Category: Z Archive

Hold old or retired content

It was as if WSOP was on hand for the Kobalt Tools 400 as the cards were dealt and the drivers made their bets at the  Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The seating positions were set from qualifying with Kasey Kahne on the pole and handling the dealer button but as the cards were dealt it was Dale Earnhardt, Jr. opening with a pair of tens.

It was a decent pair to start, apparently. The first caution hit while the #88 was going in under green. This little bit of luck allowed Jr. to keep the lead on the restart. However, the flop hit and changed the dynamic of the hand completely. (more…)

Virginia International Raceway had some tangles in 2011. The AMA “Suzuki White Lightning” event was pulled from the August date basically from a lack of communication, contract verbiage and an issue with promotions. Fingers pointed both ways. The end picture is that a big weekend at VIR was out.

Follow that with the announcement from the Grand-Am ROLEX Series that VIR would not be on the schedule for 2012.  New Jersey gets an earlier date and Belle Isle Park in Detroit is added to the mix. The Grand-Am race has been a showcase nationwide coverage event for VIR for several years.
Two big events that went a long way to re-establish Virginia International Raceway as a destination for fans and racing were out of the picture as 2011 came to a close.

This would seem to put a kink in the potential for 2012. Hit the brakes and stop the presses, so to speak. However, the folks at VIR have some surprises in store that may have blown by while you were watching the last turn… (more…)

Have you taken the time to see where they are racing or do you simply check the TV to see when the race is on…? All we do is plant ourselves on the couch and click the remote but those folks at NASCAR have to arrange all that stuff. At first glance it looks as if they arrange it with a dart board and blindfolds…

Race 1 – Daytona. Fine… Tradition and all that. The Daytona 500 starts the season and always will.

Race 2 – Phoenix. Let’s roll right by Texas to get there…

Race 3 – Las Vegas. Hey! Just up the road! Cool!

Race 4 – Bristol. What…? OK… Road trip!

Race 5 – Fontana…? Where is that? Next to Los Angeles…? California…? We were practically there in Vegas!

Race 6 – Martinsville. Back to Virginia…? What day is it?

Race 7 – Texas. What…? Why didn’t we stop there first and then go to Martinsville? It was on the way!

and so on…

Yes. Scheduling is a nightmare. There is the balance of tradition with newer facilities. There is the consideration of weather and temperature. There is the case for keeping the racing interesting with a variety of track length and technical skill. There is that dart board that doesn’t get used nearly enough… (more…)

Race fans want tickets. If they can get them for nothing, even better. There are ways but it takes some effort, time and perseverance. No guarantees, mind you, but these ideas can help increase your chances.

1. “Like” your racetrack. This is a top priority. Get on Facebook and “like” the tracks you tend to visit. Tracks will broadcast ticket specials and promotions on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Many of these specials are for their Facebook/Twitter fans only and often are significant compared to what may be generally listed on their website. You also get news and updates that will prepare you for a better race day experience when you get there… Free tickets or not.  “Like” your track! While you’re at it, “Like” your favorite drivers’ pages. They will also often offer tickets for their fans. (more…)

Coming away from Daytona it was difficult enough to determine who is driving what but now you have to take into account what day it is. Yes… Cup drivers have been running in the Nationwide Series for some time but it seems to be even more so. However, NASCAR has a rule about declaring which series a driver is running for a potential championship so why all the crossover? (more…)

Could the season get worse for Jimmie Johnson following a 2nd lap crash and out? Well… Yes it can.

NASCAR announced a penalty for the #48 Crew Chief Chad Knaus and Johnson because of something called a “C-Post”.

I had to look it up, too…

The penalties originated from Daytona inspections on February 17 and involve illegal sections of sheet metal between the roof and the side windows on the back sloping sections. The area in question is known as the “C-posts”. (more…)