Damn no Jr in Texas. Some Cup races including Vegas.
Posted on 11/21/2008 5:30:10 PM PST by WestCoastGal
JACOBACCI, Argentina — Spanish driver and former world rally champion Carlos Sainz won Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally on Monday and now holds the overall lead by 5 minutes, 45 seconds over South African Giniel De Villiers. The third stage was 551 kilometers, from Puerto Madryn to Jacobacci.
Sainz, just as on Sunday, bested De Villiers on Monday by 3 minutes, 26 seconds. Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel finished third, 4 minutes, 56 seconds behind.
Stage 4 on Tuesday will be from Jacobacci to Neuquen, a distance of 459 kilometers.
The 2009 Dakar Rally was switched this year from Africa to Argentina and Chile because of security fears. It features 540 competitors from 50 countries and covers 9,000 kilometres over 13 stages — three in Chile and 10 in Argentina — with the finish scheduled for Jan. 18 in Buenos Aires.
The 2008 Dakar, which was to have started in Lisbon before heading to Africa, was cancelled the day before the scheduled start because of specific terrorist threats made against the event. It was the first cancellation in the history of the race since its inception in 1979 due to security concerns after four French tourists were murdered in Mauritania.
The Dakar Rally is being broadcast on Versus, with daily updates on RobbyGordon.com.
NASCAR Champion Greg Biffle Advocates For Animals
(NAPSI)-Stock car racing superstar Greg Biffle, who finished third in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is always envisioning the finish line. Now he’s heading for another victory, this time to end companion animal euthanasia. He’s spokesperson for SPAY/USA (www.spayusa.org), a nationwide network and referral service for affordable spay/neuter services and a program of North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Biffle is championing the prevention of unwanted litters. He is convinced that by raising awareness, more pet owners will follow his lead and alter their pets, leading to a dramatic decrease in shelter euthanasia.
The NASCAR champion and owner of three dogs likens his passion for animal welfare to his love of auto racing.
“It’s vitally important to control pet overpopulation. There are over 7,000 puppies and kittens born each day, with millions of healthy, innocent, unwanted animals put to death as a result of overpopulation,” cited Biffle, who says that he believes he can make a difference.
Biffle, who has achieved 48 career wins since 1996, says he plans to use the NASCAR community and the racing world to get the message across that it’s crucial and lifesaving to spay or neuter pets. He has set an example by spaying and neutering his own dogs.
Biffle and his wife Nicole founded the Greg Biffle Foundation to create awareness and serve as an advocate to improve the well-being of animals by engaging the power and passion of the motorsports industry.
The organization recently funded scholarships to help send rescue groups to the SPAY/USA National Conference.
Esther Mechler, SPAY/USA founder and director, applauds Biffle’s commitment. “I believe that Greg and his foundation provided an invaluable opportunity for people dedicated to animal welfare,” commented Mechler, adding that with Greg’s outreach as SPAY/ USA’s spokesperson, she is certain there will be significant effect amongst responsible pet owners.
To learn more and see Greg Biffle’s interview about his work on behalf of the organization, visit spayusa.org. To find out about low-cost spay/neuter services, call 1-800-248-SPAY (1-800-248-7729) or visit AnimalLeague.org.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — No passing. That was the only rule Tony Stewart had to abide by in Saturday’s 38th annual Fiesta Bowl parade.
Thankfully, the two-time Cup Series champion sat far enough away from the steering wheel.
Instead, he sat atop the trunk of a Corvette convertible waving to the crowd along the 1.9-mile parade route, fulfilling one of his primary duties as grand marshal of this year’s Fiesta Bowl. This year’s game features the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Texas Longhorns (8 p.m. ET Monday on FOX).
“
Anytime I come out to the Phoenix area, it’s like a home-coming. ... To think that it all kind of started at Phoenix, I guess you could say it’s the place where my career came full-circle.
”
— TONY STEWART”That was like driver introductions at Indianapolis times 10,” said Stewart, referring to the ritual of riding in the back of a pickup truck around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “This is a huge event and I’m just honored to be a part of it. It’s pretty cool to sort of venture outside our box a little bit and take in a game of this magnitude.
“With the racing season being what it is, getting away to see a college football game is kind of tough. When the Fiesta Bowl Committee called and asked if I was interested in being their grand marshal, I said, ‘As long as I get a ticket and a field pass to the game, I’m in.’ “
Stewart got that and then some. Announcing his presence in the parade were two red No. 14 Chevrolets. One was emblazoned with Office Depot and the other with Old Spice, his co-primary sponsors for the 2009 racing season — Stewart’s first as a driver/owner with Stewart-Haas Racing.
“Being grand marshal was also a great opportunity for our race team,” said Stewart, who is already an accomplished team owner in the USAC and the World of Outlaws, where his teams have won nine championships — seven in USAC and two in the World of Outlaws. “It’s not everyday that we’re able to crossover into other sporting events, so to be able to do that and bring my team and sponsors a little extra exposure was a no-brainer.
“Plus, we’re going to be back out here in April at Phoenix International Raceway, and hopefully the time we spend here in January brings a few more people out to the race track in April.”
Stewart’s ties to the Phoenix area are strong. The 1-mile oval in Avondale is where Stewart’s racing career truly began.
It was February 1993 at PIR’s famed Copper World Classic where the season-opening race for the USAC Silver Crown division was held. In Stewart’s first ever race at the desert mile, he qualified second to Davey Hamilton — a former IRL IndyCar Series veteran — and led 31 of the 50 laps before finishing second to Mike Bliss — the 2003 Truck Series champion.
The $3,500 payday for his second-place effort made eight-hour days at $5 an hour at the Columbus, Ind., machine shop where Stewart worked seem unnecessary. Packing the rest of the 1993 season with Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget races across the nation, Stewart’s quick ascent up the racing ladder began.
In all, Stewart has scored 11 driving championships in 29 years of racing, a tally that includes four USAC titles, one IndyCar Series crown and his two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.
“Anytime I come out to the Phoenix area, it’s like a homecoming,” Stewart said. “It’s a place where I feel comfortable. I started racing there in ‘93 when I ran a Silver Crown car, and since then I’ve run USAC Midgets, Indy cars, Supermodifieds, NASCAR Nationwide Series cars, and of course, Sprint Cup cars. So, I’ve logged a bunch of laps there. To think that it all kind of started at Phoenix, I guess you could say it’s the place where my career came full-circle.”
Serving as grand marshal of the Fiesta Bowl has helped solidify that feeling, for the Ohio State-Texas pairing provides Stewart the opportunity to further enhance his relationships with his new partners at Stewart-Haas Racing.
“I own a race track in Ohio, but a few of our sponsors have some really strong ties to Texas,” said Stewart, who owns Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. “So, I’m going to take a page from the Fiesta Bowl’s playbook and say that I just want to see a really good game.”
speedtv F1: Alonso Unhurt in Kenyan Plane Incident: The 2005 and 2006 F1 driver’s champ emerged unhurt from an incident .. http://tinyurl.com/9nab7k 16 minutes ago from twitterfeed
speedtv Bodine, Lucas Earn Bobsled Titles in Lake Placid: Todd Bodine carried over his success from Saturday’s qualifyin.. http://tinyurl.com/8c3e83 16 minutes ago from twitterfeed
speedtv GRAND-AM: Penske Announces Daytona 24hr Lineup: Penske Racing and Porsche announce three sportscar champions and.. http://tinyurl.com/8pjd5a 16 minutes ago from twitterfeed
Afternoon, we got ice here but it wasn’t the kind falling from the sky. It’s been lightly raining since about 5:30 this morning and that ice has frozen to make icicles all over the trees, power lines and all that above ground stuff. I just came in from checking on things in the back yard and there’s no ground ice, doesn’t look like any on the road - but everything above a foot off the ground is just coated.
But, my dog is medium sized, she’s been inside with me all day. The cat is no doubt holed up someplace cause I only saw him when I put food out before daylight. Both my greenhouses are good, I’m warm inside with hot spaghetti sauce simmering so I guess I’m not too bothered with it.
Thanks for the job wishes. I’ll send some prayers your way too. Would be good to both have a little job close to home to tide us over this economic mess. God Bless.
