Full Throttle

“NASCAR classifies entire track a non-aggressive zone.”

So in an effort to ensure cooler heads prevail during the Aarons 499 Mama Nature intervened. She did a little meterological kibitzing, tossed a whole lot of water on crews, cars and track. The race will be run on Monday at noon Eastern (11 a.m. in Talladega).

Drat you Mama Nature….! And my cable company that doesn’t carry FX.

On the other hand, TireDog is placing all blame on HWSBO, and looking for a legit reason to stay home from work Monday.

Geesh, I always thought rain dates were a legit excuse!

Todd Bodine led a group of five Toyota Tundras across the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/check-flag.bmp]finish line[/avatar] Saturday night in the Ram Tough 200 at Gateway International Raceway.

With the amount of cash Toyota has dumped into the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cts.gif]Craftsman Truck Series[/avatar] it’s not surprising the results they are having. But it does make you wonder if somewhere in the Big Three’s boardrooms they are scratching their collective heads or having dreams of Camry domination within the next few years.

It is Bodine’s fifth victory in the last eight NCTS events going back to last year. He was folowed across the line by Ted Musgrave, David Reutimann, Jack Sprague and Johnny Benson. Rick Crawford was in contention late but had a tire go down with a handful of laps renaining.

There were 13 cautions, setting a Gateway record for the truck series. The previous record for cautions was nine.

Australian superstar, and NCTS rookie Marcos Ambrose was taken out of the race on the 61^st lap when Mike Skinner bounced off the outside wall and back into traffic. The impact damaged the right side of Ambrose’s #19 Woods Bros. Ford. Kyle Krisiloff and Justin Martz also were involved in the crash.

Gateway International Speedway, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR, Marcos Ambrose , Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Tony Stewart, as quoted immediately after exiting Talladega’s infield care center, that proceeded a frightening crash thru the tri-oval on lap 67 when his car flipped onto its roof during the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/bgn.gif]Busch Series[/avatar] race at world’s largest superspeedway.

“I take 100 percent responsibility for this one, I just drove in front of (Wallace’s) nose,” Stewart said. “I looked in that little side mirror and I thought I had enough room to get down, and I didn’t. I just clipped him.”

The incident took out Kenny Wallace and Roush Racing’s rookie Danny O’Quinn who couldn’t avoid the carnage.

Those having a better “today”, were race winner Martin Truex Jr. scoring his third straight NASCAR [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/bgn.gif]Busch Series[/avatar] race at Talladega. Kevin Harvick continued his hot streak by finishing second, although he failed to extend his Busch streak of two wins in the previous two Series stops. The RCR driver now holds a commanding 299 point lead over Clint Bowyer in the series standings.

Kyle Busch finished third, Brian Vickers was fourth and was followed by Greg Biffle to give Nextel Cup regulars the top six positions. Cup drivers have sweep all 10 Busch races this season. Mark McFarland, who drives for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s new team, was the highest finishing full-time Busch driver in seventh place.

The race was fairly uneventful, for Talladega. There were only four cautions, one for debris and two were for single-car accidents in addition to Smoke’s sub-orbital flight.

(AP Photo/Gene Blythe)

Busch Grand National Series, NASCAR, Talladega, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Britain’s Nigel Mansell took 1st place Saturday at the Losail International Raceway in Qatar at what many have described as the hottest race in living memory. The Doha (Qatar) desert heat produced almost unbearable conditions as a track temperature of 58 degrees (130 plus degrees fahrenheit) was recorded at the start of the event.

A cock-pit temperature of 77 degrees was recorded with the highest previously known to be 68 degrees! Mansell, who started from pole, led the incident packed race from the beginning and recorded his second consecutive victory following his win at the inaugural round in South Africa. Germany’s Christian Danner finished in second place and Belgian debutant Eric Van de Poele came home in 3rd. Eddie Cheever (USA) was fourth, Warwick (Britain) fifth and also making his GP Masters debut was Pierluigi Martini who finished in 6th.

The six fastest laps overall were split by a mere tenth of a second in a race that produced drama in the way of overtaking, safety cars, retirements and at times four cars running abreast down Losail ‘ s 1068m main straight. Out of the15 that started, 12 cars finished with De Cesaris (Italy), Salazar (Chile) and Stuck (Germany) retiring.

(1st) Nigel Mansell: ” A brilliant result but an incredibly tough race out there today. It was a tactical race right from the very start and the pace was really quick out there. I was pleased with the set-up strategy we had adopted o

NASCAR’s most famous fight is generally regarded occuring at the end of the 1979 Daytona 500. In the 500’s first live TV broadcast the last lap came down to a duel between Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough. Cale dove low to pass. Donnie blocked, traded paint and both wrecked in turn 3. Richard Petty took the win.

