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More Pearls of Racing Wisdom from

January 2008

(FROM THE…JANUARY 28, 2008…SHOW)

THE A.M.A. ARENA-CROSSERS…SPENT SATURDAY NIGHT…IN THE…"GAY BAY"…WITHOUT THE CHAMP…SERIES DOMINATOR…JAMES "BUBBA" STEWART…WHO WAS INJURED HERE IN PHOENIX AND NOW…AFTER UNDERGOING SURGERY ON HIS RIGHT KNEE…IS OUT OF THE PICTURE FOR THE ENTIRE 2008…SEASON AND HE HAS NO ONE TO BLAME BUT HIMSELF FOR HIS OVER AGGRESSIVE SHORT TERM VIEW OF WHAT HE DOES FOR A LIVING…AND MORE IMPORTANTLY…HOW TO KEEP MAKING A…LIVING OFF OF…BIKE RACIN’… ONCE AGAIN THE SERIES REIGNING CHAMP…PROVES TO BE HIS OWN…WORST OPPONENT…

ANYWAY…IN…STEWART’S…ABSENCE…IT WAS…CHAD REED…PICKING UP WIN # 3…OF THE 2008 SEASON…AS HE RODE HIS YAMAHA…ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AHEAD OF A PAIR OF HONDA’S RIDEN BY…KEVIN WINDHAM …2ND…AND…DAVID MIL-SAPS…3RD…

IN THE…125’S…JASON LAWRENCE…ON A YAMAHA…BETTERED HIS 2ND PACE RUN AT PHOENIX…BY COLLECTING THE…"GAY BAY" WIN…AHEAD OF…TOM HAHN…IN 2ND…AND…BRETT METCALF…3RD …BOTH ON HONDA’S…

THE ARENA BIKERS WILL RETURN TO ANAHEIM…NEXT WEEKEND …FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 5 OUTINGS.

THE…INDY CAR SERIES…POLE POSITION WINNER WILL HAVE TO TURN 4-CONSECUTIVE QUALIFYING LAPS AROUND THE MILWAUKEE MILE…ON SATURDAY…MAY 31ST…LEADING UP TO THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON’S… 225LAP…INDY CAR SERIES…RACE.

AN…INDY CAR SERIES…ANNOUNCEMENT STATED THAT…ALL OVAL TRACKS…ON THEIR 2008 SCHEDULE…WILL EMBRACE THE INDY 500 HERITAGE OF…4-LAP QUALIFYING SESSIONS AND THE OPEN WHEELERS WILL HAVE TO ATTEMPT THEIR…4-LAP QUALIFYING SESSION FOR THE 1ST TIME AT THE MILWAUKEE MILE…JUST SIX DAYS AFTER THE 92ND RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500.

QUALIFYING…IS ONE OF THE MOST…NERVE-WRACKING EXPERIENCES FOR AN INDY CAR DRIVER SAID BRIAN BARNHART…PRESIDENT OF COMPETITION…FOR THE…I.R.L… "AT INDY…THAT HAS MEANT 10 MILES OF ERROR-FREE DRIVING AT 225-PLUS MILES PER HOUR…AND WE’RE GOING TO TAKE THAT KIND OF…INTENSITY AND DRAMA…TO EVERY OTHER OVAL ON OUR SCHEDULE."

THIS WEEK’S…"OLD FACES…IN NEW PLACES"…PIECE…FINDS 5 RACE  GUARANTEED CUP STARTER DALE JARRETT…CLIMBING OUT OF THE CAR…(WHEN ALL OF HIS PAST CHAMPION PROVISIONALS ARE USED UP) AND BEING REPLACED BY…RR-AZ ALUM…MICHAEL MC DOWELL OUT OF GLENDALE WHO SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM QUALIFYING THE # 44 TOYOTA AT ANY TRACK HE SHOWS UP AT.

JARRETT…WON’T BE HEADING TO THE RACER’S PASTURE…YET…AS HE’S BEEN FITTED FOR KRUSTY WALLACE’S…CHAIR IN THE…E.S.P.N… BROADCAST BOOTH SQUEEZED BETWEEN NASCAR LAPDOG…"GEE… ISN’T NASCAR WONDERFUL"…JERRY PUNCH… AND…ANDY PETREE…

AND THIS IS…GREAT MAKE THAT…REALLY GREAT NEWS…ON THE HEELS OF A COUPLE OF YEARS OF…KRUSTY…MANGLING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE…WITH HILLBILLY NONSENSE LIKE "THEM CATS IS… DRIVING THEIR BRAINS OUT…IN SOME…COOL HOT RODS"…

IT’LL BE REFRESHING TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE WHO CAN ACTUALLY … SPEAK IN SENTENCES THAT MAKE SENSE…

