NASCAR Summer Segment

Nascar ^

[ican'tbelieveit]

NASCAR Summer Segment

[mabarker1]

Thank You, Been very busy trying to finish unpacking and setting up after the move at the end of July. It seems to never end...

Earnhardt, Jr. waiting on 2016 schedule to set wedding date: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has said he and Amy Reimann plan to wed next summer after getting engaged June 17 in Germany. With NASCAR racing nearly every weekend, there will be few options for them to choose a summer wedding. Earnhardt will be in a friend's wedding this weekend - the final off weekend of the Sprint Cup season - and is looking forward to his wedding. "I'm probably going to be doing it this time next year," Earnhardt said. "Once we get that damn schedule. I've been asking (NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike) Helton since New Hampshire what's going on." NASCAR's officials have suggested that the 2016 schedule should be released in early September.(NBC Sports)(8-30-2015)

[mabarker1]

Saturday's XFINITY race could be the last for Boris Said: Saturday's race at Road America marks the finale of a five-race NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule for veteran road racer Boris Said this year in Joe Gibbs Racing's #54 Toyota. On Friday, Said hinted that the event could signify another finale on a much broader scale. "Man, this is like the best Christmas present I ever got in my life," Said said after Friday's final practice at the 4.048-mile track. "I've been racing for over 30 years. I'm going to be 53 in a couple weeks. In the last three or four years, I've been racing cars that don't have a prayer to win, underfunded teams. It's still fun, but not fun not being competitive. So, to get an opportunity to drive for Monster and Joe Gibbs and Toyota in equipment like this, it was a dream come true. To finally run in the top five at Watkins Glen, it kind of shows, hey maybe it's not my age, it was just the equipment. It's just been one of the most fun years I've ever had doing these five races with these guys. Now that it's last one, it might be the last NASCAR car race I ever run, I don't know. But it sure is a cool way to go out." If Saturday proves to be Said's swan song, his record will show one XFINITY victory, one Camping World Truck Series win and two Sprint Cup pole positions in a career that dates back to 1995 in NASCAR national series competition.(NASCAR.com)(8-29-2015)

[mabarker1]

Drivers to appear at youth autograph session at Talladega: Danica Patrick, Aric Almirola, AJ Allmendinger and Ryan Blaney are scheduled to appear for a Talladega Superspeedway special youth autograph session during the Alabama 500/fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola race weekend upcoming Oct. 23-25. On Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10:45am/ct in the track's Hospitality Village, located behind the Birmingham Tower outside the frontstretch, the first 100 kids (12-and-under) to arrive will have the chance to get an autograph from each driver (limit one per child and time permitting). Participants will be allowed to start lining up for the youth autograph session at 10:00am/ct. Talladega Superspeedway has great ticket offers for kids 12 & under for both Saturday and Sunday, which will showcase the final race of the Contender Round in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup in which the list of 12 eligible drivers to the title will be reduced to eight at the checkered flag. Those kids' deals include $50 off the regular price throughout the lower grandstands and towers while they can sit free in the fourth turn Gadsden grandstand while supplies last.(TSS)(8-29-2015)

[mabarker1]

Busch Beer to replace Budweiser on the #4: Anheuser-Busch's Busch brand will be the primary sponsor of a NASCAR car next year instead of Budweiser. A-B InBev, which has its U.S. headquarters in St. Louis, said Monday that Busch will be the new primary sponsor of Stewart-Haas Racing's #4 NASCAR car driven by Kevin Harvick for the 2016 NASCAR season. Budweiser has sponsored Harvick for several years. "The Busch brand is well positioned for this partnership given the brand's storied history with the sport," Lucas Herscovici, A-B's Vice President of Consumer Connections said in an email.(St Louis Post Dispatch)(8-24-2015)