That’s very cool news you posted about Biffle and Stewart. Thanks.
netanyahu http://tinyurl.com/7hgp3c about 3 hours ago from twhirl
One of the best and clearest videos I’ve ever run on my computer compared to the US NewS Networks. I only wish I knew what they were saying. ;) Yes he has a Twitter account.
Aye.
Had one the other day I forwarded where you had to press “1” for English. ;)
Today was nice except for the wind. The ice was dropping off the trees over my house all day yesterday in little pellets.
I heard on the news next week will bring us the coldest front yet. Great!! My boss is gone for three weeks and I have to be there every day. I better not screw up as this is my only p/t job.
Gees, I hadn't heard that yet. Guess I've been so busy looking for work I've forgotten to keep up with the forecasts!
Hopefully you'll shine at that p/t job for the next 3 weeks. We'll just keep that in prayer. I got a good job nibble yesterday. Only thing is, it's in Waco. That's over 50 miles one way for me. It'll be a doozy of a life to drive that 5 days a week again. I hate to think of that kind of commute but it seems I am going to have to bite the bullet and do it.
Also heading to Waco today to take in another job app. A different place to which I had emailed a resume responded and asked me to come into their office and fill out their application. Not sure if that was just the SOP or if they are interested. No interview asked for.
Didn't Zerobama say we were going to have no worries if he was elected? oh - right - that was if I really was a deadbeat wasn't it?
nascar_blog Nascar.com Gordon jumps to seventh after fifth stage at Dakar: South African Giniel de Villiers scored.. http://tinyurl.com/94kwa5 about 1 hour ago from twitterfeed
thatsracin [news] French rider’s death overshadows Dakar Rally results http://snipurl.com/9lnz8
D minus 39 days, and counting.........
No info on cause(s) yet eh? Seems a bit strange.
Still rootin for CRASH!
Can we count faster? :)
Champion’s Suite With Bobby Allison Puts Race Fans In Exclusive Company
Bobby Allison is a three-time Daytona 500 champion.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2009) — It’s an opportunity that every race fan would dream of doing – watching the Daytona 500 and visiting with a three-time winner of “The Great American Race.”
Daytona International Speedway is making that dream happen.
With the Champion’s Suite With Bobby Allison, race fans will have the opportunity to rub elbows with three-time Daytona 500 winner Bobby Allison during DIRECTV Speedweeks and the 51st annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Included in the package will be admission to the Champion’s Suite With Bobby Allison located on the famed Superstretch as well as other amenities such as:
Meet and greet with Allison
Food and two drink tickets for beer or wine (cash bar for mixed drinks)
Unlimited Coca-Cola soft drinks and Dasani water
Pre-Race access including Sprint FANZONE
Souvenir event program
Daytona 500 Experience admission
Allison is one of only five drivers to have won the Daytona 500 three or more times. He captured the 1978 Daytona 500 with Bud Moore, the 1982 with DiGard Racing and the 1988 with Stavola Bros.
In the 1988 Daytona 500, Allison and his son Davey delivered the race’s only 1-2 father-son finish. That same year, Allison also won the 300-mile Nationwide Series race, the Gatorade qualifying race and the fishing tournament.
Prices range from the four-day package of $999 to a single-day package for the 51st annual Daytona 500 of $699. To purchase the package, call 1-800-PITSHOP.
Budweiser Shootout Features New Format In 2009
Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 2008 Budweiser Shootout.
ST. LOUIS and DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2008) - The Budweiser Shootout, NASCAR’s season-opening event, will undergo a major format change in 2009 with the top-six drivers in owner’s points for each car manufacturer eligible for a starting berth. NASCAR’s season-opening event is scheduled for Saturday night, Feb. 7 at Daytona International Speedway.
In addition, other format changes include:
Event distance increases from 70 laps to 75 laps
10-minute intermission after 25 laps; teams can change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments
Damn no Jr in Texas. Some Cup races including Vegas.
I didn't know this was broke. Why fix it if it ain't broke. Come on Daytona. I feel the need for speed.
I know Jr said the same thing when they announced these changes last year, he didn’t like it at all.
Also with all the mergers and driver changes some will now not qualify to be in the shootout. I have it posted upthread somewhere, I guess I will go find it again when we get closer to Feb 7th.
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