DON’T START CHEERING…TO MUCH…HOWEVER…BECAUSE…WHILE IT’LL BE REFRESHING TO BE KRUSTY-FREE…FOR THE RACE BROADCAST  WE’LL STILL NEED TO PUT UP WITH HIM…IN THE…
PRE-RACE SHOW…AS HE…ALONG WITH…ANAL…ALLEN BESTWICK…WILL BE REPLACING…

METHUSALEH’S…ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSMATE… BRENT MUSBERGER…AND…THE SHOW’S NO RACIN’… ESTROGEN… HOSTITUTE …SUSIE KOLBER…IN THE…PRE-RACE…BOOTH…

WHILE WE SUPPORT…THE RACE BROADCAST MOVE AS AN IMPROVEMENT…HOWEVER MINOR THE PRE-RACE BOOTH MOVES SEEM PRETTY UN-INSPIRING BUT AT LEAST IT’S BETTER THAN IT’S BEEN.

A FINAL MOVE AT E.S.P.N.’S…NASCAR NOW SHOW TELLS US THAT STICK & BALL GUY…ERIK KUSELIAS…IS BEING REPLACED IN FAVOR OF NICOLE MANSKE…WHO WE ARE TOLD IS A "NASCAR VET"…

WE’RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR…"NASCAR VET’S"…WORK BUT SINCE THIS IS E.S.P.N.’S…3RD YEAR BACK IN…NASCAR…RACING …WE CAN ONLY ASSUME…"VET STATUS"… BY E.S.P.N’S… STANDARDS …CAN BE EARNED…IN TWO YEAR’S…OR LESS…

THIS WEEK’S…"MR. 3RD BASE"…BRIAN FRANCE’S…OBSERVATION…DU JOUR…TELLS US THAT HIS PLAN FOR 2008…IS TO APPARENTLY…"GO BACK TO THE FUTURE"…IN AS MUCH AS IN HIS OPINION "THE SPORT HAS HAD ALL THE CHANGE IT CAN STAND (sic)…AND IT’S TIME…TO…"GET BACK TO THE BASICS…AND FOCUS ON…LONG TIME FANS"…

YA’ THINK????

AFTER BEING TOLD OF…MR. 3RD BASE’S…WISDOM…KYLE PETTY… WEIGHED IN…SAYING THAT HE BELIEVED…"THAT CORE…(LONG TIME FANS)… MIGHT HAVE LEFT THE SHOP A LONG TIME AGO" HE FURTHER SAID…"IF YOU’RE TRYING TO GO BACK AND GET ‘EM…SORRY…BUT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO…GET ON THE BUS…AND GO BACK A LOT OF YEARS… TO GET THAT CORE FAN"…

PETTY…WENT ON TO SAY…"I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU …GO BACK…I THINK YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN…LET EVERYTHING FIND IT’S LEVEL…THEN …MOVE FORWARD AGAIN"…

YA’ KNOW…AFTER…"COOKIE CUTTER" RACE TRACKS…"MANDATORY CAUTIONS"…"35 LOCKED IN STARTERS"…"GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER" FINISHES…"LUCKY DOGS"…TOO MANY DEBRIS CAUTIONS TO COUNT…SHORTENED RACES…FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT RACES…THE "CHASE" …THE… C.O.T SPILLED COKE…AND THE LIST OF…RACING RUIN-ING …DECISIONS …GOES ON…DON’T YOU WISH … NASCAR… AND RACING IN GENERAL…HAD A COMMISSIONER…THE LIKES OF…KYLE PETTY… CALLING THE SHOTS… INSTEAD OF…THE "EMPTY SUIT"… NOW SITTING ON RACING’S BIGGEST THRONE…AND…WHO GOT HIS RACING… "EXPERTISE & LEADERSHIP" …VIA…DAD’S…GENE POOL…?

AFTER LAST YEAR’S…K.O…OF THE…CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA MAYOR WHO UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO …BLOCK…BRUTON SMITH’S…PLANS FOR A…DRAG RACE FACILITY…AT…THE…LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY…COMPLEX…THE N.H.R.A…ANNOUNCED THAT…AS PREDICTED ON…RR-AZ THAT THE…STRAIGHTLINERS…WILL RACE AT THE NEW FACILITY…IN SEPTEMBER…AS THE 2ND EVENT OF THE 2008 …"COUNTDOWN’…TO THE N.H.R.A. CHAMPIONSHIP…

(HOW…INSIGHTFUL…OF US…AS COMPARED TO…MR. 3RD BASE…)

CHAMP CAR AWARDS A $2 MILLION SCHOLARSHIP FOR ITS ATLANTIC CHAMPION TO TAKE TO THE BIG LEAGUE …THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

SIMON PAGENAUD WON IT IN 2006, AND IT HELPED HIM LAND A RIDE WITH TEAM AUSTRALIA FOR A VERY SOLID ROOKIE YEAR IN 2007…WITHOUT THAT MONEY IN 2008…HE MAY BE OUT OF A JOB.

