:

--There will be a two-hour open practice session on Saturday from 4:00-6:00pm. Late Models DO NOT race on Saturday.

--The "plus/minus" handicap system will be used for the handicap in the 100-lap event. This is the same procedure that was used in the I Am Vermont Strong 100 in June.

RENEGADES:
--There will be qualifying heats (lined up by draw) and a 15-lap feature on Saturday.

--There will be qualifying heats (lined up by draw) and a 50-lap feature on Sunday. Purses will posted on our website soon.

BOMBERS:

--The main event is a three-segment race with a cumulative score. Heats will be run on Saturday (lined up by draw), along with the first 12-lap segment. The second and third segments will be run on Sunday. The race will be scored with 1 point to win each segment, 2 points for 2nd, 3 points for 3rd, etc. The finish of each segment will be inverted to start the next segment, meaning the winner of the first segment starts at the rear of the second segment, and the last-place finisher starts first. The lowest TOTAL three-segment score determines the overall winner. In the event of a tie for any overall finishing position, the driver with the best finish in the third segment will get the tie-breaker.

--There will be a 10-lap non-winners shootout on Saturday for drivers who have not won a fetaure event.

ALL DIVISIONS:

--The champions from each Devil's Bowl Speedway weekly division will need to be ready for a photo shoot on the front stretch at 10:00am on Saturday. Please have your cars and crews ready.

--We will have a Daredevil race on Saturday for crew members ONLY. Get your guys and girls ready to go! Drivers will need (minimum) long sleeves, pants, closed-toe shoes, and a helmet. We have a limited number of helmets available, but we'll ask for your assistance in helping your team members get ready.

--Pit admission is $35 for the weekend, good for both days. This is a flat rate, with or without a NASCAR, ACT, or other license. Pit gates open at 9:00am both days, post time is 1:30pm both days.

EVERYONE:

We know we said it last week, but we mean it - THANK YOU! Your support has been the only reason we could make a success out of Devil's Bowl Speedway in 2012. Without you, it wouldn't be much fun. We're looking forward to going out with a bang this weekend and putting the Vermont 200 on the map as a can't-miss event in the northeast. We will have details for our awards banquet coming soon - plan on early February for the date.

We'll see you all this weekend!

--Devil's Bowl Speedway Staff

Email: devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com

Saturday, Sept. 15

9:00am Pits Open

11:00am Practice – Modified, Renegade, Bomber ONLY

12:00pm Grandstands Open

1:10pm Driver Meeting – All Divisions – MANDATORY

(In pit grandstands)

4:00pm-6:00pm Late Model Open Practice

10:00am CHAMPIONS PHOTO SHOOT – 27 Mod, 05VT LM, H20 Ren, 11x Bomb

11:00am Practice (subject to change)

11:00-11:20 Bond Auto Parts Modified (20 minutes)

11:20-11:35 Renegade (15 minutes)

11:35-11:50 Bomber (15 minutes)

11:50-12:10 Bond Auto Parts Modified (20 minutes)

12:10-12:25 Renegade (15 minutes)

12:25-12:40 Bomber (15 minutes)

12:40-1:00 Bond Auto Parts Modified (20 minutes)

1:00pm Track Closed

1:10pm Driver Meeting – All Divisions – Pit grandstands

1:25pm National Anthem

1:30p m (2) Bomber Heats (8L)

(2) Renegade Heats (8L)

(3) Bond Auto Parts Modified Heats (10L)

Daredevil Feature (5L)

Intermission/Fun Bus (10 min.)

Daredevil Feature (5L)

Bomber Feature Segment #1 (12L)

Renegade Feature (15L)

Modified Non-Winners Shootout (10L)

Bomber Non-Winners Shootout (10L)

4:00pm-6:00pm LATE MODEL OPEN PRACTICE

6:00pm Track Closed

6:00pm BBQ

7:30pm Bonfire/Band

Sunday, Sept. 16

9:00am Pits Open

10:30am Practice – All Divisions

12:00pm Grandstands Open

1:00pm Driver Meeting – LATE MODELS – MANDATORY

(In pit grandstands)

10:30am Practice (subject to change)

10:30-10:40 Bomber (10 minutes)

10:40-10:50 Renegade (10 minutes)

10:50-11:10 J&S Steel Late Model (20 minutes)

11:10-11:30 Bond Auto Parts Modified (20 minutes)

