Posted on 11/21/2008 5:30:10 PM PST by WestCoastGal
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I LIKE THE CARTOON...
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Who's gonna set up a FFL for the upcoming season. I've not done it... Buehler? |
You did remember to close the gate this evening didn’t you?
Didn’t you?????
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I forgot. It’s windy and cold this morning.
Though, others from Montana and So Dakota tell me I’m a sissy. LOL
ARCA practice was going on at Daytona
willkimmel practice went great today, thx to Bill, Larry, Eric, Lee, Davey, Andy and Bob. we on the road home, updates on my website about 2 hours ago from web
‘Sliced Bread’ learning Daytona at ARCA testing session
Teen driver will race there five times during Speedweeks
By Official Release
December 21, 2008
11:03 AM EST
type size: + -DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Joey Logano is only 18 but is about to attempt a rare Daytona double, and then some.
Logano, who has never raced at Daytona International Speedway, will make his first two starts on Feb. 7 when he races in both the ARCA Re/Max Series season opener and Budweiser Shootout.
Legendary NASCAR crew chief Ray Fox shakes hands with Joey Logano during ARCA testing at Daytona.”I’m doing it,” Logano said of his busy Speedweeks 2009 schedule. “I’m running both races and then I’ve got the Nationwide race ... then running the Cup race. Between all that, I’ve got my hands full.”
Toss in the Daytona 150-mile qualifying races, and Logano will be racing five events during Speedweeks.
“I’m just getting as many laps as I can and learn as much as I can,” Logano said. “I’ve got a big year ahead on the Cup side ... whatever I can do to make myself better.”
Logano, who was signed to Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver development program in 2005, has generated plenty of buzz since he began racing at the age of 6. He already has amassed a long list of accomplishments including winning the 2007 Camping World East championship and more recently winning in his ARCA debut in May at Rockingham and winning in just his third Nationwide Series start in June at Kentucky.
Logano, who is replacing Tony Stewart in the No. 20 Toyota, will next try to add youngest Daytona 500 winner to that list. The current record is owned by Jeff Gordon, who won the Daytona 500 in 1997 at the age of 25 years, six months and 12 days.
Logano began his indoctrination to Daytona on Friday, the first of a three-day ARCA test with close to 50 other cars. Driving the No. 25 Toyota of Venturini Motorsports, Logano clocked in at 179.569 mph in his first laps around the legendary motorsports facility.
“I’ve been here and watched a ton of races, watched the 500 a hundred times probably,” Logano said. “I just want to get out there. We’re almost ready to go out there and just go around Daytona with all the history around this place.
“Just to go out there and make laps is going to be really cool. We’re going to learn a lot, as much as we can about the race car and about the track and drafting and see if we can come back with a good race car.”
A Champion’s faith: Former crew chief enduring storm
Piecing life back together after tragic boating accident
By Joe Menzer, NASCAR.COM
December 17, 2008
02:10 PM EST
type size: + -HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Last year at this time, Cliff Champion sat lounging in the living room of his home. A lighted Christmas tree stood a few feet away from the couch the former NASCAR crew chief rested on, as the gentle waves from a large lake lapped at the doors of his converted 80-foot Somerset houseboat.
Once the man who helped build cars and call the race-day shots for the likes of Cale Yarborough, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd, Benny Parsons, Richard Childress and Alan Kulwicki, Champion had long ago traded in the fast lanes of NASCAR tracks for the tranquil waters of Lake Norman, which boasts 520 miles of shoreline, a surface area of more than 50 miles and is located on the outskirts of Charlotte.
He ran a luxury charter boat business called Championship Yacht Charters, which catered to all kinds of folks looking to have a good time while floating on the water. He hosted wedding receptions, graduation parties — even the occasional celebratory party of a recent NASCAR winner — on the top two decks. His modest but more-than-adequate living quarters comprised most of the bottom deck.