RAPHAEL MATOS…THE 2007 ATLANTIC CHAMPION…WILL RACE FOR ANDRETTI GREEN…IN THE INDY PRO SERIES THIS YEAR…THE TEAM ANNOUNCED…AND HE'LL…GIVE UP THE $2 MILLION…BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH...TO BUY A…CHAMP CAR RIDE…

IT USED TO BE…TALENT...GOT YOU A SHOT…BUT NOW…TALENT…AND EVEN $2 MILLION BUCKS…IS INSUFFICIENT…AMAZING…

IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT…STEVE WALLACE…CRASHED IN DAYTONA TESTING…LAST MONDAY…WHEN HE MISSED A TURN BETWEEN THE GARAGE AREA AND PIT ROAD…RAN OVER A FENCE…AT 30 MPH AND DESTROYED HIS CAR…FATHER RUSTY…EXPLAINED TUESDAY THAT THE TEAM HAD PULLED THE BRAKES BACK FOR A QUALIFYING SIMULATION… AND STEVE FORGOT AND WHEN HE HIT THE PEDAL…NOTHING HAPPENED…

YOUNG WALLACE…WAS UPSET…BUT TOOK SOME CONSOLATION IN ALL THE STUPID STUFF KRUSTY DID IN A RACE CAR WHEN HE WAS YOUNG… HIS CAR OWNER (KRUSTY) SAID.

IN…MORE NASCAR…WINE NEWS…RICHARD CHILDRESS…AND…JEFF GORDON …AREN’T THE ONLY…GOOD OL’ BOYS’’…BREWIN’ UP WINE…INSTEAD OF …MOONSHINE…AS WE’VE LEARNED THAT…THE LATE…BENNY PARSONS WHOSE…WINERY…NAMED…"RENDEVOUS RIDGE"…IS NOW POURING IT’S…LATEST OFFERING…AND…UNLIKE…"NASCAR BERNET…AND…THE WRATH OF GRAPES"…(A COUPLE OF…FAKE…WINE NAMES WE REFERENCE)…HAS JUST INTRODUCED A REAL…"RENDEVOUS RIDGE" …VINTAGE CALLED…AND WE KID YOU NOT…"CARBURATOR SAUVIGNON"…

IF YOU’RE NOT FROM…BASTON…OR…NEW YAWK…GOOD FOR YOU…BUT THAT BEING SAID…IF YOU’RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH…THE…BIGGEST FOOTBALL PARTY ARIZONA TAXPAYERS CAN BE…EXTORTED TO PAY FOR…PERHAPS THE POSSIBILITY OF A SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL…STARRING…DALE EARNHARDT, JR…AND…LULU THE CAMEL…WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO TUNE IN…

WE DON’T KNOW WHICH PRODUCT IT’S PUSHING…(AMP ENERGY DRINK?… MOUNTAIN DEW? THE NATIONAL GUARD?…OR SOMETHING ELSE)…BUT WHATEVER… THIS ONE WILL INCLUDE … LULU THE CAMEL & JUNIOR…

NO WORD ON A…GIBBS RACING SPOT…IN THE SUPER BOWL… FEATURING…TONY STEWART AND HIS MONKEY…BUT WE CAN ALWAYS SPECULATE ABOUT ONE…

AND THAT’S IT…HAPPY MOTORING…


(FROM THE…JANUARY 21, 2008…SHOW)

THE A.M.A. ARENA-CROSSERS…WERE BACK IN ANAHEIM…FOR THE 3RD ROUND OF THEIR SEASON AND FOR THE…2ND TIME THIS YEAR…IT WAS… CHAD REED…RIDING HIS YAMAHA…TO THE WIN…AT THE… CALIFORNIA TRACK…

JOSH HILL…ALSO ON A YAMAHA…COLLECTED HIS 1ST CAREER…PODIUM FINISH…RUNNING 2ND AHEAD OF…KEVIN WIND-HAM…ON A KAWASAKI …3RD …

WHERE WAS…JAMES "BUBBA" STEWART…YOU ASK???…WELL… STEWART WAS SITTING THIS ONE OUT…AFTER SUFFERING AN INJURY HERE IN PHOENIX…LAST WEEK…AND WITH STEWART ON THE SIDELINES…HE’S NOW DROPPED TO…4TH IN THE…CHAMPIONSHIP POINT BATTLE…WHICH ALLOWS…MR. CONSISTENCY…CHAD REED…TO EFFECTIVELY…HAVE A "MULLIGAN"…IN HIS BACK POCKET…MEANING HE WOULD ONLY HAVE TO FINISH 2ND OR 3RD…TO…STEWART…IN EACH OF THE REMAINING RACES…TO CLAIM THE CHAMPIONSHIP…

