Full Throttle

Dirt Track Warriors.

Before NASCAR, high-speed race car drivers raced on dirt - and they still do. Dirt track automobile racing - an estimated billion dollar a year business with 30 million fans - is “the biggest sport you?ve never heard of,” according to the new documentary CNN PRESENTS: DIRT TRACK WARRIORS, premiering on Saturday, July 1, at 8 p.m., with a replay at 11 p.m. Dirt Track Warriors re-airs on Sunday, July 2, at 2 a.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. All times Eastern.

Dirt Track Warriors is narrated by Miles O?Brien and features exclusive access to the personal and professional lives of the drivers of lightweight, high-horsepower racing machines called “dirt late model” cars. The documentary follows racing “bad boy” Scott Bloomquist, Chub “Chubzilla” Frank and teenager Josh “Kid Rocket” Richards through a season of high-speed, dirt-throwing racing, climaxing with dirt late model?s biggest prize, the World 100 at Eldora Speedway in rural Ohio.

The sport boasts 800 dirt tracks in 49 states. As Tim Lee, editor of Dirt Late Model magazine, explains: “Saturday night dirt track racing is like the summertime equivalent of Friday night football - especially in smaller towns. It?s a center of community.”

30 Million dirt track fans? My math ain’t so great but that seems to equate to an average of 37,000 fans for each of the 800 tracks. Me thinks someone is doin’ a little NASCAR type figurin’ and using it’s 75 million fan base as an example.

However it looks like an interesting production and recommend you read the rest of the article. And someone that happens to watch it send my a quick critique of the show. The odds of CNN International showing it here are “slim to… none Mike Wallace’s next Cup win.

And in related news: Tony Stewart’s Muddy Labor of Love. “Hopefully I can make some income with this track after my days of driving. It’s my retirement plan.”

You have to love this dedication shown in response to those living close to Eldora that complain about the noise and dust. “If I have to, I’ll buy every piece of property around the track to make sure it stays open.”

Dirt Track Racing, NASCAR, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

There was testing goin’ on at NHIS on Monday. No, not NEXTEL Cup testing. Not even [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/lab.jpg]Car of Tomorrow testing[/avatar].

This testing session was in preps for NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour which will hold a companion event with the Cup cars during the July 13 weekend. On hand was current NCTS points leader Todd Bodine. Bodine plans on returning to his Modified roots during the tours stop at NHIS in September.

He took the opportunity to shake down a Modified for that event and also sub for Carl Edwards who will be running the car during the July event. Pssst, don’t tell Joe Gibbs but Smoke may also run a Modified with Edwards. He shouldn’t mind though, it’s for a good cause. The body panels from the race car, as well as the firesuit worn by Stewart, will be offered in a charity auction hosted by Racing Against Cancer

More than a few issues caught my eye in the last few hours but have little time to expend very much bandwidth on them at the moment. But rest assured that won’t stop the “Half-Vast Staff” of the Throttle to note them in passing.

I’ll start by killing off some enthusiasm and blatant partisanship shown towards one Jeff Gordon. The first 10 blogs and newswire stories I clicked on since Sunday night had variations of “Jeffys BACK,” “problems solved” etc, etc. Sorry I don’t buy the hype. (here is a good example talking about Momentum.) Gordon achilles heel has been tracks of less than two miles in length. There is nothing he, or the team learned at Sonoma that can be translated to say, Chicagoland Speedwy. Same can be said if Gordon pulls off a victory at DIS this weekend. Both tracks (along with Talladega) are so far from NASCAR’s “norm” they should be disregarded as an indicator of things to come. Show me a Chicagoland win and I’ll show you a #24 that is a Chase contender.

As a side note and prelude to DIS everyone should read Tom Higgins piece about Daytona in 1984. Then reread it after the four hundred this weekend and compare.

Paul Menard must have gotten a little boost via a “Brats & Beer vitamin supplement” at The Milwaukee Mile. Congrats to Menard and crew. Throw bricks in my direction if so inclined, but congrats also go to James Hylton for his last place finish at Milwaukee. Yes I know, he completed 4 laps and retired to the comfort of his hauler. (knowing him it may have been a flatbed) He made the race and collected a paycheck. If anyone thinks the 71 year old had another objective I have a used exotic car to sell you. With low mileage, honest!

A quick thanks to “The Dude” for reporting my interest in NASCAR’s Busch Series moving into the Montreal area. It was a foregone conclusion and only a matter of time. The working agreement with CASCAR had been already signed and with the single track leasing agreement assigned to the F1 promoter it was a done deal. If you harbour any thoughts that “genteel” Montreal won’t support stock car racing mosey over to the Stock Car Quebec site (BabelFish translation req’d), it should allay any fears you may hold. And while you’re cruising thru the Great White North’s racing sites take a gander at the future home of a NCTS event. Bank on it, and if anyone gives you fair odds on a Cup event being scheduled there lay a couple hundred on the line.

This should be short.. no it will be short. Anywhere from 1/4 of a mil to $400,000 thousand Cal Wells spent on that Sonoma debacle. Is it any wonder why the team has sucked for so long? Back to the drawing board… er checkbook.

Luke is ranting and raving around the Thunder Lounge this night. Can’t say I blame him but I have a feeling once the story gets wider play the call for NASCAR to create a “Back to the Old Days’ Cup” Championship will grow stronger. Something on the order of The Richard Petty Cup, or Big Bill France Cup would work even if it had “Presented by” tagged on the end.