11:30-11:50 Renegade (20 minutes)

11:50-12:25 J&S Steel Late Model (35 minutes)

12:25-1:00 Bond Auto Parts Modified (35 minutes)

1:00pm Track Closed

1:15pm Post Parade (27 & 55L Mod, 05VT LM, H20 Ren, 11x & 5NY Bomb)

Modified Top 15 Redraw (at start/finish line)

1:30p m (3) J&S Steel Late Model Heats (10L)

Bomber Feature Segment #2 (12L)

(2) Renegade Heats (8L)

(1) Bond Auto Parts Modified Consi (12L)

(2) J&S Steel Late Model Consis (10L)

Daredevil Feature (5L)

Intermission/Fun Bus/Modified Hot Laps (15 min.)

J&S Steel Late Model “B” Feature (if necessary, laps TBA)

Bomber Feature Segment #3 (12L)

Renegade Feature (50L)

J&S Steel Late Model Driver Introductions

National Anthems

Vermont State Late Model Championship Series Feature (100L)

Bond Auto Parts Modified Driver Introductions

Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature (100L

I get e-mails:

In RacingHistory@yahoogroups.com, of which I’m a member, this was sent out the other day, via an e-mail:

It looks like you will get to see Zanardi in the Indianapolis 500 after all. The word is that he will be in a car provided by the Ganassi organization in conjunction with Jimmy Vasser. Randy Bernard and the Speedway are both all for the effort and since there will only be 33 cars even trying to make the race again next year (the spec engine manufacturers will see to that) Zanardi will assured of a starting position.

Here's the latest link to the story:

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/09/07/double-amputee-alex-zanardi-hopes-to-race-in-2013-indy-500/?intcmp=features

And this one:

1.3 Million Got Disability for ‘Mood Disorders’—Including 33% of Beneficiaries in Puerto Rico

(CNSNews.com) - The Social Security Administration released its annual statistical report on federal disability insurance last month, revealing that at the end of 2011 there was a then-record of 8,575,544 workers collecting federal disability benefits and among them were 1,304,851 doing so because they suffered from “mood disorders.”

The incidence of “mood disorders” among disability beneficiaries was not proportionately distributed among the states and territories, according to the official SSA statistics. Some locations had much higher percentages of disability beneficiaries diagnosed with mood disorders than other locations.

In American Samoa, for example, only 3.1 percent of the workers collecting federal disability benefits had been diagnosed with a “mood disorder.” In Puerto Rico, by contrast, 33.3 percent of disability beneficiaries had a mood disorder.

Massachusetts led the 50 states for disabling mood disorders. In that state, 22.8 percent of disability beneficiaries had been diagnosed with a mood disorder. New Hampshire was second with 22.2 percent, and Rhode Island was third with 20.7 percent.

In each month since December 2011, SSA has reported, the overall number of Americans collecting disability has continued to rise. In August, according to SSA, a record 8,767,941 American workers collected disability. Also, in addition to the 8,767,941 workers collecting disability payments, there were 1,853,651 eligible children of disabled workers collecting additional benefits and 164,651 eligible spouses of disabled workers collecting benefits—bringing the total number of disability beneficiaries in August to 10,786,510.

The Social Security Administration website describes how a worker qualifies for disability because of a mood disorder—which it divides into “affective” and an “anxiety-related” disorders.

For example, one way a potential disability beneficiary can qualify with a mood disorder includes presenting medical documentation of “persistence, either continuous of intermittent, of at least four of the following symptoms: Anhedonia or pervasive loss of interest in almost all activities; or Appetite disturbance with change in weight; or Sleep disturbance; or Psychomotor agitation or retardation; or Decreased energy; or Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; or Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or Thoughts of suicide; or Hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking.”

To see SSA’s full explanation of how a person qualifies for disability benefits with a mental disorder click here.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/13-million-got-disability-mood-disorders-including-33-beneficiaries-puerto-rico

Social-security administrators in Puerto Rico, in collusion with crooked doctors, are being ALLOWED by someone in the Obama and SS administration to get away with FRAUD. All of these cases need to be reviewed and the administrators and their so-called doctors need to be suspended, investigated, arrested, tried and put in jail. Further, SS disability awards need to be SUNSET and be re-looked after 1-2 years, and where FRAUD is found, it be vigorously pursued. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your service, and probably my apology for the less than stellar treatment you maybe receiving. My prayers and hope are that some day you will have a normal life, and don't for a moment think you have to pay anyone back.
Bill Wilson
US Army Ret
Viet Nam 67-68

Check this one out!

