like trying to sell pork to muslimes... feh
Posted on 12/10/2014 7:57:22 AM PST by mabarker1
USAF Thunderbirds to Perform Flyover for the Daytona 500: For the fifth straight year, the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will provide the flyover for the 57th annual DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season opener on Sunday, Feb. 22. The Thunderbirds, officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, will fly their signature "Delta" formation over the "World Center of Racing" during the finale of the national anthem for "The Great American Race." The Thunderbirds have visited Daytona International Speedway to perform the flyover for the DAYTONA 500 for the past five years. In addition, the Thunderbirds also provided the flyover in 2008 for the historic 50th running of the DAYTONA 500. "The flyover by the Thunderbirds is a signature moment in the pre-race festivities for the DAYTONA 500," Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. "We're proud and honored to be able to host this elite flying team and the thousands of race fans and the millions more watching on FOX Sports are looking forward to seeing them soar over Daytona International Speedway."
"We have a long-standing relationship with the Daytona 500," said LtCol Greg Moseley, the squadron's commander and lead pilot. "We're grateful to the Speedway for allowing us to share the Air Force story with race fans." The Thunderbirds feature six F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Air Force's premier multi-role fighter aircraft. Assigned to Air Combat Command, the squadron is composed of 12 officers and more than 100 enlisted Airmen serving in about 30 Air Force job specialties. Since the unit's inception in 1953, more than 350 million people in all 50 states and more than 60 countries have witnessed the distinctive red, white and blue jets in thousands of official aerial demonstrations. Tickets for the 57th annual DAYTONA 500 are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or visiting daytonainternationalspeedway.com.(DIS)((12-10-2014)
“Image 5” No loadee for Me!!!???
So they just grabbed everybody from the Bar down the street and Air Dropped Them?
While you're at it just line me out a BIG 'Ol rail of Blow Ya damned POS!!!
New Sprint CEO involved in soccer: You may have heard that NASCAR lost its title sponsor the other day, that telecommunications giant Sprint is pulling out of the draft after the 2016 season. What you may not have heard is one of the reasons why: Soccer. Sprint has a new CEO, and while he's from south of the Mason-Dixon line, it's real far south, farther south than Kannapolis, N.C., or even Hueytown in Alabama. Marcelo Claure is from Bolivia. When he became CEO of Sprint in August, it was agreed by a board of directors and stockholders and such that Claure should eliminate 3,700 jobs and $1.5 billion from departmental budgets. Sprint's initial agreement with NASCAR was $750 million for 10 years, so that must have seemed like a good place to start, especially if you're a soccer guy and not a car guy. Claure owns a soccer team in Bolivia and is trying to bring Major League Soccer to Miami. His partner is global soccer icon David Beckham. Ain't that a corner kick to the head? "You certainly don't want to lose a sponsor like that," Las Vegas Motor Speedway president Chris Powell said, "but I don't think this is a comment on the business of NASCAR. I think it's more a comment on Sprint's business. That's what I'm seeing from a distance."(Las Vegas Review Journal)(12-27-2014)
Nevermind! on the 7th try it loaded;)
When I was a kid back in Cleveland in the 1950s, my Dad took us to the Cleveland Arena one time in the winter they raced midgets and Crosley stock cars. It was awesome!
I’d love to go to the Chili Bowl races in Tulsa but friends have told me the air quality is bad, and I’m afraid I’d be struggling with asthma.
Take SCUBA Gear! (Be sure to get a note from Your Doc)
like trying to sell pork to muslimes... feh
More info on the Kulwicki Driver Development Program: The Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) has been established by the family of late NASCAR Champion Alan Kulwicki to help worthy drivers along the way in reaching their dream, while at the same time keeping alive Alan's memory and legacy. The program will provide assistance to up-and-coming racers in several different ways. A one-time stipend will provide financial support in covering operational expenses, transportation costs, entry fees and assistance with necessary equipment. Staff and friends of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program will assist participants in areas such as sponsorship development; publicity, marketing, social media, business education, industry networking and relationship building. KDDP is aimed at the "grass roots" racer. The program hopes to identify and assist a driver in the early stages of his or her career. While Alan Kulwicki did it "his way," going from a track champion at Slinger (WI) Speedway, to winning American Speed Association (ASA) races across the United States, to an owner-driver on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit in just a few short years. Only through Alan's drive, his determination, and the dedication of a handful of talented crew members was he able to become the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion. The Kulwicki Driver Development Program hopes to play a significant role in developing the next generation of America's short track racers, serving as a steward not only for Alan's legacy, but for the growth of asphalt late model racing. If Alan were with us today, he would have his eye on the short tracks, looking for the next young racer with the drive to succeed. Through strategic partnerships and relationships, the KDDP hopes to become a crucial link in helping a handful of young men and women achieve their racing dreams. Drivers will have experience in late model racing. There is no age limit, but preference will be given to candidates between the ages of 18 and 25. * * * --7 drivers from across the nation will be selected by the KDDP to contend for the "Kulwicki Cup." --One-time stipend to each competitor of $7,777 at beginning of 2015 racing season --Aforementioned support to the 7 drivers throughout season. --7 drivers selected agree to abide by rules & regulations established by KDDP. Included in agreement will be mandatory ID on car & driver's uniform and code of conduct. --"Kulwicki Cup" winner is not totally based on their on-track results, but on their overall "performance" on and off the track. The winner, selected by the KDDP (with potential involvement from fans/media/general public) best exemplifies the "Alan Kulwicki style" of competitor. --Voting will be done on quarterly basis and results publicized in far-reaching manner including news releases, web sites and social media platforms. --Winner will be announced on November 7, 2015. --"Kulwicki Cup" winner receives check for $7,777 X 7 ($54,439), distinctive trophy & more. --Winner will be honored at "Kulwicki Cup" dinner/banquet held on December 14th (Alan's birthday) at selected location to be announced during the 2015 season. * * * The application form and other information on the KDDP is currently available on the official website at www.KulwickiDDP.com CURRENT KDDP TEAM ROSTER: Executive Director: Tom Roberts, 35-year motorsports industry veteran, with broad-based experience working with sponsors, drivers, teams and race tracks. Program Trustees: 1) Jan Beatty, Senior Trust Officer, Wells Fargo 2) Mark R.A. Horn, Member, Moore & Van Allen PLLC Advisory Board Members: (additional information available on KDDP site) 1) Paul Andrews, former crew chief for Alan Kulwicki's 1992 NASCAR Championship team and now general manager of Cunningham Motorsports 2) Dennis Czarnyszka, a former American Bowling Congress (ABC) marketing executive who was instrumental in helping promote Kulwicki throughout his career 3) Tony Gibson, former car chief for Alan Kulwicki's 1992 NASCAR Championship team and now crew chief for Kurt Busch's No. 41 NASCAR Sprint Cup Team at SHR 4) Tom Grady, motorsports law "pioneer" who has been actively involved in racing for 30 years 5) Fr. Dale Grubba, a Wisconsin priest, author of several motorsports books including the comprehensive book on Alan Kulwicki ("Alan Kulwicki, NASCAR Champion: Against All Odds") and acclaimed racing photographer 6) Jim "Thumper" Rauth, longtime Kulwicki family friend who was involved in the Alan Kulwicki Park and Brooks Pavilion projects and remains active with them today 7) Carter Thompson, a partner in a prominent Charlotte public accounting firm who has 19 years of experience and has worked closely with clients in the motorsports and automotive industry.(TRPR)(11-26-2014)
No driver has won Daytona Speedweeks 'triple': no driver has won the Sprint Unlimited (Shootout), a Budweiser Duel and the Daytona 500 in the same year. Ten drivers have won the Sprint Unlimited (formerly the Bud Shootout) and a Budweiser Duel 14 times in the same year but didn't win the Daytona 500:
year, driver, Daytona finish, Daytona 500 winner
2014: Denny Hamlin, finished 2nd, won by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2013: Kevin Harvick, finished 42nd, won by Jimmie Johnson
2011: Kurt Busch, 5th, won by Trevor Bayne
2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr.(2), 9th, Ryan Newman
2007: Tony Stewart, 43rd, Kevin Harvick
2003: Dale Earnhardt Jr., 36th, Michael Waltrip
1995: Dale Earnhardt(4), 2nd, Sterling Marlin
1993: Dale Earnhardt(3), 2nd, Dale Jarrett
1991: Dale Earnhardt(2), 5th, Ernie Irvan
1989: Ken Schrader, 2nd, Darrell Waltrip
1986: Dale Earnhardt, 14th, Geoff Bodine
1983: Neil Bonnett, 22nd, Cale Yarborough
1981: Darrell Waltrip, 36th, Richard Petty
1979: Buddy Baker, 40th, Richard Petty (12-30-2014)
Great Beer BTW
it's on tap here and my goto beer when not at the brewpub... good stuff
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News time!
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BK Racing moving: BK Racing, currently fielding multiple teams (#23, #26, #83, #93) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS), will have a new place to call home. BK Racing announced Tuesday that the team's race operations will move from their current location in Statesville, NC to a new home in Charlotte beginning in January. BK Racing's new address will be 11881 Vance Davis Drive in Charlotte. This location formerly housed GMS Racing and BAM Racing. The new facility will allow for growth in race operations as well as further opportunities to increase performance development potential. The new shop will allow for BK Racing to be an all-in-one facility for the growing team, and allowing the team to have additional space for engineering and simulation. By January 2015, all of BK Racing's race teams will be able to call the facility home. "We needed a new location that allowed for more space to increase our performance," said Ron Devine, owner of BK Racing. "We continue to invest into race operations to improve our potential and performance both on and off the track. It all starts in the race shop, and having the best resources and assets, in addition to our team of employees."(BK Racing)(12-31-2014)
Johnson and Harvick once camped out at 'Camp Hornaday': The last vestige of it rests in Lindy Hornaday's office, across the street from the house where it became a peculiar NASCAR artifact. One 17 years in the making. The solitary remaining component of a hard-used and well-worn sectional couch from Ron and Lindy Hornaday's former Lake Norman home is the River Styx and "George Washington Slept Here" all at once. But more importantly it symbolizes the opportunity and the friendship the Hornadays afforded not only to young race car drivers named Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick in 1997, but the scores of other wayfaring dreamers the former Truck series champion and his wife have made in the place the racing community fondly refers to as Camp Hornaday.
That Johnson, a six-time Sprint Cup champion, and Harvick, newly minted with his first title at NASCAR's highest level in November, at one point lounged, slept or passed out on that couch has made it a talisman in black leather for the latest generation of drivers and mechanics with NASCAR ambitions that followed them in the Hornadays' home. Its newest layer of historic patina has made it a source of amusement for its owners. And perhaps one day, a resident of the Hall of Fame in Charlotte. "They've made our couch really famous because now everybody wants to sleep on it," Lindy Hornaday said with a laugh. "I talked to [historian] Buz [McKim] from the Hall of Fame. He was coming to my house to get some stuff of Ron's and I was teasing him about the couch. He said, 'You know we really ought to start thinking about that couch.'"
Simply put, Ron and Lindy Hornaday love people. They must. They better. That's the only explanation for how they not only endured by enjoying life in a 969-square-foot home in California with two kids, three guests, three dogs, two birds, a goat, a pig, a rabbit and numerous cats, all with one bathroom, before they relocated to North Carolina to better pursue Ron's racing career in the 1990s. When they migrated to Charlotte's suburbs in Mooresville and bought a comparatively spacious 2,400-square-foot spread on a cove on Lake Norman, Ron Hornaday Jr. could more easily indulge the habit of inviting folks out to visit, lounge or bunk down. And he did. "Hornaday's place was always a place where everybody felt like they had a connection to him," Harvick said. Now living across the street, with more space and a bigger dock, there's even more room for the Hornadays to connect. "Chasing money," Hornaday said, for the first time in his career and without solid plans to race in the NASCAR Truck series this season, he busies himself with other racing ventures. His wife has opened her own business, and although they still take in guests, they miss the din of the heyday of Camp Hornaday. Though Lindy Hornaday has occasionally scolded her husband, Ron said, for his "revolving door" of a liberal guest policy, the denizens of their commune credit her equally with fostering a family environment that keeps old friends returning for years, grilling out and telling stories after races, pulling up their boats at the dock on weekends just to see who will stop by. "I love Ron, but Lindy's the glue, the real champion of that house," Johnson said.
Johnson came to camp as a 21-year-old off-road racer from El Cajon, California, seeking his next career arc, "working any angle I could," he said, before Hendrick Motorsports agreed to fund a dirt Late Model car for him. He'd previously met Hornaday at a Chevrolet autograph session in Detroit, was invited -- of course -- to bunk at the lake if he decided to relocate to NASCAR's hub, and bought a one-way ticket for Charlotte once the Hendrick offer came. Johnson stayed with the Hornadays for roughly four months in 1997 before they helped him find his first house. Having won the first of four Truck championships in 1996 -- his most recent in 2009 with Harvick's now-defunct team -- Hornaday wielded the cachet to make connections for both of the young Californians. Hornaday's endorsement had weight as Richard Childress moved to sign Harvick to his Nationwide program. Lindy still calls them "her boys" and coos as much about how they have grown into doting fathers as about them being champions of NASCAR's top series.(see full article at ESPN.com)(12-31-2014)
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