He also hosted many charity events, including a series of cruises one day last May when he took 300 members of the U.S. Armed Forces out on the lake to show his appreciation for all that they do. Bobby Allison was among those who showed up to help him out in that endeavor.
Life seemed grand, its possibilities endless. And Champion loved the slow, leisurely pace of it all as he cruised his guests around the expansive lake at a top speed of 6 mph.
That all changed six months later, and life since has not been the same for Champion. On the afternoon of June 10, after dropping off 60 passengers who had been part of a high school graduation party, everything was altered in a grim, ghastly flash. Shortly after worker Nathan Coppick, 19, began refueling the boat, a powerful explosion engulfed it in flames, along with much of the Westport Marina dock where it had parked.
Crew members Katherine Jones and Jessica Young jumped from the boat and swam to safety. Champion and Mike Federal, father of the graduate being celebrated, also were on board along with Coppick. But while Champion and Federal were at the front of the boat, Coppick was near the rear, where the explosion had occurred.
Champion tried to get to Coppick through the flames.
“You couldn’t get to there because the whole back of the boat was a fireball,” Champion said then. “I couldn’t get to Nate.”
Eventually, Champion escaped along with Federal before the huge boat slipped underneath the green-gray waters of Lake Norman. Coppick wasn’t found until the next day, when a team of investigators and rescue workers pulled the boat up from the bottom of the cove where it had settled — and Coppick’s body was recovered in the rear near the engine room.
The aftermath>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Champion’s faith — and bevy of friends — has helped him cope with the tremendous loss as he continues to try to rebuild his life.
The boat was still on fire when he picked up his cell phone and called pastors at his nearby church, Grace Covenant. Like himself, two of them previously had worked in NASCAR.
“It was good because they were able to comfort the family, and the firemen, the workers, everybody — because it was a pretty bad scene,” Champion said.
When he emerged from the boat shortly before it slipped underwater, all Champion had on him were the bathing suit and tennis shoes he wore, and the cell phone he gripped in his hand. It was only then that he began grasping the seriousness of the situation, even as he and rescue workers continued to feverishly work in vain to find the missing Coppick.
“You don’t realize it even when it’s happening to you. A lot of people didn’t know that I did live on the boat and it was my business — so it was everything,” Champion said. “When it happened, I was busy trying to fight the fire and help the rescue guys, as was everybody, to either find the young man or help put out the fire.”
Soon it was on the news about what had happened. More friends from the NASCAR community started calling. Andy Petree and Phil Parsons showed up to help, as did Tom Cotter, a former roommate who had gone on to become a public relations giant in NASCAR and beyond.
“Deb Williams, an old sports writer, she called up and asked if I needed a place to stay. I kind of stood there in a daze for a second and thought, ‘Well, yeah, I guess I do.’ I wasn’t thinking about where I was going to sleep that night,” Champion said. “So that’s when it kind of starts hitting you at first. But it still takes a little while. Friends came up and gave me a little bit of money to get me through the night — because when I went off the boat, I had a pair of tennis shoes and a bathing suit. You can’t even go out to dinner without a shirt.”
When the boat was pulled from the water and placed on land at a storage facility, Champion faced another problem. Investigators still needed to sift through the wreckage, searching for clues as to what caused the blast. But others saw the hulking, charred remains of Champion’s former life as something else, and they started conspiring to steal what they could of it.
Still more folks from his NASCAR past stepped forward to help.
“Frank Davis, one of the old racers who originally came up with the concepts of Legend cars out in Phoenix, Ariz., he saw that as soon as we got the boat up on land and got it secured for the night, thieves started coming out and trying to steal what they saw as scrap aluminum. I needed to stay with the boat to guard it, because it was evidence that we needed to remain untouched until the investigators were done with it,” Champion said. “The very next day, Frank brought over a brand-new motorhome and parked it in the lot. And I stayed in his motorhome for two months. He’d come and get it and pump it out and fill it full of fuel and say, ‘Here you go.’ He wouldn’t let me give him a dime.”
When Davis finally came to retrieve the motorhome, other Good Samaritans emerged from the shores of Lake Norman.
“Some people I didn’t even know from one of the local churches called up. This woman and her husband were moving into a new house, and they offered me their old house to live in rent-free for two months. It was a house right on the water. I lived there for another two months,” Champion said.
NASCAR Angels
Monday night will be Barbeque at Ridgewood (best in the world) and then the Bristol Speedway Lights.
I missed these yesterday???
It’s still windy and cold. How long is thing going to blow?
I know the warm better come back quick. I’ve been nominated to to cook on Christmas, fried shrimp and oysters and it’s done outside.
Weather should be much better by Thursday.
Happy grilling!!
I hope so, it’s ugly now. Can imagine how it is in your neck of the woods.
Supposed to rain tonight, but begin clearing.
Yesterday was the worst because the wind was blowing. Today or this morning it was colder but it didn’t feel as brutal.
About 5 days ago we had such bad fog you couldn’t see and it happened to be the day I decided to go to the big city.
Tis the season to stay in the country.
Had my ‘67 Cutlass rear ended on the freeway on Dec 23rd one year. Wasn’t a Merry Christmas at all.
Early odds for 2009 title: Johnson at 4-1
THATSRACIN.COM OPINION
Monday, Dec. 22, 2008
Micah Roberts, who works for the Station casinos in Las Vegas, has sent over the opening line odds for the 2009 Sprint Cup championship, the Daytona 500 and the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.
Jimmie Johnson, fittingly, has 4-1 odds to win a fourth straight Cup title. Carl Edwards is the next choice at 9-2 while Kyle Busch is 5-1.
Greg Biffle is 10-1 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 12-1. Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin are each 13-1 while Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth are 18-1. Jeff Burton is 20-1 and Kevin Harvick is 22-1.
Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, David Ragan and Kurt Busch are 30-1. Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray and Joey Logano are 40-1. Brian Vickers is the longest shot at 75-1. Everyone else would be part of the 30-1 “field” bet.
Kyle Busch is the favorite, at 7-2 odds, in both the 500 and the Shootout.
Earnhardt is 6-1 in the 500 while Johnson is 7-1. Gordon and Hamlin are 12-1 with Martin and Kurt Busch is 15-1. Edwards is 17-1 to win the 500. Stewart is 18-1 and defending 500 champion Ryan Newman is 40-1. Michael Waltrip is 75-1 and he’s won the Daytona 500 before. Logano hadn’t run a lap at Daytona until he did an Automobile Racing Club of America test there last week, but his odds to win the 500 are 25-1.
Earnhardt Jr. is the second pick at 5-1 for the Shootout. Gordon and Hamlin are 6-1.
Daytona announces fan fest dates
Tickets, which go on sale Saturday, Dec. 20 at 9 a.m., are $15 with autograph session availability limited to only 100 people per driver in advance. To purchase tickets and request access to the special autograph sessions, call 1-800-PITSHOP.
Drivers scheduled to make appearances on Friday, Jan. 16 beginning at 6 p.m. include 50th running of the Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Reed Sorenson, Aric Almirola, Casey Mears, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland, former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner and Jon Wes Townley.
Scheduled to appear on Saturday, Jan. 17 during the noon - 4 p.m. session include three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup runner-up Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan, Colin Braun, Erik Darnell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard and Alex Garcia.
In the 4 p.m. 8 p.m. session on Saturday, Jan. 17, drivers scheduled to appear include former Daytona 500 winners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip and Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr.
http://www.racingone.com/article.aspx?artnum=46585
Cats In The Cradle
A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Story
December 20, 2008 by Sal Sigala Jr. · 6 Comments
Filed under: NASCAR News, Opinion · Print This!
Sal Sigala Jr., FanZone Sports
While listening to the song Cats in the cradle It kind of reminded about the life of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and his son Dale Jr. For those of you who have heard the song which I am sure many of you have. Harry sings about a very sad but also a very real life relationship that some of us sons may have had with our dads. While reading the stories and watching some old film clips. All that Jr ever wanted to be was like his dad. But because of the grueling schedule that each and every full time driver has to deal with. There are sacrifices that have to be made. And that sacrifice is usually not getting the chance to watch your own kids grow up.
What a life Jr has had to endure while growing up. I am sure there were many times that he wanted to play ball or even just sit by his side. But as popular as Sr was. He didnt have that time. You could see it in Jrs eyes when he was interviewed for the movie Dale. There is an emptiness that could never be fulfilled ever again. There were very few times that Jr could actually share where he and his dad spent that quality time together. And if they did. It seemed that it was either at this race track or at that race track. What a life for any son to have to live. And to think that Sr may not have even been there to watch his son take his first step. But to the younger Dale. That didnt matter. Because the only thing on his young mind was, Im gonna be like you dad. You know Im gonna be like you
Here was a man who was not only famous. But was also a man who was feared on and off the track. He always made time for his fans as well as his sponsors. But how many times did the younger Dale have to ask these words and get this kind of response from his own dad? When you comin home dad? I dont know when, but well get together then son you know well have good time then. While watching his famous dad on T.V. hoping that someday he would acknowledge him as much as he did all the other people who surrounded him at the track. Who could ever forget Dale Jr looking from afar as his dad was in victory circle celebrating one of his 76 race wins? Wanting so bad to be a bigger part of his life.
But it still didnt bother the younger Dale. Instead he would walk away with a smile and say,Im gonna be like him, yeah. You know Im gonna be like him. Dale Jr has grown up to be like his dad in a lot of ways. He may not be the feared or the overly aggressive driver that his dad was. But one of the things that he did inherit from his dad is the desire and the will to win. A will and desire that comes from the heart. Dale Jr as some of us may know is caught up in a type of prison. He is locked behind the bars of his dads greatness and all of his accomplishments. What a life to live knowing that your dad was one of the best.
The hardest part has to be trying to make a name for yourself without someone telling you. How come youre not like your dad? Why dont you drive like him? After all youre an Earnhardt. Your grandpa Ralph was a known as a hard and dirty driver. Your dad followed in his footsteps and was also the same type of driver. But what happened to you? Why didnt you follow in your dads footsteps? This has to be one of the worst places to be in. To hear these words week in and week out. Just like a correctional officer always on your back asking you why did you do this. And why did you do that.
Dale Jr has overcome a lot of adversity to get to where he is today. He has made his own choices. Choices that he will have to live up to whether they work out or not. On one side he has the Earnhardt name. On the other are his dads accomplishments. On the other was his dads rough style of driving. And on the last one is which is probably the hardest. Not having him around to encourage and to guide him. Not being able to see him in victory lane getting that big ol bear hug that Sr was famous for. These are the 4 prison walls that Jr. will have to endure for the rest of his life. Encouragement is probably the hardest one to have to live with. Dale will never get to hear these words. Son, Im proud of you, can you sit for a while?
Whatever Dale Jr does on and off the race track will be of his own thinking and decision making. No more going to dad for advice. He cant look over his shoulder and see that big smile of acceptance. Instead he looks into his own mind and thoughts for relief and comfort. His fans Im sure play a big part in this part of his life. After all he does have the biggest fans base in Nascar today. His fans are loyal as well as loving. But there will always be that void that only a father can fill. A void that a lot of us are feeling today. And also a void that some of us havent had to worry about just yet. As we get ready for the second part of our racing season. Take the time to love those around you. Because one day it just might be to late.
A word of encouragement is maybe all that someone might need to hear today. Maybe even a handshake or a hug. It doesnt cost anything. But it sure goes along way. The only way that this will ever happen in Dale Jrs life. Is when he finally makes it to heaven. And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon. Little boy blue and the man on the moon. When you comin home son? I dont know when, but well get together then son. You know well have a good time then. Im Out
http://fanzonesports.net/nascar/2008/12/cats-in-the-cradlea-dale-earnhardt-jr-story/
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