Monthly Archives: February 2013

Smoke Wins As Last Lap Disaster Strikes

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Tony Stewart, driver of the #33 Oreo/Ritz Chevrolet, poses in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013 Photo - Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Tony Stewart, driver of the #33 Oreo/Ritz Chevrolet, poses in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

In the most eventful season opener in NASCAR Nationwide Series history, Tony Stewart won the race while the rest of the field wrecked including Kyle Larson who flew into the catch fence and destroyed his car. Among all that carnage, 28 fans in total were injured due to Larson’s car flying into the catch fence and scattering debris everywhere. The race was going normally until this last lap incident occurred and this race will forever be remembered as one of the scariest in NASCAR history.

As all of our thoughts and prayers are with the injured race fans along with their families and friends, I will try to recap the Drive4COPD 300 as best as I can.

With the two-car tandem in full-play for the Nationwide Series, many lead changes occurred throughout the race. The first one was on lap four when Kyle Busch got around pole-sitter Trevor Bayne. Not long after that, Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick exchanged the lead a few more times. The first caution of the day came out when Scott Lagasse Jr. got hit from behind by Bayne and Lagasse spun through the grass on the turn one end of the tri-oval. Continue reading →

Redemption Strikes for Sauter at Daytona

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Johnny Sauter, driver of the #98 Carolina Nut Co./Curb Records Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013 Photo - Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Johnny Sauter, driver of the #98 Carolina Nut Co./Curb Records Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

A 360 degree turn-around occurred for Johnny Sauter at Daytona Friday night. Last year, Sauter was leading during after a restart and he was involved in a wreck. This year, Sauter pulled into victory lane after the race ended under caution due to a wreck. What a difference a year makes. Sauter celebrated in victory lane while many drivers will shake their heads and wonder what they could have, would have and should have done.

The Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona started out pretty dicey when drivers attempted to make early moves. Luckily for the drivers, none of those early moves resulted in a wreck. Justin Lofton led the race early before being passed by Ty Dillon on lap seven. The first caution didn’t come out until the one-fourth mark of the race when debris was spotted on the track. The next caution came just after halfway and it was the big one. Continue reading →

Daytona International Speedway Proposes Big Changes

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Daytona International Speedway is going to look different in the future. Joie Chitwood, track president of Daytona, announced new changes coming to the speedway pending approval from senior management of the International Speedway Corporation (ISC).

The new proposed changes to the famous “World Center of Racing” include changes to the front stretch, concession stands, the entrance to the speedway and more. Chitwood presented media members and NASCAR industry leaders a three-dimensional video of the new changes Friday.

The goal of the changes is to improve “the complete fan experience.” The changes start with five new, expanded and redesigned entrances called “injectors”.

All entrances lead to escalators that will bring people to a three-story concourse. Each escalator will drop off fans at different levels. There will be over 40 escalators included in the new entrances. The concourse will include 11 different “neighborhoods.” Each neighborhood will be the size of a football field with an “open-sightline” so fans can socialize and not miss any of the on-track action during the races.

Seats on the front stretch will also be improved. The first row of seats will be raised with the goal of providing a better sight line for fans. Along with those changes, every seat will be replaced and improved to provide more comfortable seating for fans.

Daytona International Speedway will also add and update restrooms and concession stands to better accommodate fans.

The speedway hopes that if they spends $250 million, legislation will allow the track to receive incentives that other Florida sports teams get for their facilities.

A timetable on how long the renovation would be completed has not been released and the new plans are still pending approval.

Potential benefits of the renovation as said by Chitwood, “Who knows, maybe a BCS National Championship game is in our future.” Daytona International Speedway is looking to make things bigger and better, these proposed plans accomplish that.

To see video and photos … Continue reading →

Daytona 500 Preview

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The final restart at 2012 Daytona 500 with Matt Kenseth in the lead. Photo - Getty Images

The final restart at 2012 Daytona 500 with Matt Kenseth in the lead.
Photo – Getty Images

It has been over three months since Brad Keselowski was crowned champion during the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami.

Come Sunday, the wait for Sprint Cup cars to begin their next season will come to an end. The 2013 season has arrived. The Daytona 500 is always the biggest race of the year but, this year, with the Gen 6 cars, it is likely the most anticipated Daytona 500 ever. The Gen 6 cars will be out on the track for their first real test on Sunday and all of the team’s off-season work will be shown. Daytona is here. Continue reading →

CE Falk III Hopes to Bring his Winning Ways to Camping World Truck Series in 2013

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C.E. Falk III, three-time Late Model track champion at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., led the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race, before a last lap spin, at the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach on Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Photo - Courtesy Kaye & Bruce Albin/PicYer Photos at NASCARHometracks.com

C.E. Falk III, three-time Late Model track champion at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., led the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race, before a last lap spin, at the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach on Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway.
Photo – Courtesy Kaye & Bruce Albin/PicYer Photos at NASCARHometracks.com

CE Falk was recently thrust into the spotlight this past week, but not in the way he anticipated while leading the Whelen All-American Series race as part of the UNOH Battle at the Beach on Monday night. With some hard racing in the final lap of the race, he was the recipient of a bump ‘n run move followed by a controversial spin by race winner Kyle Larson.

Following the race and despite the disappointing loss, CE Falk handled the incident well, but knew he had just cashed out the expense of a damaged car versus cashing in with another well-earned victory for him and his team. Continue reading →