Full Throttle

You are browsing the archives of 2008 March.

John Shoemaker, 65, a veteran drag racer from Sacramento, Calif., died from injuries suffered when his nostalgia Top Fuel dragster went out of control and crashed during a qualifying run Saturday at the March Meet race at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
Shoemaker was airlifted to Kern Medical Center were he was later pronounced dead. Shoemaker had [...]

It had to happen right?
The odds were stacked against Kyle Busch dominating as he has and not eventually coming away with a win. Odds also favored Goodyear tires surviving to the checkered flag rather than popping like cheap circus balloons. (Note to NASCAR, it’s time to start checking inflation rates and camber angles)
If not for [...]

The Matriarch of the Allison Family, Kittie “Mom” Allison passed away on Thursday evening, March 6, 2008. She and Ed (Pop) had 13 children, 8 of whom are still living, 25 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.
Mom was a devout Catholic and an inspiration to everyone she knew. Born and raised in New [...]

Goodyear Stock (NYSE: GT) for sale by “owner!”
Owner is long-time share holder, but has recently been let down by company’s ability to “finish the job” in Las Vegas and Atlanta.
Current NYSE quote, $25.61, a few hundred shares on offer. Contact owner and make offer.
More later…
NASCAR, Sprint Cup, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

It’ll be a cold day in Hell Atlanta!
To quote someone famous: “I tell you what, buddy, it just don’t get better than this.”
Although the weather finally allowed the schedule to be completed at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday, snow has forced Nationwide Series qualifying to be canceled on Saturday morning and Sprint Cup practice to [...]

T-Mobile Cup?
Here we go again! This is pure speculation at this point, and a road (too) well traveled.
Matt Humphrey noted a K-Star story on the possible take over of Sprint.
Deutsche Telekom, owner of T-Mobile and the world

Jack Roush’s original call for World War III upon Toyota’s entry into Sprint Cup has been answered. By no less than general manager of Toyota’s Sprint Cup program, and ironically enough a former Roush employee, Lee White.
White made a claim Toyota’s testing at a German wind tunnel revealed removing the cover on the oil tank [...]

It can’t be a good thing when the NASCAR suits come a knocking.
I suspect Jack Roush would be off limits for ones personal safety reasons for the next week or so, but one could ask Cousin Carl about what it’s like to The Suits pay a visit.
Surprisingly when they came into the Detroit News Sports [...]

Let me start this with The Possibles, in other words I’ll lay out perfectly good examples of not only what’s possible but given the scenario likely. (But don’t quote mr on it)
“One of the directors of the company that organizes the Grand Prix of Cleveland in Ohio, US, has shown an interest in the promotion [...]

Say what you will about Ron Dennis, and lord knows I’ve said my peace, but when the old BBC (read staid but dusty and far out of step) publishes a retrospective on the McLarens bossman you know the end is near.
The rumors of Dennis’ demise have run the gamut from “are you frickin’ crazy,” to [...]

Well… isn’t Brian France some kind of Deity?
If so the 100 point reduction Robby Gordon received, and was under appeal, being amended returning said points the driver was docked for an infraction found in Daytona can rightfully be called Points From Heaven. (Wonder if I should trademark that?)
Of course what the Deity gives, He takes [...]

Well…, so much for leading the point standings for the first time in your career huh Carl?
NASCAR has issued penalties and fines to Carl Edwards

Your mission should you accept it is to name the NASCAR driver who drove the car pictured, what race it competed in and the year[s] and venue[s].
That’s it, that’s all you get for clues, ’cause I’m damn tired of posting what I think is the most trivial trivia in NASCAR Nation and having it thrown [...]

Many people ascribe to the idea when the Grim Reaper calls it’s better to go fast and painless than a slow and lingering demise.
I’m unsure whether “Big George” Helms of Talent Oregon felt that way but he apparently did at least “go fast” as the 6-feet-5 inche and 400 pound hulk of a man died [...]

There’s always a but[t] isn’t there? You can be the butt of jokes, and there’s always the popular pork butt if you’re into the BBQ scene.
With the reunification of the American open wheel scene comes a number of buts that have come to the fore, but for my purposes I’ll deal with the Gold Coast’s [...]

Mike Mulhern, one the the better NASCAR beat writers (insert your description here), seems to have opted for a bit of cloak and dagger in his Sunday featured piece. But before I highlight his intrigue I’ll get the prerequisites out of the way first.
Mulhern notes the Paris Tuning and Racing Show (video here with the [...]

“On March 3, 2008, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Rusty Wallace Racing. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-qualifying inspection on February 15, 2008 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.”
You can read the entire ruling here.
Although slightly different than what was [...]

“Ford mutes its stars!” - the headline reads.
WHAT! I thought that was the job of PCNA and NASCAR! You know that whole “make our drivers as plain-jane as, well… Plain Jane.”
What the hell is FoMoCo HQ silencing its drivers for? Don’t they know there are hard working “word-wonks” whose phony-baloney jobs at NASCAR depend on [...]

Well, it will be the last word. Assuming no one is ahemm,… “willing” to place him in their race car.
If so… more blog fodder to follow.
(H/T No Fenders)
IRL, Paul Tracy, Sports, CCWS, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Lewis Hamilton opines on the possible retirement (?), or tossing of old garbage (?) of McLaren’s Ron Dennis:
“If Ron wants to go then he must go,” the 23-year-old told German magazine Focus.
Well thanks, Boy Wonderkind. As if you have anything to say that would make one wit of difference in whatever the outcome would [...]