• Earnhardt Jr. to run Valvoline throwback scheme at Darlington: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. may be driving the Valvoline car on Sept. 6, 2015, at Darlington Raceway, but thanks to a "throwback" paint scheme, his fans will likely feel as if they're watching a race more in line with his father's early career and track opponents. Earnhardt and Valvoline's presence on the Darlington track at the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will pay homage to the brand's storied history in motor sports with an early-1980s look inspired by Valvoline cars driven by some of the era's racing icons, including Cale Yarborough, Ron Bouchard, Neil Bonnett and Buddy Baker. "I love the history of the sport and really enjoy paint schemes from the past," said Earnhardt, NASCAR's 12-time most popular driver. "To be able to run a car inspired by many of my racing idols is pretty special. Valvoline has been involved in NASCAR for a long time, and it's awesome they wanted to do a program like this at Darlington."
  The one-race sponsorship of Earnhardt's #88 Chevy marks an elevated partnership between Hendrick Motorsports and Valvoline, which in September 2013 announced a four-year agreement that kicked off last season. The new sponsorship at Darlington represents Valvoline's first primary paint scheme since that time. "As Valvoline approaches its 150th anniversary, we are proud to support Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the upcoming 'throwback' Southern 500 by paying tribute to the legendary drivers who have contributed to the legacy of Valvoline racing," said Sam Mitchell, Valvoline president. "We look forward to being part of yet another exciting competition at Darlington for the history books."
  "I remember our first Southern 500 win back in 1986," said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, whose teams have earned a record 14 Sprint Cup victories at Darlington. "It was an incredible era that featured some amazingly talented drivers, and it's exciting to see Valvoline recognize them with this paint scheme. We're extremely proud of our partnership and delighted to see it grow with this program."
  In addition to the 1980s-inspired red and blue paint scheme, Earnhardt's fire suit will pay homage to this specific era of racing history. The two-time Daytona 500 winner helped design Valvoline's "throwback" look after reviewing the various styles of legacy cars and drivers. He also worked alongside performance and protective footwear and apparel designer Alpinestars to develop a suit that would take NASCAR fans back 30-plus years. The Darlington paint scheme also sets the tone for Valvoline: LEGACY, a program ahead of the brand's 150th anniversary celebration in 2016 designed specifically to tell the story of its motor sports history, commitment to excellence and dedication to developing cutting-edge motor oil. As part of Valvoline: LEGACY, NASCAR fans will soon have access to a special video series, which will be available via the Valvoline YouTube channel, in advance of the Sunday, Sept. 6 race. These LEGACY videos will feature Earnhardt, as well as Yarborough (1982 Darlington winner, NASCAR Hall of Famer and past Valvoline driver) and Ray Evernham (three-time Sprint Cup Series champion crew chief, television broadcaster and NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee). Additionally, a limited-edition die cast replica of Earnhardt's No. 88 Valvoline Chevrolet SS will be available in participating Wal-Mart stores across the United States beginning on Aug. 31.(Hendrick Motorsports / Valvoline PR), see images of the car on Jayski.com's #88 Team Schemes page.(8-24-2015)

[mabarker1]

Where is ... Ricky Rudd? Even as a youngster riding around his neighborhood on a small, lawn mower engine-powered car, Ricky Rudd wanted to go fast. Moving on to go-karts capable of speeds topping 100 mph as he got older just solidified the mindset. Rudd even dreamed of a future in Formula One racing. But when a family friend offered him a shot at taking the wheel of a stock car, Rudd headed down a different track - one that would propel the Chesapeake native toward a racing career as one of NASCAR's most successful drivers. Rudd holds the record for most consecutive starts with 788. Jeff Gordon is on track to break that mark next month. After his final two years saw limited action and an attempt at owning a team, Rudd stepped away for good after a 21st-place finish at the Ford 500 in Homestead-Miami in 2007. He hasn't been back to a track since.
"The sport was changing and TV changed it," said Rudd, who sold his house in Chesapeake decades ago and comes to South Hampton Roads only sparingly. "It was a difficult decision, but not as difficult as you'd think. "I deal with the contrast of my life pretty good."
Rudd maintains his own property on a lake and enjoys making up for lost time with his family. He goes mountain biking almost every day and the family - which consists of his wife of 36 years, Linda, and 20-year-old son Landon - often travels to the Virgin Islands with his sisters and their families. Every now and then he gets a call for a speaking engagement and at one point gave TV race commentary a try. "Nowadays I do as little as possible, to be honest," Rudd said. But when he does get the urge to go fast, it's not in his Jaguar or Ford GT. Rudd keeps one of the go-karts he grew up with at a local small track and gives himself a 100 mph thrill ride when he needs it. He even competed in a racing series last year against drivers that remind him of his spitfire youth. "I kept a low profile but the kids ended up finding out" who he was, Rudd said. "They're so involved, so they don't care. But you can see the talent coming up and they don't hesitate to hand it to the old guy." Rudd finished second in two of the series' 10 races and was third in the points race at the end. "I was doing it for the fun of it. It's a great workout," he said. "But that third kind of bothered me." Read more at the Virginian-Pilot.(8-6-2015)