Bill Ryan owner/operator of Oxford Plains Speedway notes race fans Snob Appeal.

One of the most mysterious things about some race fans is their allegiance to one series or type of racing at the exclusion of all others. Whether it is a modified fan that won’t watch stock cars, a asphalt fan that cannot stand dirt, or a late model racer that thinks enduro racing is a disgrace, it always puzzles me.

I agree but am beyond puzzled. Look around there are a few posts out there that are throwing rocks at NASCAR for holding events at Sonoma. “I really can’t stand road course racing,” is one typical response. Of course if they missed the broadcast and “their” (as if they own stock in him) favorite driver had won it would be a different story.

That’s it, I have taken too much time at this point in a post that was supposed to be a “time saver.” Is there a 10-step program for people addicted to their keyboard?

I’m just askin’, I have “friend” with the problem.

NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Oxford Plains Speedway, DIS, Daytona, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Roger Stauback:

We were up there with our sponsor DLP, and I’ve never experienced such excitement. We’ve got such a class human being that’s running up front. It was such an amazing race. Phillipe is not here, but between Phillipe and what Terry did and the team, earlier we talked about this today, and we wouldn’t have dreamed we could do this this quickly, but we have just a great driver and a great person. He had the right equipment today, and Phillipe was our coach. He did a great job.

I don’t know why I’m here. I don’t deserve to be here, but I’ll tell you, I’m involved with this team and we’ve committed to it, and it’s been a lot of fun today. I’m really proud of you, Terry. Thanks a lot.

Yes the Iceman is THE Cup story this week. Ho-Hum so Gordon won another road race, like that isn’t expected.

You have to wonder if Stauback and co-owner Troy Aikman had any flashbacks in the last 30 laps. Stauback thinking of Bart Star and Aikmen haunted by visions of John Elway as their respective Cowboy teams saw yet another victory snatched from them in the last two minutes of a game they led till then.

As it turned out the #96 didn’t get the trophy, but to a fledgling single car team a fuel mileage, caution aided third place is definitely a win. The crew chief made the right calls, Terry kept the car in the top fifteen for 44 of the 110 laps, placed an “egg shell” on the go peddle and got a much deserved finish.

Others of note are Greg Biffle who was steady all day, drove to a 4^th and moved up to 9^th in the standings. Elliott Sadler pulled out an 6^th place finish by using a little bit of F1 style pit strategy, and Ryan Newman for want of a few more laps may have had something for Gordon. His second is his best finish of the year but he gained next to nothing on tenth place.

Also in the “not so surprising” category along with Gordon was Johnson who continues to defy being derailed by mechanical ills or just plain stupd luck. I’m sure he’d be happy to take a tenth place effort from now til the Chase.

Tony Stewart looked like he would salvage a decent day after some bumpin’ and bangin’ plus a speeding penalty but Smoke, went up in smoke with an apparent swallowed valve that dropped him to 28^th.

The road race ringers all crapped out except for Boris Said who finished 9^th in his special built Roush Ford. He also provided one of the two “images of the day.” The shot of his young son with platnum blonde curly locks were classic. The other shot were of the kids sliding down a hillside on their cadboard “sleds.”

NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Terry Labonte, Hall of Fame Racing, Infineon Raceway, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

This comes courtesy of 19 year old dirt tracker Will Vaught who has been signed by the Vision Racing Team. Vaught will debut next week at Kansas in the ARCA Series.

Here is the scenario and it would take place sometime in 2008.

• Day One begins with a lavish opening ceremony at the Indianapolis Motor Speeedway and the week’s first race is held on the infield road that hosts the United States Grand Prix. Everyone races in stripped-down, identically matched open wheel machines.
• Day Two is held in nearby Terre Haute on the famed half-mile dirt oval in USAC-style sprint cars. “The Action Track” has long been the proving ground for the likes of A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and the Unsers, so why not take today’s best and put them to the test?
• Day Three takes place at the Indianapolis Raceway Park, a half-mile asphalt oval just down the road from IMS for an old-school short-track stock car event. How great would it be to see the look on Fernando Alonso’s face when Dale Junior gives him a bumper shot going into the turn?
• Day Four is a go-kart showdown held at ProDrive Karting, an indoor facility mere minutes from the Speedway that features European-style karts. These are the exact same rides that everyone from Tony Stewart to Michael Schumacher used to hone their skills as kids and teens. Schuey and his F1 cohorts participate in off-season kart races each winter that are wildly popular and pull giant TV ratings in Europe.
• Day Five is back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a 250-mile event on the world’s most famous oval. During the Indy 500’s golden era of the 1960s and ’70s, world champions from all forms of racing would stop whatever they were doing and head to the Brickyard for The 500. This finale of the World Series of Motorsports would have that same international spirit, and if you soccer fans insist, we can even get David Hasselhoff or Ricky Martin to record a theme song just as they have for past World Cups.

The above is offered by Ryan McGee of FOXSports after getting infected with a “world view” while watching the World Cup. The idea is to assemble drivers from all diciplines of motorsport to compete.

Thought I’d throw it out there for comment and discussion, or give you a chance to throw tomatoes at your monitor.

For myself I like the idea, but logistics would be a major nightmare. Getting all the drivers to Indy smack in the middle of the racing season would be tough, if not impossible. Seeing Michael Schumacher, or any other F1 prima donna, behind the wheel of a sprinter at Terre Haute would be like the credit card ad, priceless.”

F1, Indianapolis, NASCAR, IRL, CCWS, Terra Haute, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle