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As one racing season ends, another begins.
The Outlaw Karts have kicked off their winter series in Red Bluff, California, and our local contingent of kart racers did extremely well last Saturday. After a frustrating weekend of mechanical problems in the season kickoff race the week before, the Millard brothers, Cameron and Mason, scored heat race and main event victories in their respective divisions. Sixteen year old Cameron only qualified 13th out of 39 entries, but when it came time to race, he was on the gas, running three-wide at times on his way to victory in the 500cc Open division. Thirteen year old Mason posted a seventh-place qualifying effort, but like his big brother he was up front when the checkered flag flew for the 250cc Intermediate main. The Thorson boys also did well, with Daniel winning his Open division heat race and finishing eighth in the main. Younger Brother Tanner chased Mason Millard home in the Intermediate main, finishing second after winning the earlier trophy dash. Mike Millard tells me he has a Late Model car for Cameron, and plans to run the Whelen series at All American Speedway in Roseville in 2010.
Last weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega has been debated since before the checkered flag flew. After this spring's scary finish-line crash by Carl Edwards, NASCAR laid down the law about bump drafting in the turns for last week's race. So naturally, both big crashes happened on the straightaways, with Ryan Newman and Mark Martin both taking flight.
Something really needs to be done about the Talladega races, and engineering graduate Newman has volunteered to help NASCAR with the problem. Jimmie Johnson, who further consolidated his championship lead with a sixth-place finish, opined that they need “to get some tractors in here and tear down the banking.” A flatter track would definitely slow the speeds and taking away the restrictor plates would give the drivers some throttle response and spread out the field a bit. But don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. Martin's crash and Jeff Gordon's involvement dropped them both well back in the finishing order, giving Johnson a huge point margin going into tomorrow's race at Texas. With only Phoenix and Homestead left after Sunday, Johnson has his fourth consecutive Cup championship all but sewed up. And it looks like Mark Martin will probably finish second—again!
After all the hype and buzz about Danica Patrick coming to NASCAR, it appears that it finally may happen. According to reports by ESPN and others, she is only a week or so away from signing a deal to drive a Nationwide car for JR Motorsports. The departure of Brad Keselowski for the Penske organization opened up the seat, and apparently that was the final piece to the puzzle. Danica will run a limited schedule of ten or so races, on weekends that don't conflict with her Indycar duties. She will probably make her first start at Daytona's Speedweeks in February. It will be interesting to see how Danica fares in a stock car. Far more successful Indycar drivers (Sam Hornish, Dario Franchitti for example) haven't exactly set the world on fire in a stock car.
Another big announcement last week was the withdrawal of Toyota from Formula 1 for 2010. Toyota is the third major auto manufacturer to abandon the series (Honda left after the 2008 season, and BMW won't compete in 2010). Rumors have been flying for weeks as the Toyota board of directors delayed budget approval for the F1 team, and Akio Toyoda, president of parent company Toyota Motor Corporation confirmed those rumors at a press conference last Wednesday. So Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock, and reserve driver Kamui Kobayashi, who impressed in the last two Grand Prix races of the 2009 season while subbing for Glock, are now looking for rides for 2010. However, we may see a repeat of the transformation of Honda into Brawn GP early this year, as it is probable that a buyer can be found for the team's extensive equipment and facilities. And in a related item, tire manufacturer Bridgestone has announced their withdrawal as F1 tire supplier after the 2010 season.
The Outlaw Karts have kicked off their winter series in Red Bluff, California, and our local contingent of kart racers did extremely well last Saturday. After a frustrating weekend of mechanical problems in the season kickoff race the week before, the Millard brothers, Cameron and Mason, scored heat race and main event victories in their respective divisions. Sixteen year old Cameron only qualified 13th out of 39 entries, but when it came time to race, he was on the gas, running three-wide at times on his way to victory in the 500cc Open division. Thirteen year old Mason posted a seventh-place qualifying effort, but like his big brother he was up front when the checkered flag flew for the 250cc Intermediate main. The Thorson boys also did well, with Daniel winning his Open division heat race and finishing eighth in the main. Younger Brother Tanner chased Mason Millard home in the Intermediate main, finishing second after winning the earlier trophy dash. Mike Millard tells me he has a Late Model car for Cameron, and plans to run the Whelen series at All American Speedway in Roseville in 2010.
Last weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega has been debated since before the checkered flag flew. After this spring's scary finish-line crash by Carl Edwards, NASCAR laid down the law about bump drafting in the turns for last week's race. So naturally, both big crashes happened on the straightaways, with Ryan Newman and Mark Martin both taking flight.
Something really needs to be done about the Talladega races, and engineering graduate Newman has volunteered to help NASCAR with the problem. Jimmie Johnson, who further consolidated his championship lead with a sixth-place finish, opined that they need “to get some tractors in here and tear down the banking.” A flatter track would definitely slow the speeds and taking away the restrictor plates would give the drivers some throttle response and spread out the field a bit. But don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. Martin's crash and Jeff Gordon's involvement dropped them both well back in the finishing order, giving Johnson a huge point margin going into tomorrow's race at Texas. With only Phoenix and Homestead left after Sunday, Johnson has his fourth consecutive Cup championship all but sewed up. And it looks like Mark Martin will probably finish second—again!
After all the hype and buzz about Danica Patrick coming to NASCAR, it appears that it finally may happen. According to reports by ESPN and others, she is only a week or so away from signing a deal to drive a Nationwide car for JR Motorsports. The departure of Brad Keselowski for the Penske organization opened up the seat, and apparently that was the final piece to the puzzle. Danica will run a limited schedule of ten or so races, on weekends that don't conflict with her Indycar duties. She will probably make her first start at Daytona's Speedweeks in February. It will be interesting to see how Danica fares in a stock car. Far more successful Indycar drivers (Sam Hornish, Dario Franchitti for example) haven't exactly set the world on fire in a stock car.
Another big announcement last week was the withdrawal of Toyota from Formula 1 for 2010. Toyota is the third major auto manufacturer to abandon the series (Honda left after the 2008 season, and BMW won't compete in 2010). Rumors have been flying for weeks as the Toyota board of directors delayed budget approval for the F1 team, and Akio Toyoda, president of parent company Toyota Motor Corporation confirmed those rumors at a press conference last Wednesday. So Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock, and reserve driver Kamui Kobayashi, who impressed in the last two Grand Prix races of the 2009 season while subbing for Glock, are now looking for rides for 2010. However, we may see a repeat of the transformation of Honda into Brawn GP early this year, as it is probable that a buyer can be found for the team's extensive equipment and facilities. And in a related item, tire manufacturer Bridgestone has announced their withdrawal as F1 tire supplier after the 2010 season.