ONCE AGAIN…STEWART…THE BEST RIDER IN THE BUSINESS…MAY BE HIS OWN WORST ENEMY
IN THE BIG PICTURE…

GOING FAST…IS GOOD…BUT IT’S ONLY…GOOD…IF YOU’RE THERE AT THE END…TO CLAIM…THE WIN…

THE 125’S…SAW…ANOTHER…REPEAT WINNER AT ANAHEIM AS… POINT LEADER …RYAN DUNGEY OUT OF MINNESOTA…PICKED UP HIS 2ND CHECKERED FLAG OF THE YEAR…AS HE RODE HIS SUZUKI…INTO VICTORY LANE…AHEAD OF…BROC HELPER’S…YAMAHA…IN 2ND…AND … AUSTIN STROUP…3RD…ON A…KAWASAKI…2ND…

THE ARENA BIKERS…HEAD TO THE…"GAY BAY"…FOR ROUND # 4…NEXT WEEKEND…

THE…CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIES…WILL APPEAR EXCLUSIVELY ON ESPN …IN 2008…WITH A 14-RACE SCHEDULE COMBINING…LIVE…AND…SAME-DAY TELECASTS.

THE CHAMP CAR SERIES RETURNS TO ESPN IN 2008…AFTER AN ABSENCE OF SIX YEARS.

WHILE…THE…NASCAR…CUP SERIES…NEWLY TITLED SPONSOR… SPRINT…IS OPERATING UNDER
A NEW BOSS…DUE TO…POOR STOCK PERFORMANCE…JEOPARDIZING…THE SERIES SPONSORSHIP RENEWAL AFTER THE 2010 SEASON…AND WHILE CRAFTSMAN…HAS ANNOUNCED THEIR PLANS TO WITHDRAW AS TITLE SPONSOR OF THE TRUCK SERIES DUE TO POOR EARNINGS PERFORMANCE
BY PARENT COMPANY…SEARS…THE…JOURNEYMAN SERIES…NEW SPONSORSHIP RELATIONSHIP WITH NATIONWIDE INSURANCE…APPEARED TO BE THE ONE…BRIGHT SPOT ON NASCAR…"GRAND POOBAH"… MR. 3RD BASE…BRIAN FRANCE’S… DESK…

AND IT MAY WELL PROVE TO BE…BUT YOU WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO VERIFY IT…FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT…LAST WEEK THAT NATIONWIDE…IS CUTTING MORE THAN 2,500 JOBS… IN ORDER TO "CUT COSTS"…DUE TO ACCELERATED COMPETITION…AND…A TOUGH INSURANCE CLIMATE AND…LONG TERM…THAT MEANS FOR THIS SPONSORSHIP TO STAY IN PLACE…NASCAR…HAD BETTER REVERSE THE DECLINING T.V. RATINGS…AND…FILL THE EMPTY SEATS…BEFORE THE SPORT GOES BACK TO…MOTOR OIL AND TOBACCO…AS THE ONLY FOLKS WHO WILL SPEND MONEY WITH THEM…

SPEAKING OF…MR. 3RD BASE…AND DECLINING NASCAR T.V. RATINGS  AND…RACE ATTENDANCE WE’RE HEARTENED TO SEE THAT HE’S STILL THE…"EMPTY SUIT"…WE ALWAYS KNOW HE WAS AND STILL LOOKS TO PAINT THE PROBLEMS OF NASCAR AS A RESULT OF… SOMEONE ELSE’S ACTIONS …

IN A…FRIDAY…U.S.A. TODAY ARTICLE ON…DALE EARNHARDT, JR… TITLED…"EARNHARDT (JR.) DOESN’T WANT (THE) SAVIOR ROLE"…(IN NASCAR)…JUNIOR DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM A COMMENT MADE BY MR. 3RD BASE…WHO SAID…EARNHARDT’S FAILURE TO WIN A RACE…OR
MAKE THE CHASE…WAS…"UNHELPFUL IF YOU’RE TRYING TO BUILD RATINGS"…OR IN OTHER WORDS…FRANCE, JR…WAS IMPLYING THE FAILURES OF NASCAR…DEPENDED MORE ON…JUNIOR’S PERFORMANCE …RATHER THAN THE STRENGTH OF THE SPORT’S REMAINING…40+ DRIVERS AND COMPETITION…OVER THE 36 RACE SEASON…

TO JUNIOR’S CREDIT…HE STATED…"IT WOULD BE NICE TO THINK YOU HAD THAT KIND OF INFLUENCE BUT AT THE SAME TIME…I DON’T WANT TO BE THE DOWNFALL…OR THE REASON FOR IT…I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE…REALLY…TAKING ANY CREDIT…ONE WAY OR ANOTHER"

MR. 3RD BASE…ON THE OTHER HAND...IS APPARENTLY WILLING…TO POINT THE FINGER OF FAILURE AT ANYONE…EVEN HIS OWN…SELF DESCRIBED …MOST VALUABLE ASSET…IN ORDER TO SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY FROM HIS INEPTNESS…BUT THEN…THAT’S WHY WE CALL HIM…MR. 3RD BASE…HE MAY BE THE BOSS…BUT HE’S NO LEADER…ESPECIALLY WHEN…THE SPORT NEEDS ONE.