• Team Xtreme Racing reports man pleads guilty in theft UPDATE: The now defunct Sprint Cup Series #44 Team Xtreme Racing The team took to their Twitter account Monday afternoon to announce the man arrested for the theft, Jason Terry, pleaded guilty. Team owner Johnathan Cohen confirmed to FOXSports.com he learned of the guilty plea from the district attorney's office, but did want to make any further statements on the issue. The original incident occurred on Feb. 27 when the team's truck, trailer and No. 44 Sprint Cup car were stolen from a Georgia hotel parking lot. Police found the team's Chevrolet Sprint Cup car the following day, while the truck was also later found. The trailer and spare racing parts were not found when the Morrow (Georgia) Police Department issued a warrant for a person of interest on March 9. On March 12, news broke that Cohen faced legal issues of his own. The team withdrew from the March 29 race at Martinsville Speedway and has not attempted another race since.(FoxSports)(8-4-2015)
  UPDATE: Johnny Milton Terry was sentenced to 10 years probation and fined $1,000 plus court costs Monday after pleading no contest in the February theft of the pickup truck and the trailer that contained a NASCAR Sprint Cup car. A report by the Morrow Police Department stated Terry confessed the crime a day after the theft and that person contacted police. An arrest warrant was issued on March 6. Terry was later arrested and had bond denied June 29. As part of Monday's plea deal in Clayton County (Ga.) Superior Court, Terry was sentenced under the First Offender/Conditional Discharge program despite being jailed four times from 2001-11, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. The Morrow Police Department report stated that a criminal history check on Terry returned 'several entering autos/theft by receiving stolen property and is a convicted felon."(NBC Sports)(8-6-2015)

[tubebender]

Thanks for the update on the theft. Old age is taking it’s toll on my physical and mental abilities so my interests are changing and I find my self spending way too much time on “Social Media” snort...

[happydogx2]

No surprise here...the hand writing was on the wall - Michael Waltrip racing to cease operations at years end:

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/13482001/rob-kauffman-announces-michael-waltrip-racing-cease-operations-season-end

[mabarker1]

Yes, that was announced by Mikey on Air during the Bristol Practice coverage.

BTW- Mama is predicting that Clint Bowyer will become 2nd Car at Furniture Row Racing along with Truex.

Sad News - Richard Brown: Richard Daniel Brown, 75, of Claremont, NC passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2015 from renal disease at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Born April 9, 1940 in Catawba County to the late George McFarland Brown and Maude Ruth Baker Brown. Richard was a 1958 graduate of Bunker Hill High School and a graduate from Nashville Auto Diesel College in 1959. He was a member of St. Marks ELCA in Claremont for 45 years, served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and Berlin Crisis, and retired from NCDOT where he worked as a crew leader for many years. Richard was also a NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver [raced in 50 Cup races 1971-1976 with one top-five and three top-tens, with a best finish of 5th at Martinsville in 1972].(service info and full obituary at Bennett Funeral Service website)(8-31-2015)

[mabarker1]

Dream Racers - Former Penske builder works to help keep kids calm during treatments: Mark Smith does magic with metal. For years, he has repaired wrecked cars, built cars from scratch and restored relics. But he sold his shop in Mooresville's Lakeside Business Park because he found something he wanted to do more. Now, he's a dreamer. He's making Dream Racers, miniature race car reproductions built from the ground up, the same way Smith helped build race vehicles at Penske Racing. They're 78 inches long, 38 inches tall and 27 inches wide, and weigh less than 100 pounds, and they sit on locking casters so they can be rolled into place. Where Dream Racers are designed to go makes them most special. They're built for children's hospitals or facilities where young patients sometimes have to remain relatively still – for chemotherapy, respiratory treatments or other procedures. A computer monitor is mounted to the hood and connected to a video game and DVD system – a diversion from the treatment a child might endure. There is a spot for an oxygen bottle and a slot on the roll cage for a pole to hold intravenous fluids. David Reutimann, driver of the #00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, saw a need for the therapeutic cars – and made the first dream come true. “When you see sick kids, it just gnaws on you,” Reutimann said. He hosts a golf tournament each year to benefit charities such as All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., near his hometown of Zephyrhills. Kelly Sutton, who knows Smith from having competed in the NASCAR Truck Series, told Reutimann about the Dream Racer. Reutimann dedicated the proceeds from his 2008 golf tournament to pay $9,500 to get the first Dream Racer – with paint and decals like his Sprint Cup car sponsored by Aaron's – in All Children's. “It is a fabulous device,” said Sara Barnett, a child life specialist at the hospital. “It certainly makes life a lot easier.” Children scheduled for treatments cinch up the safety belts in the Dream Racer, watch a movie or play a video game – and maybe the procedure seems to pass more quickly. The car, Barnett said, also can be used a reward for patients who cooperate through difficult treatments. “It's a little escape from what's going on in their lives,” Reutimann said. “Anything that can be done to take their minds off what's going on or distract them a little bit will help make the time go by quicker.” It takes 80 to 100 hours to build each Dream Racer. Sage Hendricks and Bill Snyder, both recently laid off at Dale Earnhardt Inc., are helping Smith build – and refine – the cars. Much of the work on the Dream Racers is done in the garage of Hendricks' house. The work is meticulous. Each piece of the car is handmade. Each weld is done by hand. The wiring is housed inside conduits, and all electronics are carefully grounded. Engineers at All Children's checked the racer Reutimann donated, and it received more than 50 points above the hospital's passing score. It has been delivered and is going through final safety checks.(Charlotte Observer) more info at childrensdreamracer.com.(2-5-2009)

