Full Throttle

Hear ye, hear ye…

The National Stock Car Racing Commission has ruled on the appeals case of H.C. Sellers vs PCNA (Peoples Commissar of NASCAR Affairs, more commonly known as Brian France and various and sundry henchmen)

Surely you remember the case - it was the case that the misinformed and small minority of NASCAR Nation called LoonBats claim never happens - a case where a win is not a win when you cheat to gain that win.

Head Kangaroo, er… I mean Commission Chairman George Silbermann has ruled in favor of upholding the original penalty.

As a reminder the infractions were as follows: Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing”; Section 12-4-Q “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules” and Section 20C-12.3C(7) “Shock absorber base valves will not be permitted: Right rear shock absorber had a base valve installed.”

For those not knowing what a base valve is there is an excellent option to find out what they are, how they work and why there are regulated.

The penalty as upheld is as follows: Suspension from the next three (3) NASCAR Camping World Series East Events. Suspension from the NASCAR Touring Series until June 11, 2008. Probation until December 31, 2008.

Court is adjourned.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Auto Racing, Brian France, Motorsports

Listen up Bucko, tired of all the hype surrounding NASCAR?

Tired of a winning driver’s interview going something like this: “I’d like to thank Guido’s Leg Breaking Service without whom I’d never make it out of the track alive and Luciano Loansharks and the Ernest Gallo Winery who provides the “fuel” for this entire winning race team.”

Are you tired of the incessant race coverage that interrupts the TV commercials? (actually no, that’s a myth that refuses to die a natural death, there’s less now than in 2000 buts that’s a story for another rant.)

Well, I have news for you, be careful of what you wish for.

The day may soon becoming when you look up from your high priced seat at your favorite NASCAR venue and see an advertisement in the clouds.

Or, to be precise, you would see a Flogo.

A Flogo, produced in the heart of NASCAR Nation by a company located in Alabama is made with a machine that produces “tiny bubbles filled with air and a little helium.”

From that says owner and inventor of the process 4 foot “clouds” are formed in the shape of company logos and can be floated over a venue.

The Walt Disney Co. will use one of the machines next month to send clouds shaped like Mickey Mouse heads into the air at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., former magician and developer Francisco Guerra said.

The mind reels with the possibilities.

And frankly if any of the NASCAR Suits get wind of this concept we all may be ready for a stay in a “hotel” with latex lined walls. If you get my drift.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Flogos, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Thanks to a tip from Tomaso comes a story of Sarah Fisher’s efforts to field her own team at Indy this month.

Tomaso points to an Indy Star article by Bob Kravitz who thinks Fisher may need to contact a collection agency to get what has been promised to the fledgling team.

One company, Gravity Entertainment is located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, the second is ResQ, a sports-drink company.

Yeah I know what you’re thinkin’ “not ANOTHER sports drink company!” But what are you gonna do, they don’t make weed killer that works on sports drink outfits.

Both companies have made contractual promises to Sarah Fisher and at this point those contracts haven’t been fulfilled.

In my efforts to trackdown background on the Kravitz piece I discovered Gravity Entertainment announced in January they would field a new NASCAR Sprint Cup team under the banner of Gravity Motorsports. Allegedly the new team will “begin operation immediately” with the intention to test the waters in early 2008 and plans “to debut later in the season.”

At this point I haven’t heard word one about any progress this alleged new team has made, alleged being the operative word.

Via the wonders of the internet and the many search abilities available zero, nadda, ZILCH turns up when looking for a reference to the team.

What it does turn up is a Gravity Motorsports that has been in operation since 2006 and “specializes in the sales and service of motorcycle and ATV parts and accessories.”

Confused?

Not as confused as the operators of Gravity Entertainment who couldn’t be bothered to do a cursory search to ensure a name chosen for their motorsport team wasn’t in use, and by all indications at this point, haven’t lived up to obligations made to Sarah Fisher.

Am I surprised a company that produced such “epic films” as Primal Scream and The Black Belt Club is falling down on the job? Not in the least.

That said, and moving on, is the case of ResQ energy drink’s commitment to Fisher.

Again referencing the Kravitz article he notes the company’s web site “features Fisher extolling its product and its commitment to racing.”

A quick look at it shows another sad case of a brand name owner, if not the entire company, not living up to obligations made.

In fact if you take Kravitz’ word for it the company “features Fisher extolling its product and its commitment to racing.”

He didn’t lie, but the ref is mighty thin gruel to say the least. The single reference is supposedly a link to Fisher’s web site and what appears to be her press release noting she’s “excited” to have ResQ on board as a sponsor..

But it isn’t, its a link to another ResQ website.

It’s also apparent Fisher has taken down both the original press release and any ref to the company on her sponsors page. (Yeah! You go girl!)

Funny how that works, you don’t pay your bills, you get the bums rush out of the paddock door, as it should be.

I’m tempted to flood both these scofflaws with letters asking what the hell, but I suspect they would be ignored and I would also imagine Sarah via some legal recourse, like a breech of contract suit, may have much better luck than I.

Even in the best of times finding multi-million dollar sponsorships is hard and time consuming work, and with current prices in today’s marketplace effecting everyone it’s that much harder.

Making a commitment and not living up to that contractual obligation is an entirely different kettle of fish and Fisher to her credit isn’t waiting with baited breath waiting for any checks “in the mail.”

“They keep saying they’re going to wire it tomorrow, soon, today, tomorrow — it’s a ‘check is in the mail’ kind of thing,” she said, standing in her garage as rain washed out qualifying. “They’re still saying they’re going to pay us, but at this point, it’s hard for me to believe it anymore.”

It’s a pretty sad state of affairs on what Kravitz is calling the other side of the “Danica Divide” of sponsorship. A divide she’s trying to bridge through donations (pdf File) from interested fans of her and the sport.

That effort has paid some, albeit small, success at this point: “Look at this,” Fisher said Sunday, reaching into her jeans pocket to pull out a piece of folded paper.It was a personal check. From a fan. To Fisher for $100.

“I’ve gotten two or three today (Sunday),” she said, smiling.

I’ll say it again. A sad, sad state of affairs, made even more so when you see John Andretti walk into the paddock flush with cash and buy his way into a ride.

Technorati Tags: Auto racing, Sarah Fisher, Sarah Fisher Racing, IRL, IndyCar, Indy 500, Indianapolis 500

Come with me on a little journey as we span the stock car world that exists outside NASCAR Nation.

We start with NASCAR’s kissing cousin to the north and the Canadian Tire Series that starts it’s season this weekend at Cayuga Motor Speedway.

The track held a pre-season test on the 5/8 mile oval this past weekend that was attended by Brad Graham Motorsports shaking down their Dodge Avenger.

After what was a disappointing 2007 season in terms of on track performance, Brad Graham and the Full Throttle/Logel’s Auto Parts/Challenger Motor Freight team are working harder than ever to be ready for 2008.

(Hmmm, “Full Throttle” original indeed! No relation, but I am thinking of sendin’ them a bill.)

“Last season is gone and forgotten” said Brad Graham. “Can’t event see it in the mirror we’re so far past it and focused on what’s happening this season. Our team has another year of experience, Mike Knott my crew chief, Bill Dobson the chief mechanic and the rest of the guys are really pumped up to get going and get the Blue Demon car out”.

The 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series racing season opens Saturday at Cayuga and will consist on thirteen events from coast to coast in Canada on ovals, temporary street circuits and road courses.

Had enough Canadian Bacon?

Good, because we’re switchin’ menu’s to Bacon and Cabbage by jumpin’ on a big silver bird to take in some hot stock car action in Northern Ireland, yes I said Ireland, at Ballymena Raceway.

STOCK RODS CLASS: Twenty-eight drivers contested the three Stock Rod events which served up the dramatic action fans have come to expect from this highly competitive class.

Freddie Laffin registered his first win of 2008 in the opening heat before World Champion Glenn Bell stamped his authority on heat two.

SALOON STOCK CARS: Jason Burns was the only driver to win more than one race on Friday evening. The Ballymena lad opened his account with victory in heat one and followed it up with another flag to flag success in the meeting final.

And there you have it, a short virtual trip around the stock car globe.

One final note: If you happen so see Kyle Busch in this Ballmena Raceway video you need a longer trip than what I just provided. Just ignore all those crashes and pit maneuvers they aren’t Busch, trust me.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Auto racing, NASCAR, Motorsports, NASCAR Nation

After Scuderia Toro Rosso team manager Massimo Rivola attended the recent MotoGP night race at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit he expressed concern over scheduling of F1’s first night event in Singapore.

Under the original schedule there would only have been one and a half hours of running in the dark before the night time qualifying session on Saturday.

He told autosport.com after that experience: “Personally I am not relaxed, let me put it like this. Honestly, I would like to test but it is not possible and too expensive to realise. I am sure it will be fine in the end, but there are still some points to discuss.

“The most important is that our schedule should be all over the night, rather than split between day and the night. The sunset in Singapore is at 7pm and at the moment the plan is to have first practice finish at 6pm and second practice to start at 8pm.”

Rivola’s concerns were reviewed by the F1 teams and the FIA with the resulting change in schedule and F1 teams were informed about the latest version of the timetable in Turkey last weekend

The new schedule is as follows:

Practice 1 Friday 19:00-20:30
Practice 2 Friday: 21:30-23:00
Practice 3 Saturday 19:00-20:00
Qualifying Saturday: 22:00-23:00
Race Sunday: 20:00

Autosport also understands that the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) is pushing for some kind of acclimatisation session on the track on the Thursday before the race – although whether this is in F1 cars or other machinery is not yet known.

Cross Posted @ F1 Rage!

Technorati Tags: Formula One, Losail International Circuit, Motorsport, Sports, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Auto Racing, Singapore Grand Prix, F1 Rage, Asian Motor Sports

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has revealed the first image of its brand new ‘Powered by Ferrari’ car for use in season four (2008/09).

The CAD drawing was released ahead of the car’s inaugural shakedown test in Southern England.

A1GP’s own TV commentator and Formula One legend, John Watson, will have the honour of driving the car for the first time, powered by a V8 Ferrari engine producing in the region of 600 bhp.

The chassis is based on the design of the highly successful F2004 chassis, incorporating A1GP’s core values to deliver close, exciting racing among a competitive field where overtaking is an essential part of the entertainment.

A1GP technical director, John Travis, is overseeing the design, development and production of the car from premises in Bognor Regis in the UK, with Rory Byrne acting as consultant. Meanwhile the work on the manufacture and supply of the A1GP engine is being overseen by Ferrari’s Jean-Jacques His.

The Powered by Ferrari project was first announced on 11 October 2007 when the most famous name in motorsport signed a six-year agreement to manufacture and supply all A1GP engines for this unique series and provide consultancy on the design of all A1GP chassis from season four onwards.

‘Everyone is very excited about this project and it will be fantastic to see the new A1GP powered by Ferrari car turn a wheel for the first time on Friday,‘ said A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira.

‘We obviously still have a lot of work to do as this is just the first step in what will be an intense development and testing programme, but I am very happy with the progress made so far.

‘We have a small, dedicated group of people in Bognor Regis and are very lucky to be able to use some well known motor racing companies for certain areas of expertise. I am pleased to say we are on schedule and we will be announcing the date of the official unveiling of the car soon.’

Cross Posted @ Asian Motor Sports

Technorati Tags: Rory Byrne, John Watson, Ferrari, United Kingdom, A1 Grand Prix, Formula One, Auto racing

Roush-Fenway Racing rookie Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and his #99 Ford used a solid restart on Lap 107 of 112 to steal the race lead from Scott Speed and the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota and drive away to his first ARCA RE/MAX Series win in front of 10,273 “Drive Smart! Buckle-Up Kentucky 150” fans at Kentucky Speedway tonight.

Stenhouse, Jr., led the closing six laps before crossing the finish line ahead of Scott Speed in the #2 Red Bull Toyota. The margin marked the third-closest finish in the series 16 Kentucky Speedway races and the second straight May win for the Roush-Fenway #99 at the track. Current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Erik Darnell took top honors last season.

“We’ve had good runs the last few weeks, so to finally get a win was just awesome. It was pretty tough. I’ve never really led a restart in one of these stock cars, and, actually those last few restarts when we were behind him (Speed) were the best restarts I’ve ever had in a stock car. I’m just trying to get better ever week, and learn as much as I can,” Stenhouse, Jr., said.

“This is a special win compared to the sprint cars I’ve won in, and means the most to me to finally get a win in a stock car. I can’t say enough about this Ford Fusion and the Roush V8 Engines, they really ran down the straightaways tonight.

“There’s a lot of competition here, and a lot of good cars in the ARCA/REMAX Series, but it’s getting better and better for us every week. It was another good night for points for us, and we’re just going to try to keep the momentum up going to Toledo. . I’m just glad we got this one, and hopefully there are more to come,” he added.

Ryan Fischer took third in the %25 TufTruckdirect.com/Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet, Ken Butler III wheeled to a fourth-place finish in the #22 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine and John Wes Townley completed the top-five in the #09 John Wes Townley Zaxby’s/SPS/BB&T Ford.

The Roush Fenway driver spoiled what looked to Speed’s night. Speed seized the race lead on Lap 52 from Jake Francis and his #48 Dodge and led until Lap 106 when his solid run was ended by a series of late cautions.

The race restarted at total of four times in the closing 14 laps. Speed managed to hold point on all but the final restart, when his car experienced mechanical difficulty.

“Our Fuel strategy was fine. The only problem was on like the original green-white-checker. We got off to a nice little lead, but we broke third gear. So, the rest of the restarts they kept doing the green-white-checker and the gear was destroyed. It was a challenge. We definitely had a fast car. We should have won,” Speed said.

Current Points Standings:
Pos Driver Points
1 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 1365
2 Frank Kimmel 1360
3 John Wes Townley 1320
3 Matt Carter 1315
5 Tom Hessert III 1295
6 Scott Speed 1240
7 Justin Allgaier 1230
8 Patrick Sheltra 1215
9 Ken Butler III 1165
10 Tayler Malsam 1140

Technorati Tags: Auto racing, ARCA RE/MAX Series, Kentucky Speedway, NASCAR, Craftsman Truck Series, Roush Fenway Racing, Ricky Stenhouse

What do you do when you’re labeled by one of the MSM darlings as the “least popular” NASCAR driver (”most loathed” by another), supported by a driver introduction featuring a 150 decibel chorus of “BOO,” smack the fence five times and have loose nuts resulting in a stop-n-go?

The answer is obvious if your one Kyle “The Desperado” Busch, you turn the Lady in Black into the Lady on Her Back and take a bow to your less than adoring crowd after yet another win.

It’s all pretty simple isn’t it?

Busch when asked post race whether the boo-birds have any effect: “Not really. I don’t care. I’m here to race. I’m here to win. If I win, just makes ‘em more upset and crying on their way home.”

“By the way, somebody threw a beer can at me. Next time just make sure it’s full so I can enjoy it out there, all right?”

Somewhere Jeff Gordon is smiling as the cascade of beer cans have found another mark.

And somewhere else someone should be tracking down the asshat that did it so he/she/it can be banned from NASCAR sanctioned events for life.

Technorati Tags: Kyle Busch, Auto racing, NASCAR, Darlington Raceway, Motorsports

Race drivers love to complain, and that’s especially true when things aren’t going their way or their ream isn’t living up to expectations.

It’s been that way since Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1895 and I see no chance it will abate in the near future.

It was only natural when seeing the latest Jeff Gordon quotes I filed them away along with a century of history preceding them.

But then I read them again: ” … NASCAR knows it’s happening,” Gordon said on Friday at Darlington Raceway. “They are the ones that see the cars come through inspection. They see it. When cars can’t even get on the scales because they’re running sideways, it’s something they need to address.”

Gordon’s referring to the cars doing the “crab-walk” down the straightaway. After a second reading the light bulb of cognition flicked on in my skull. “Yeah that’s it, that’s what I saw during Friday nights NNS event.”

At the time I thought nothing of it. After all the Cup series has just cast aside a car that can be best described as a Twisted Sister as compared to their street models. Prior to the CoT coming into being the old “template cars” were so bent out of shape they resembled something made during an Old-Fashioned Taffy Pull Party.

But there they were, the new car’s right rear hiked up like an incontinent dog in a fire hydrant factory.

I only wish I had a tape on the NNS event to go back and review it, because despite Gordon’s contention, more “legs were hiked” than just the pack of Roush-Fenway mongrels cars.

I seem to remember a much larger litter and NASCAR Series director John Darby not only admits to the phenomena but insists Hendrick Motorsports was the first to experiment with the new car as a twisted Sister and that Edwards’ #99 team was one of the last.

That leads me to believe I was correct in not calling out Jeffy as a whiner, but feel fully justified in saying he and any other members of Hendrick Motorsports thanking or speaking the same are Pots calling the Kettle black.

None of which bothers me in the slightest. If Roush, or any other team, finds a way to make the car work and NASCAR gives it a pass, more power to them both.

One thing I will do is pay closer attention to which teams are doing the crab walk down the Lady in Black’s straights this evening.

Technorati Tags: Darlington Raceway, Jeff Gordon, NASCAR, Auto Racing, Sprint Cup Series, Roush Fenway Racing, Full Throttle, F1 Rage!, Carl Edwards

With all that’s going on within the F1 Circus over the last few weeks is this really how Reuters wants to headline a story?

“Fisichella penalised for red light infringement.”

It’s factual, that I’ll give them.

But you wonder if the Reuters staffer is completely oblivious to Max “The Littlest Perv” Mosley’s sexual escapades or he/she might be having a little fun with word play at the expense of the unaware?

Anyway, enough of the falderal, on to more [semi]important stuff.

Stuff like the price of gas, specifically the variety that powers NASCAR’s traveling circus of transporters.

“We’re really noticing it in credit card costs,” said Jay Frye, general manager of Red Bull Racing. “We’re getting bills back for thousands and thousands of dollars in diesel fuel that’s needed to get the haulers to the track each week. So every time gas prices go up, it affects our monthly budget because we’re paying a bigger gas bill than we did last month.”

At approximately 300 gallons a pop to fill up an 18=wheeler it costs more than $1,200 for a transporter that only gets between 4.5 and 7.5 miles per gallon.

I feel their pain, I guess, but didn’t come this way to sympathize. I mention it because it could be worse, much worse.

Rather than 18-wheelers criss-crossing the nation NASCAR’s best could be making the trip between Eastern Australia and a couple thousand kilometers west to Perth for a weekend of racing at Barbagallo Raceway in Perth.

Why would that be worse?

Funny you should ask, rather than 18-wheelers they would be making the trip at the wheel of a gas guzzling 34-wheeler!

Go ahead, click on that image I dare you to behold that behemoth. In fact throw caution to the wind and click twice to get up close and personal with the beast.

Those familiar with Australia are probably aware of the Road Trains that are the mainstay of cargo transport across the outback. I’ve seen enough of them in my time spent there, including a couple near Alice Springs and Darwin that were still adored with Kangaroo entrails flapping in the breeze and dust, but had never thought of race car transporters configured as Road Trains.

I’m thinkin’ Dale Jr. should have had one exported to the States after his visit to Australia this past winter. Talk about a statement rolling into Daytona with a 34-wheeler.

An illegal statement, but a statement non-the-less.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Red Bull Racing, Auto racing, Barbagallo Raceway, Jay Frye, Alice Springs