NASCAR…HAS CONFIRMED…THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING RAISING THE MINIMUM AGE FOR DRIVERS RACING IN THE…CUP SERIES FROM…18 TO 21.

CURRENTLY…DRIVERS MUST BE 18 TO COMPETE IN THE CUP… TRUCK… OR…JOURNEYMAN SERIES.

IF A CHANGE IS MADE…DRIVERS BETWEEN 18 AND 21 WOULD REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR JOURNEYMAN AND…TRUCK COMPETITION…BUT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO MAKE THE MOVE INTO…CUP…

WHILE NASCAR CLAIMS…CONCERN…THAT YOUNG DRIVERS ARE BEING MOVED UP THROUGH THE RANKS TOO SOON…AND THAT MORE TIME IN THE SUPPORT SERIES WOULD GIVE THEM TIME TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS ON THE TRACK…AND TO MATURE OFF OF IT…IT IS MORE LIKELY AN ATTEMPT TO...PROP UP… INTEREST IN THE STRUGGLING… TRUCK…AND JOURNEYMAN SERIES…BY ATTRACTING SPONSORS…OF THE KIDS…WHICH AREN’T… LIFESTYLE ISSUES…SUCH AS ALCOHOL …VIAGARA…TOBACCO …ETC…

BOTTOM LINE…NASCAR’S MOTIVES...AREN’T ALWAYS AS NOBEL…AS THEY TRY TO PROJECT …

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR NASCAR…AND COMMON SENSE…IN GENERAL…CROPPED UP LAST WEEK AS A U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISMISSED VIRTUALLY ALL CLAIMS IN A RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND…BREACH OF CONTRACT…LAWSUIT… AGAINST NASCAR…STEMMING FROM A… HIGHLY PUBLICIZED 1999 INCIDENT AT…NEW HAMPSHIRE...

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN FORMER PENSKE…MOTORCOACH DRIVER…DAVID SCOTT…WHO IS BLACK…WAS GREETED BY A PAIR OF MOTORCOACH DRIVERS…ONE OF WHOM WAS WEARING A WHITE PILLOW CASE OVER HIS HEAD…NASCAR INDEFINITELY SUSPENDED THE TWO MOTORCOACH DRIVERS INVOLVED.

IN HIS COMPLAINT…SCOTT SAID…HE WAS PROMISED A JOB WITH NASCAR…IN RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT.

NASCAR HAD CLAIMED IN ITS FILINGS THAT…SCOTT…"WAS GIVEN SEVERAL WORK OPPORTUNITIES …"WHICH WERE DECLINED"…AND "WAS NOT QUALIFIED" FOR THE…RACING OFFICIAL JOB HE WANTED.

JUDGE DEBORAH A. BATTS…RULED THURSDAY THAT THE THREE-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAD PASSED FOR…ALL OF THE ALLEGATIONS, EXCEPT FOR ONE…ON WHETHER NASCAR DID NOT…AWARD…SCOTT…A MINORITY VENDOR CONTRACT…IN 2005 AND 2006…BASED ON RACE…

LOOK FOR…RACE PIMP "RACISTS"…JESSE JACKSON & AL SHARPTON … TO ENTER THE PICTURE NEXT…IN ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO…EXTORT’’ …MONEY AS IS THEIR…SLEAZE BALL HISTORIES ...DICTATE…

AND THAT’S IT…HAPPY MOTORING…


(FROM THE…JANUARY 14, 2008…SHOW)

THE A.M.A. ARENA-CROSSERS…WERE HERE IN PHOENIX…FOR THE 2ND ROUND OF THEIR INDOOR SEASON AND FOR THE 2ND CONSECUTIVE YEAR…JAMES "BUBBA" STEWART…DIDN’T WRECK …IN THE 1ST TURN…OF THE 1ST LAP…AND THAT CAN ONLY MEAN…HE WON THE RACE…FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR…WHICH HE DID AHEAD OF…LAST WEEK’S…OPENING ROUND WINNER…CHAD REED…IN 2ND…AND…KEVIN WINDAM…3RD…

THE 125’S…SAW…JAKE WEIMER…COLLECT THE WIN AHEAD OF…LAST WEEKEND’S WINNER…RYAN DUNGEY ON A SUZUKI…2ND…WITH…BRETT MET-CALF…3RD…