[happydogx2]

I hate moving. I have moved once in the last 34 years and that was once too much. Of course when I was a young pup the average was probably about once every 2 years.

Bowyer to Furniture Row makes sense; who would want to take a chance on Vickers should he be medically cleared...

The great cool down has started in the Pacific Northwest. Weather folk are saying no more 80+ degree temps for the rest of the year. There’s even a chance of (snow) dusting on the peaks W of us later in the week. Football weather -

[tubebender]

Waltrip teams today and I’m sure there are other team owners looking for a way out of the bottomless pit...

[tubebender]

We had a half inch of rain Friday night. Just enough to settle the dust and sprout a few billion weed seeds. My daughter and her husband fished the Klamath last week and caught 4 Salmon. Your milage may vary...

[happydogx2]

Kauffman is a billionaire and he could afford to float that team for as long as he wanted to. I strongly suspect another personal reason (Mickey) for him pulling the plug.

We only got sprinkles this weekend but our 80 degree weather is gone, gone, gone. Ate the few ears of corn from the garden on Saturday. Forgotten how delicious it was when picked from the stalk to the grill to the plate.

I’ve got a 2 day salmon trip booked for the Columbia towards the end of the month. I’d settle for a fish each day.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Well, race fans. We are closing in on the end of another year. Last 12 races of Jeff Gordon's career. Where is Clint Bowyer going to land?

Welcome to the 2015
Nascar at FR race thread!

Series	Race	Track	Qualifying Time Channel	Race Time Channel
	Bojangles Southern 500	Darlington Raceway	Sat. Sept. 5 1:45 PM ET NBCSN	Sun. Sept. 6 7:00 PM ET NBC
	VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200	Darlington Raceway	Sat. Sept. 5 11:45 AM ET NBCSN	Sat. Sept. 5 3:30 PM ET NBC
	No Race

FRFL’ers: Deadline to select drivers for this week is:

Saturday September 5 at 5:00 AM ET ( 2:00 AM PT)

Jayski site for race prep info

Remember, you can join anytime! Let us know if you are interested.

May God Bless our Troops, their families, and our Nation
The FR Canteen

FReepmail for addition to the Ping List.

[tubebender]

Thanks for the Bump...

[happydogx2]

This sounds fun -

SQUIER, JARRETTS TO CALL PART OF SOUTHERN 500

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2015/9/1/darlington-throwback-nbc-announcers-ken-squier-ned-jarrett.html

[mabarker1]

• NBC releases details of Darlington coverage: Retro paint schemes are only part of the throwback celebration with the Southern 500's return to Labor Day weekend for the first time since 2003. NBC, which will broadcast Saturday's Xfinity race and Sunday night's Sprint Cup race from Darlington Raceway, also will add to the nostalgia. Among the nods to years past in Sunday's broadcast:
  " Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett and Dale Jarrett will call the race at some point, taking over briefly for NBC's crew of Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte.
  " Features during the Countdown to Green show include Squier's essay on Darlington Raceway, Kyle Petty talking with Bill Elliott and Chase Elliott on the 30th anniversary of Bill Elliott's Southern 500 win that also earned him the Winston Million bonus, and Jeff Burton going around the track in the NBC Sports Toyota Camry On Track Car while Petty is on track as well in the Wood Brothers' #21 car from 1971.
  " Booth and studio talent will appear in 1970s-era clothing.
  " Also featured throughout the weekend will be retro highlights, graphics and music.
  "To bring it back on Labor Day, I think this is perhaps one of the best moves that NASCAR had made in a decade," Squier said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday about the Southern 500's return to this date.(NBC Sports)(9-2-2015)

[mabarker1]

Will be driven at Darlington.
A mosaic of about 2,000 pictures dating back to the start of the team, depicting the Wood Brothers' 65-year history.
Images from a Wood Brothers Racing PR and Facebook page for the images.(8-4-2015)

[Chode]

nice!

[mabarker1]

I’m starting to feel like I should be about 10 years old for this flashback weekend.

Well just got back from My SSDI hearing, if lucky I’ll get an answer within 1 - 3 MONTHS!