After the race Allison and Yarborough got into a fight with brother Bobby Allison also stopping to join in, all on national television. This incident helped spark an interest in NASCAR that no amount of advertising could ever match.

There have been other incidents of course, most notably when Jimmy Spencer jumped out of his car and apparently punched Kurt Busch in the face multiple times. But last nights public hearing in Staten Island may rival the Daytona incident in importance to NASCAR’s history. At least its history in the greater New York area.

At stake are plans by ISC to build a three-quarter mile, 80,000-seat track on the Island. The public hearing turned from a rational debate over the myriad of issues but involved into a shouting match, cum WWE clone.

The meeting was only 20 minutes old when Councilman Andrew Lanza had a microphone stripped from his hand and placed in a headlock by Mike Wallace, a business agent for the local carpenters union. No one was arrested, but police quickly shut down the meeting reportedly because of overcrowding.

As expected that was quickly followed by the local politicians involved, ISC project manager Michael Printup and ISC executive Michael Tresta issuing statements. Also present was ISC President Lesa France Kennedy.

Councilman Clown-cilman Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) graced these pages last July with his overblown rhetoric and outlandish charges. At the time he claimed ISC intended on “borrowing the Staten Island Ferry” and later was quoted accusing NASCAR of trying to “hijack” the boats. Nothing is further from the truth, the proposal calls for charters of

The second restrictor plate race of ‘06 is here. Talladega (and Daytona) always touches a few nerves. Many people love the place. Others hate the idea of 43 cars packed into an area the size of a soccer pitch. And with the nearly inevitable Big One occuring the forums and blogs will be filled with condemnation for the perpetrators of, or praise for, those involved in the inevitable.

But unlike previously the Big One isn’t the big pre-race story. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is.

More precisely Dale Jr. paying tribute to his late father by running his #8 Bud Chevy in the “colors” of the #3 is the story this week. Frankly I’m feeling a bit of ambivalence over the issue. Generally I tend to favor “old school.” I love the look of the #21 of Kenny Schrader. The block lettering of the #21 recalls days of David Pearson and the Woods Brothers. When Mark Martin ran last year carrying the “colors” of his old Valvoline or, even earlier Strohs Beer paint schemes it brought back pleasent memories.

But there is this nagging thought in the back of my mind, thoughts of NASCAR-nomics. The “black #3 story” first broke as a rumor. It remained in the rumor stage for 4-5 days (remember the old ketchup ad? “Anticipaaaation!”) then confirmation came from DEI. In the following day or two the first images appeared. Ah-HA, it’s true!

But that nagging feeling is us old schoolers have been “schooled.” Be honest now, how many “black #3″ stories have you seen that noted all six inductees in the “06 class of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (IMHF)? (for some old school fun check the images at the preceeding link) Damn few have noted along with Dale Sr., Harry Gant, Janet Guthrie, Jack Roush and Humpy Wheeler are also receiving the honor.

Granted the IMHF is located in Talladega the site of many of Dale Sr’s greatest races but it just doesn’t feel right. Maybe I’m getting to jaded by all the NASCAR marketing crapola. And crapola like this doesn’t help. Not to mention the cost ($89.95) is from 1 to 3 gas tank fill ups dependent on what you drive.

So yes, I’m jaded, dulled by the NASCAR marketing surfeit and hoopla, but LET’S RACE!

But first… John has the latest and greatest silly season rumors (R. Gordon to Toyota is a lock!). Tom Higgins has a must read Letter to the Champ that goes further along to road to honoring Dale Sr. than any black #3.

If the aforementioned Big One occurs, blame it on the Talladega Curse! Assuming it didn’t get a pre-Talladega start and is the cause of Mikey’s woes. Keith Ott takes a shot at Monday’s headlines.

And so will I. Extry, extry, extry… Kirk Shelmerdine wins the AARON’S 499!

Hey, gimme a break! The weekend is billed as the 2006 Aaron’s Dream Weekend. So let me dream in peace.

And just a bit more old school and a reminder: Dodge seeks its first Talladega win since August 1976, when Dave Marcis won the Talladega 500. And don’t forget the Talladega Fun Zone!

Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Dale Earnhardt Sr, Busch Grand National Series, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Or mine for that matter, but I’m not a grandfather, yet. (Er… not that I’m aware of!)

Ray Evernham looks to the future and predicts the five technological advances he expects to see in NASCAR by the turn of the decade. (WARNING: Old schoolers, traditionalists or those otherwise wedded to the past, avert your eyes or risk retinal burns, severe heart palpitations and uncontrollable retching.)