LAST WEEK...RR-AZ ALUM…AND…DEFENDING…W.O.O. CHAMP…DONNY SCHATZ…PICKED UP $50,000. BUCKS WITH A…"DOWN UNDER" WIN…AND OVER THE WEEKEND…SCHATZ…COLLECTED ANOTHER…$20 GRAND FOR CAPTURING THE 50 LAP WORLD SERIES SPRINT CAR CHALLENGE …ALSO…"DOWN UNDER"…AND THAT’S GOT
TO HAVE HIM FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE 2008…30TH ANNIVERSARY…W.O.O. SEASON WHICH PICKS UP…AT… VOLUSIA COUNTY RACEWAY…IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS …ON…FEBRUARY 8TH…

EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT AN…I.R.L. FAN YOU PROBABLY LIKE TO…EAT AND DRINK AND IF SO…YOU SHOULD HEAD
TO THE OLDEST RACE TRACK IN THE COUNTRY… THE MILWAUKEE MILE…FOR THE…I.R.L.’S…REX MAYS CLASSIC… WHICH IS RUN THE WEEKEND FOLLOWING THE INDY 500…

THE TRACK HAS A REAL…FAN’S SPECIAL…ON TAP WHICH…BEGINNING AT JUST…$40 BUCKS…

IT IS CALLED THE "CLUB FOUR"…AND OFFERS A SEAT AND ALL THE HAMBURGERS…HOT DOGS…BRATWURST …CHIPS…SODA…AND GET THIS…BEER…YOU CAN HANDLE…IN THE PRICE…

THE…N.H.R.A…HAS ANNOUNCED MODIFICATIONS TO THE…"COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP"…THEIR VERSION OF…NASCAR’S…"CHASE"

THE 2008 N.H.R.A. SCHEDULE WILL FEATURE AN …18-RACE REGULAR SEASON…FOLLOWED BY A 6-RACE "COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP"…PLAYOFF TO DETERMINE CHAMPIONS IN…TOP FUEL… FUNNY CAR AND…PRO STOCK…DIVISIONS…  

THE FIELDS FOR THE…CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS…WILL BE SET AT THE U.S. NATIONALS…ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND,…AND WILL BE EXPANDED TO THE…TOP 10 IN EACH CLASS…UP FROM EIGHT…IN 2007.  

THE…PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE DIVISION…WILL FEATURE A 12-RACE REGULAR SEASON AND A…FIVE-RACE PLAYOFF…

THE TOP 10 RIDERS WILL ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS FOLLOWING THE…U.S. NATIONALS.

SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR’S FORMAT… CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF COMPETITORS…WILL HAVE THEIR POINTS
READJUSTED AND SEPARATED IN 10 POINT INCREMENTS....HOWEVER, POINTS LEADERS IN EACH OF THE FOUR PROFESSIONAL CLASSES…AFTER THE REGULAR SEASON…WILL BE AWARDED WITH A 20-POINT BONUS INCREASING THEIR LEADS OVER THE 2ND PLACE QUALIFIERS TO 30 POINTS… THUS…FIRST PLACE IN THE STANDINGS WILL BEGIN THE COUNTDOWN WITH…2,090 POINTS…2ND PLACE WITH 2,060 POINTS…AND SO ON TO…10TH PLACE STARTING WITH 1,980 POINTS.

SHE’S…BAAAACK… ERIN CROCKER…HEIRESS…AND…EX-GIRL TOY OF …RAY EVERNHAM…HAS FOUND SOMEONE TO SURROUND HER WITH A… TRUCK…FOR THE NASCAR TRUCK SERIES…OPENING TWO RACES
OF THE 2008 SEASON…AND GIVEN HER PAST PERFORMANCES…LAST TWO RACES…AS WELL…

DAVID DOLLAR…OWNER OF…MORGAN-DOLLAR MOTORSPORTS (MDM)… ANNOUNCED THAT…MS. CROCKER
HAS BEEN TAPPED TO…CHASSIS SPACE…THE…# 46…MDM…SILVERADO IN THE FIRST TWO EVENTS OF THE
2008 NASCAR TRUCK SERIES SEASON…AND THAT WOULD BE THE… DAYTONA…AND…CALIFORNIA…SHOWS…

IN MORE…UNDERACHIEVING DRIVER NEWS…BRENT SHERMAN…FORMER NASCAR…CHASSIS SPACER…HE…
OF THE FAMILY…SEALEY POSTERPEDIC MATTRESS…BANK ACCOUNT…IS THE LATEST DRIVER TO AUDITION IN…PANTHER RACING'S…INDY PRO SERIES CAR.

SHERMAN…WITH MORE THAN 60 STARTS IN THE…BUSCH SERIES… AND …SIX IN NEXTEL CUP…BEFORE HIS PROVISIONALS RAN OUT… TESTED ON THE…HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY ROAD COURSE…LAST MONTH… ALONG WITH…NO RACIN’…CUPCAKE DIVA…LEILANI MÜNTER…

(THAT MUST HAVE BEEN…"QUITE A TEST")

"DRIVERS AT THIS LEVEL – IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S INDY CAR, NASCAR, OR WHEREVER – ARE PRO- FESSIONALS,"  SAID SHERMAN, 33. "AND EVERYBODY IS A GOOD DRIVER…BUT A LOT OF YOUR SUCCESS
IS BASED ON THE TEAM…AND HOW GOOD THE TEAM IS…AND…FOR WHATEVER REASON…I NEVER FOUND
THAT PERFECT SITUATION IN NASCAR.

I LOVE OPEN-WHEEL RACING, THIS IS WHERE I STARTED MY CAREER, AND I'M GLAD TO BE BACK."…

APPARENTLY...SHERMAN…HAS CONFUSED "PROFESSIONAL DRIVER"… AND GETTING…PAID…TO DRIVE WITH…SOMEONE…LIKE HIMSELF… "PAYING TO DRIVE"…

LASTLY…S.M.I. (BRUTON SMITH MOTORSPORTS)…CONTINUES TO LEAD RACE TRACKS IN …TICKET SELLING SIZZLE…

FOLLOWING LAST YEARS…"FREE O.J."…TICKET GIVEAWAY…SPURRED BY THE DOUBLE MURDER’S ARREST LAST FALL…THE LAS VEGAS TRACK IS OFFERING…"FREE"…"NEON GARAGE" PASSES…TO RACE FANS WITH THE SAME LAST NAMES AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES…IF …THEY ORDER THEIR RACE PACKAGES BY JAN. 19TH…THE DAY OF THE NEVADA CAUCUSES…

SO...IF YOU’RE NAMED…CLINTON…EDWARDS…OBAMA…GUILIANI… HUCKABEE…ROMNEY…THOMPSON…OR
MCCAIN…GET YOUR…FREE RACE PACKAGE…TODAY…

APPARENTLY…IF YOUR NAME IS…KUCHINICH…OR… PAUL…YOU’RE… S.O.L…BUT THEM’S THE BREAKS…

AND THAT’S IT…HAPPY MOTORING…

(FROM THE…JANUARY 7, 2008…SHOW)

THE A.M.A. ARENA-CROSSERS…WERE IN ANAHEIM…FOR THE 3RD TIME THIS SEASON…AND FOR THE 3RD TIME THIS YEAR…IN 4 OUTINGS…IT WAS…JAMES "BUBBA" STEWART…AND HIS KAWASAKI…BITING THE DUST…AND THEN RECOVERING…TO TAKE THE WIN…

CHAD REED…YAMAHA…JAMES "BUBBA" STEWART…(CRASHED IN TURN ONE OF 1ST LAP AND…TIM FERRY FOLLOWED…ON…KAWASAKI’S

125’S…RYAN DUN-GEY…ON A SUZUKI…FOLLOWED BY….JASON LAWERENCE ON A YAMAHA AND
K-T-M RIDER…JUSTIN BRAYTON…3RD..

MOTHER NATURE TRIED HER BEST TO SLOW DONNY SCHATZ DOWN THIS WEEKEND, BY POST- PONING THE FINALE OF THE BEVELITE GLASS $50,000 CLASSIC AT TYREPOWER PARRAMATTA CITY RACEWAY ONE DAY BY RAIN, BUT THE TWO-TIME DEFENDING ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SERIES CHAMPION PICKED UP RIGHT WHERE HE LEFT OFF ON FRIDAY NIGHT, RETURNING TO VICTORY LANE ON SUNDAY. IT WAS THE SEVENTH TIME IN HIS CAREER THAT HE HAS WON THE PRESTIGIOUS EVENT.

SCHATZ USED A DOMINATING PERFORMANCE TO WIN THE 30-LAP CONTEST FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE SEASON. IT WAS HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE WIN AT TYREPOWER PARRAMATTA CITY RACEWAY AND HIS FOURTH
IN FIVE STARTS OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS. IN THE EIGHT YEAR HISTORY OF THE BEVELITE GLASS $50,000 CLASSIC, HE AND FELLOW ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SERIES STAR JOEY SALDANA ARE THE ONLY TWO DRIVERS TO TASTE VICTORY.

SCHATZ LINED UP THIRD FOR THE 30-LAP A-FEATURE ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND QUICKLY TOOK THE SECOND SPOT FROM IAN LOUDOUN. HE THEN SET HIS SIGHTS ON LEADER ROBBIE FARR, AND TRACKED HIM DOWN ON THE 11TH LAP, DIVING LOW IN TURN ONE. FROM THERE, SCHATZ WOULD OPEN A VERY COMMANDING LEAD EN ROUTE TO THE $50,000 PAYDAY.

STEVE KINSER WON THE OPENING RACE OF 2008…ON NEW YEAR’S DAY

SCHATZ FINISHED OFF 2007 WITH A PAIR OF...DOWNUNDER WINS

SEVEN WEEKS AFTER THEIR LAST RACE AND SIX WEEKS AHEAD OF THEIR NEXT ONE, NASCAR DRIVERS RETURN TO WORK MONDAY FOR TESTING AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY.

THE FIELD HAS BEEN SPLIT IN HALF, WITH TWO-TIME DEFENDING SERIES CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON AND HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS NEWCOMER DALE EARNHARDT JR. HEADLINING THE FIRST GROUP SCHEDULED TO RUN MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. JEFF GORDON LEADS THE SECOND GROUP THAT WILL RUN THE SAME THREE DAYS THE NEXT WEEK. ALL ARE PREPARING FOR THE 50TH DAYTONA 500 THAT OPENS THE SPRINT CUP SEASON FEB. 17.

TESTING IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT MARKS THE FULL-TIME LAUNCH OF THE CAR FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CAR OF TOMORROW. THE NASCAR CREATION IDENTIFIED BY ITS REAR WING, FRONT SPLITTER AND BOXIER SHAPE GOES FROM 16 RACES LAST YEAR TO ALL 36 THIS YEAR.

"WHAT IT DOES IS CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE A ROOKIE GOING TO ALL THESE RACETRACKS WITH A CAR THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO DRIVE," PENSKE RACING'S KURT BUSCH TOLD THE SPORTING NEWS. "IT'S EXCITING IN ONE SENSE AND DIFFICULT IN ANOTHER."

THREE OF THE SEASON'S SIX SCHEDULED TESTS ARE DUE TO COME BEFORE THE FIRST RACE. TEAMS WILL GATHER JAN. 28-29 AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND JAN. 31-FEB. 1 AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY. LIKE DAYTONA, BOTH ARE NEW TO THE NEW CAR.

THE DAYTONA TEST WILL BE MISSING ROBBY GORDON, WHO FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR IS TACKLING THE 6,000-MILE DAKAR RALLY. GORDON, WHO LAST YEAR BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO WIN A STAGE IN THE WORLD'S MOST GRUELING OFF-ROAD RACE AND BROUGHT HIS HUMMER HOME EIGHTH OVERALL, IS IN LISBON, PORTUGAL, PREPARING FOR SATURDAY'S START OF THE TWO-WEEK EVENT. HE'LL BE REPLACED FOR THE TEST BY BRENDAN GAUGHAN.

THE DAYTONA TEST IS DOUBLY CRITICAL TO JOE GIBBS RACING AS IT BEGINS ITS MOVE TO TOYOTA. IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT TONY STEWART, WHO SKIPPED IT THE PAST TWO YEARS WITH THE TEAM'S PERMISSION, HAS AGREED TO DO HIS OWN TESTING, LIKELY DURING THE SECOND WEEK.

THE ORGANIZER OF THE ANNUAL DAKAR RALLY HAS CANCELED THIS YEAR'S EVENT--PLANNED TO START ON SATURDAY AND RUN TO JAN. 20--DUE TO FEARS REGARDING SAFETY AFTER TERRORIST ACTIONS AND THREATS AGAINST THE RALLY.

THREE MEN BELIEVED TO BE LINKED TO AL QAEDA KILLED FOUR FRENCH TOURISTS IN MAURITANIA IN AFRICA ON DEC. 24. THE RALLY WAS SET TO SPEND EIGHT DAYS IN MAURITANIA, AND ORGANIZER ASO FEARED IT WOULD BE UNABLE TO GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF PARTICIPANTS AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE NEARLY 6000-MILE TREK.

THE CANCELLATION IS THE FIRST IN THE RALLY'S 30 YEARS. THE ASO SAYS FUTURE DAKAR EVENTS ARE NOT AT RISK.

"BASED ON THE CURRENT INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL TENSION AND THE MURDER OF FOUR FRENCH TOURISTS [ON] DEC. 24 LINKED TO A BRANCH OF AL-QAEDA IN ISLAMIC MAGHREB, BUT ALSO AND MAINLY THE DIRECT THREATS LAUNCHED DIRECTLY AGAINST THE RACE BY TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS," THE ASO SAID IN A STATEMENT. "NO OTHER DECISION BUT THE CANCELLATION OF THE SPORTING EVENT COULD BE TAKEN BY A.S.O.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH WILL BE NASCAR PRESEASON THUNDER LAS VEGAS. ALL OF THE
TEAMS IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES ARE EXPECTED AT THE 1.5-MILE, HIGH-BANKED
SUPERSPEEDWAY ON JAN. 28-29 TO PREPARE FOR THE MARCH 2 UAW-DODGE 400. ON JAN. 30-31,
THE NASCAR NATIONWIDE (FORMERLY BUSCH) SERIES TEAMS WILL TEST IN PREPARATION FOR
THE MARCH 1 SAM'S TOWN 300.

AND THAT’S IT…HAPPY MOTORING…

  

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