Subject: Fwd: Government Motors

This Bloombery article is interesting in view of Biden’s ranting about,
"Osama is dead and General Motors is alive and well." *

79% of GM’s June sales was government purchased*****

July 12th, 2012 ****

*<http://pushbacknow.net/2012/07/12/79-of-gms-sales-last-month-was-government-purchased/government-motors/>

Remember how Obama keeps telling us how he saved GM, and how our economy is getting better, it seems the car company he bought is being saved by Govt employees
using our tax money to buy new cars. 79% of GM’s sales in June was
government purchased. ****

GM’s sales figures for last month were the best since 2008 , up 16% for the
month of June. YIPPEE!
Well, wait just a minute. It seems that those rosy sales figures are due primarily to a 79% increase in fleet sales to the
U.S. government in June.
That’s right. Our tax dollars are being used to pump up GM’s sales figures ahead of next month’s quarterly report so that
Dear Leader can point to Government Motors as a huge success.
The incestuous relationship between GM, the UAW and the Regime has never been
more glaringly apparent. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. GM is
unsustainable without government subsidies and will ultimately go bust
again, taking billions of taxpayer dollars down with it. ****

We bailed out General Motors to the tune of $50 billion. $30 billion of
this is effectively a loss, mostly sunk into fattening the United Auto
Workers union—fierce Obama supporters—while the actual bondholders were
shown the elevator shaft.

Meanwhile, as News Busters reports, “We the Taxpayers are still stuck
holding 500+ million shares of GM stock. Which we need to sell at $53 per.
Which debuted post-bankruptcy at $33 per. And which is currently trading at
just over $20 per. Meaning we’ll lose about $15 billion.” ****

But it gets better. Despite the overwhelming negatives, the tiny bright
spot of positive June sales numbers is being heralded by Obama and the
leftist press as proof the auto bailout was a “success.” ****

Obama is now campaigning on the “success” of – the government buying cars
from…the government’s car company. With our money. ****

Americanvision says That’s like you setting up a lemonade stand for your
kids. You buy them the lemons, sugar, cups and pitchers – and then buy most
of the lemonade yourself. ****

The pressure is on Government Motors to appear financially strong as this
may be the last earnings report before November elections and sets the
stage for how “successful” GM is.
One of GM’s past tricks to help fudge
earnings numbers has been to stuff truck inventory channels. Old habits die
hard at GM. According to a Bloomberg report, “GM said inventory of its
full-size pickups, which will be refreshed next year, climbed to 238,194 at
the end of June, a 135 days’ supply, up from 116 days at the end of May.”
135 days’ supply is huge, the accepted norm is a 60 day supply. The trick
here is that GM records revenue when vehicles go into the dealerships.****

Note: Think it is true? I would not doubt it.

Found on Facebook:

American Red Cross ? President and CEO Marsha J. Evans' salary for the

year was ? $951,957 ? plus ? expenses.

United Way ? President Brian Gallagher receives a ? $675,000 ? base

salary alongwith ? numerous expense ? benefits .

UNICEF CEO ? Caryl M. Stern receives ? $1,900,000 ? per year (158K) per

month, plus ? all expenses ? including a ROLLS ROYCE . ? Less than 5

cents (4.4 cents) per donated dollar goes to the cause.

Salvation Army's Commissioner ? Todd Bassett receives a salary of only ?

$13,000 per year ? (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar

organization. ? 96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.

American Legion National ? Commander receives a ? $0.00 zero ? salary.

Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

Veterans of Foreign Wars ? National Commander receives a ? $0.00 zero

salary . Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

Disabled American Veterans ? National Commander receives a ? $0.00 zero

salary .? Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

Military Order of Purple Hearts ? National Commander receives a ? $0.00

zero salary .? Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and

youth!

Vietnam Veterans Association ? National Commander receives a ? $0.00

zero salary .? Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and

youth!

No further comment is necessary .

Please share this.

All that is necessary for evil to triumph,

is for good people to do nothing!

And:

Ken Reed shared OCFS Motorsports Show's status update.

OCFS Motorsports Show

We are currently working on the 3rd annual OCFS Motorsports Show. As always we are open to any suggestions/comments on how we can make it a better show for everyone. Any ideas feel free to let us know. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you.

Some non-racing stuff:

Illegal Immigrant Speaks at Democratic National Convention

(CNSNews.com) – Illegal immigrant activist Benita Veliz was given a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday night, where she championed President Barack Obama’s recent decision to stop enforcing certain aspects of immigration law.

Veliz, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, gave a short address to the convention audience, and then introduced Telemundo talk-show host Cristina Saralegui.

In her speech, Veliz claimed to be “from San Antonio, Texas,” saying that she was “like so many Americans.”

“My name is Benita Veliz and I’m from San Antonio, Texas. Like so many Americans, of all races and backgrounds, I was brought here as a child,” Veliz said. “I’ve been here ever since.”

However, her profile on the activist website dreamactivist.org reveals that she came to the United States from Mexico at age 8 on a tourist visa and that her family then illegally overstayed.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which opposes illegal immigration, called Veliz’s appearance in Charlotte a “celebration of lawlessness.”

“In choosing to have someone who defiantly remains present in the United States in violation of federal law address the convention during prime time is nothing more than a celebration of lawlessness,” FAIR President Dan Stein said in a press release.

According to a press release from the illegal immigration activist group United We Dream (UWD), Veliz successfully fought deportation after UWD organized a petition drive to pressure the Department of Homeland Security. Despite avoiding deportation, Veliz remained an illegal immigrant.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/illegal-immigrant-speaks-democratic-national-convention

At the end of the article, if you scroll down some, there are comments made by the general public. Here are a couple of them:

“Caught driving without a license. Was the car registered in her name? Or her parents? And probably no insurance. So who would pay for the other car and driver if she had an accident? But of course, there are American citizens driving with no license either, but they are cited, was she?”

“Walter, you raise good questions, and most likely she was completely illegal. I live in Texas and I have been struck by an illegal alien. She had no license, no insurance and did not speak a lick of english. I called the police but they didn't even cite her. And to top it off, my insurance had to pay for the damages and then my rates went up. This is the problem in this country....we just allow it to happen, and it is the law-abiding citizens that have to pay for it. But when we try to speak out and take action i.e. Jan Brewer, we get knocked down and accused of being racist. I'm tired of looking for a job and coming across the good jobs that require you to speak fluent spanish. I could go on with examples, especially in Texas. I have a feeling that if this election goes to Romney, Obama will contest it and Texas will be the new Florida. There is already the big ID voter fight, but with 3 million hispanics moving here in Texas just in the last ten years, what are we to do? Just allow any person to claim they are who they are, with no ID and just get to vote? So ridiculous.”

A ton more of comments on this one!

And:

Jobs growth cools in August, seen forcing Fed's hand

Jobs growth slowed sharply in August, setting the stage for the Federal Reserve to pump additional money into the sluggish economy next week and dealing a blow to President Obama as he seeks reelection in November.

Nonfarm payrolls increased only 96,000 last month, the Labor Department said on Friday. While the unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July, that was because so many Americans gave up the hunt for work.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/payroll-growth-seen-tepid-may-072622785.html

Note: As you might have noticed in the above: “While the unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July, that was because so many Americans gave up the hunt for work.”

Ya see, they are NOT included in the percentage of the unemployed. Try for maybe 13 or 14%, if not even higher, for those unemployed, today.

Betcha you’ll love this one, folks!

Sen. Rand Paul Speaks Out Against Senators Voting without Reading the Bills - 6/29/12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svGDZOW-brA&feature=youtu.be

Yes, that has happened with the so called “Obamacare bill” too.

Also:

MEDIA BURIES STORY OF FAST & FURIOUS ARREST

Leonel Sanchez Jesus Meza, a suspect in the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, was arrested in Mexico on Thursday. In typical MSM fashion the majority buried the story.

Operation Fast & Furious was a government gun running scheme that allowed over 2,000 guns to land in the hands of Mexican drug cartels. These guns have been connected to the deaths of Agent Terry and 300+ Mexicans. Over 1,000 guns are still missing.

A simple Google search of “operation fast and furious” does bring up many results for this story, but the majority of them simply reprinted the AP article. Also, if you go the front page of the website, like NBC or ABC, the story was not on the front page. In order to find it the reader has to do a physical search for it.

This is actually somewhat shocking. because the Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s report on Fast & Furious will be released on Monday and he will testify in front of the Oversight Committee on Tuesday.

One would think the media would be touting this as a success for Attorney General Eric Holder, especially since rumors have been floating around the IG report will slam the Phoenix ATF office and give the top DOJ officials a pass.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2012/09/08/Media-Buries-Story-Of-Fast-Furious-Arrest

Check out the comments under the article!

Could this be true:

A History Lesson on Your Social Security Card

With the elections just a little over 3 months away you'll soon be hearing some Democrats running for political office, warning how the Republicans want to take away the old people's Social Security.

Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn't know this it's easy to check out, if you don't believe it. Be sure and show it to your family and friends. They need a little history lesson on what's what and it doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican.

Facts are Facts:

Social Security Cards, issued in 1934, and up until the 1980s expressly stated the number and that card were not to be used for identification purposes. Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the message, NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION, was removed.

When Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be completely voluntary,

No longer Voluntary

2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual Incomes into the Program,

Now 7.65% on the first $90,000

3.) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year,

No longer tax deductible

4.) That the money the participants put into the independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program.

Under Johnson, another Democrat, the money was moved to The General Fund and Spent

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

Under Clinton & Gore, Democrats, Up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to 'put away' for us -- you may be interested in the following:

Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratically controlled House and Senate.

Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.

Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the 'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US

Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?

AND MY FAVORITE:

A: That's right!

Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party.

Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it!

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it!

If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe changes will evolve. Maybe not, some Democrats are awfully sure of what isn't so.

But it's worth a try.

How many people can YOU send this to? Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.

Video time:

Video # 1:

Last week, race driver JC Flach was fatally injured while working at home on a tree. Here’s a “Tribute” video that came out on/for him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kywiel9MQCI

Video # 2:

Last week we lost Joe South. Maybe you’ll remember him from my posting a video or two of him in past columns?

Here are a few more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6V1N6CffDc

And:

Don’t it make you want to go home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AirBbS4R7Z0&feature=related

Walk a mile in my shoes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoznjbKVnmw&feature=related

Video # 3:

On September 12, 2003, Johnny Cash left us. Time sure flies, doesn’t it?

A few of his videos:

Home of the Blues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUjttmFRGN8&feature=related

Sunday Morning Coming Down:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9J3Lg5cx1s&feature=related

Folsom Prison Blues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1xSt7iganA&feature=related

Photos:

Note: The photos are not available on Dirt Track Digest, only on New England Tractor - http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

Below is a photo of the late George Rice, the ARDC’s driving champion in 1947, a member of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame and a new member of the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame. His first win in a Midget was back on June 12, 1939 at Newfield Park in Bridgeport, Ct and his last win was on September 16, 1950 – a 50 lap race at the West Springfield, Ma Speedway. He also raced in the LeMans 24 hour race as a member of the Briggs Cunningham team, in 1952.

And a photo of the late Russ Klar, below, in the Maier Cycle. This cars engine was basically two two cylinder BMW Motorcycle engines, made into one by Fred “Fritz” Maier. To the best of my knowledge, the car is in Texas now, with A.J. Foyt – for restoration. I’m pretty sure the photo is from an Open Wheel magazine, when there was an article about the car., with additional photos, too. When the engine was “on” it was practically unbeatable. But it tended to be quite temperamental. Don’t both cars look to be smaller than the Midgets of today?

Closing with this:

What Aisle is the Polish Sausage in?

Everyone seems to be in such a hurry to scream 'racism' these days.

A customer asked, "In what aisle could I find the Polish sausage?"

The clerk asks, "Are you Polish?"

The guy, clearly offended, says, "Yes I am. But let me ask you something.

"If I had asked for Italian sausage, would you ask me if I was Italian?

Or if I had asked for German Bratwurst, would you ask me if I was German?

Or if I asked for a kosher hot dog would you ask me if I was Jewish?

Or if I had asked for a Taco, would you ask if I was Mexican?

Or if I asked for some Irish whiskey, would you ask if I was Irish?"

The clerk says, "No, I probably wouldn't."

The guy says, "Well then, because I asked for Polish sausage, why did You ask me if I'm Polish?"

"The clerk replied, "Because you're in Home Depot."

May “Guardian Angels” sit on the shoulders of all of our race drivers and race fans, and guide them safely around the tracks!

Drive safe!

As usual, you can reach me at: ygordad@yahoo.com