1. While already slated to begin running in 2007, the Car of Tomorrow

Yes, the title is an effort to place my tongue firmly in my right cheek. However, with the quick ascension of Buckshot, and his just as quick disappearance from the NASCAR scene, maybe a bit of prestidigitation was involved.

The guy on the left in the image is Jeff Gordon of course. Race driver by trade, collector of NEXTEL Cup wins, Championships, accolades and more than a few boos cascading down from the bleacher seats.

On the right would be Darren Romeo, magician by trade. According to Gary Groman, aka The Ole Seagull, They have both achieved what they have always wanted to do at an early age, they both appreciate magic, and they both have a great interest in Gordon

Need it be said? Well yes, if for no other reason than to make it an official NASCAR Cesspool entry.

The Busch bros. are both well deserving of entry this week. Kyle will get a visit, most likely on Tuesday, by the NASCAR “tax man” and will come away light in the wallet. The “K” in the family served his penalty via a black flag for attempting to finish the race manually holding up his safety net. A nice trick that I may have tried in his position, but worthy of the flag none-the-less.

A death of a meme gets notation this week. The meme being Robbie Gordon’s switch to DEI power solveing that part of the noncompetitive equation and he will rocket up the point standings. The death is caused by Robby Gordon, for the second time in three events, suffering engine failure and finishing up 41^st at PIR. he

Holden Racing Team’s Mark Skaife scored a second race win and overall victory in the Placemakers V8 Supercars series at Pukekohe Park Raceway on Sunday.

In front of over 40,000 fans Skaife put together yet another stunning performance to re-affirm his place amongst motorsport’s top drivers.

After the first two races were dominated by serious crashes the third showcased just how good the V8 Supercars are on the fast-paced Pukekohe track.

Skaife - who has now equalled V8 legend Peter Brock’s record of 37 race wins - started from pole position and never looked back.

His four second pit-stop was outstanding and while he was pushed very hard through the middle sections of the race he showed just how good he is behind the wheel to pull away and eventually win by three seconds.

“To get here with a new car and have it work well and the guys to do the job they have this weekend in the pits is just fantastic and it’s a real credit to them,” he said. “This victory is made up mostly of their effort.

“We all know up and down pit lane that strategy and pit stops make a lot of difference in these formats.”

While Skaife ran away with the victory the battle for second and third was fierce.

Ford driver Mark Winterbottom had been fighting it out with Skaife at one stage but in the final laps Craig Lowndes stormed into contention and eventually pushed his way into second spot.

Skaife paid tribute to Winterbottom’s performance.

“Mark went very very well, his car was strong in a couple of spots where mine wasn’t and vice versa,” he said.

“He had good car speed. He had a great race and that’s what this sport’s all about.”

Kiwi Greg Murphy - one of the favourites in the build-up to the weekend’s racing - finished 15th in the third race.

Murphy’s Holden Commodore had to be rebuilt overnight on Saturday to be ready for racing on Sunday after a serious crash on the opening lap of the first race. And while he was competing he was unable to force his way into the top spots at the finish.

While there was plenty said in the lead up to the event about the controversial reverse grid starting order for race two the organisers said they were completely satisfied with the outcome.

“We were very pleased with the success of the reverse grid format,” V8 Supercars Australia Chief Executive Officer Wayne Cattach said.

“It promoted exactly what we had hoped for - astonishing passing, brilliant strategy and most importantly a tremendous spectacle for all race fans. “The racing was exemplary and testament to the ability of our drivers and teams.

“In making a comparison with the conventional race there was no more incidents than we might have seen. Just last year there were 10 cars that failed to finish race three at this track. “That indicates that this is a very difficult track for our drivers to negotiate and one that does present incidents.

“We are pleased that the criticism of the format has proven to be unfounded.”

Cattach also expressed sympathy for injured photographer Scott Wensley whose leg was broken during the second race when veteran driver John Bowe’s Ford careered into the safety barrier at full speed.

“Scott is a hugely respected member of our championship and of our leading core of photographers,” Catach said.

“He is extremely experienced in motorsport photography, a great friend of V8 Supercars and we will help ensure that his recovery is smooth.

“I spoke to John Bowe soon after the incident and he said that an earlier incident on lap one was indirectly the cause but absolutely not as a result of the reverse grid. “John was racing independently of any other cars and his throttle stuck open. This happens in our sport.”

Race Three Result:

1. Mark Skaife (Holden), 2. Craig Lowndes (Ford), 3. Mark Winterbottom (Ford).

Round Result:

1. Mark Skaife (Holden), 2. Mark Winterbottom (Ford), 3. Russell Ingall (Ford).

Pukekohe Raceway Park, V8 Supercar Series, Australia, New Zealand., Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle