No surprise, JJ won another one at Vegas which was boring for the fans except for his own.
Kevin Harvick is getting closer but needs to step it up more with help from his team.
Empty seats at Fontana and Vegas also reflect the lack of excitement in NASCAR despite efforts to market those seats even at discount prices in this ailing economy. It’s going to be a challenging year for NASCAR, and also especially the IRL with all of the personnel changes there.
Danica fizzled out in the Nationwide race at Las Vegas. Will she sizzle in the upcoming IRL Indy Car season to redeem herself?
The Nielsen Overnight Ratings were released for the Cup race in Fontana, with some bad news for NASCAR. TV Ratings were down 6 percent for the Auto Club 500. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, which was broadcast on FOX, earned an overnight rating of 5.0/10, as compared to a 5.3/8 last year. This year’s race ran up against the Olympics, as opposed to last year’s race which had no Olympic competition, and had a later start time. Sunday’s ratings were the lowest since the race moved to February, and the lowest since the race earned a 4.9/11 in 2003. Greensboro, NC had the highest ratings of any local market on Sunday with a 13.0/23.
Despite the half empty grandstands at the Auto Club 500 Sunday, track president Gillian Zucker believes Auto Club Speedway deserves to keep two annual Sprint Cup events.
“There are facilities that are smaller than ours,” Zucker said. “All tracks are not equal. If you’re at a track that holds 50,000 people and sells out, is that better than a track that holds 92,000 [at ACS] and is growing? I don’t think it is. “I can also tell you we will be fighting tooth and nail to keep both our events. I believe they belong here.” Gillian tell that to the Carolina folks who are still steaming because the Southern 500 moved out of Darlington.
The estimated crowd Sunday was 55,000, down from last year’s February event of more than 60,000. ACS has not sold out any of its Cup races since going to two events a year in 2004. “The crowd count was about flat, maybe a little off,” Zucker said. “But considering the economy in this part of the country, I think that says something. It’s been hard-hit here. People are struggling.” This came from AutoRacingSport.com.
The speed and power of motorcycle racing, free demo rides and displays and charity parade laps highlight the activities during Daytona 200 Week Feb. 26 – March 8 at historic Daytona International Speedway. Here’s a look at some of the activities that will be taking place at the “World Center of Racing” that are a must-see for motorcycle enthusiasts:
* Night riders: For the second straight year, the 69th Daytona 200 Daytona SportBike race, the prestigious season-opening event to the AMA Pro Racing season and the most historic motorcycle event in America, will be held under the lights on Friday night, March 5. Daytona International Speedway will also host the first two rounds of the American SuperBike and AMA SuperSport on Thusday, March 4 and Friday, March 5.
* Daytona Supercross By Honda: The Daytona Supercross By Honda, the toughest and most prestigious Supercross in the country, will be held on Saturday night, March 6. The course will continue to be one of the most challenging Supercross layouts in America thanks to Ricky Carmichael’s Signature Course Design. Star riders expected to compete include three-time and defending champion Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, Ryan Dungey, Davi Millsaps and Ryan Villopoto.
Carmichael, a five-time Daytona Supercross By Honda champion, has designed the course that will be located in the tri-oval of historic Daytona International Speedway while Mark Barnett, former Supercross Champion and three-time National Champion, will do the construction and maintenance during the event.
* New Flat Track: The AMA Pro Racing Flat Track events on Wednesday, March 3 and Thursday, March 4 will have a new home in 2010 – the hallowed grounds of Daytona International Speedway where a quarter-mile dirt track made up of lime rock is located outside Turns 1 and 2.
The new Daytona Flat Track, which will have more than 5,000 temporary seats and lighting from Musco Lighting, will showcase Flat Track stars such as Henry Wiles, Kenny Coolbeth, Chris Carr, Jake Johnson and Joe Kopp.
The track will see its first action beginning this Saturday through Tuesday with the AMA Pro Amateur events.
* XDL Championship Series: For the first time, Daytona International Speedway will be home to the XDL Championship Series on Feb. 26-28. A new event to the schedule, the season kick-off of the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship will mark XDL’s fifth season as the only national sportbike freestyle championship and the series’ first visit to the state of Florida.
One of America’s fastest growing action sports, the series pits competitors from all over North America, Asia and Europe on 600cc sport bikes. XDL Championship Series events will take place behind the Lockhart and Keech Grandstands on the West End of Daytona International Speedway with tickets starting at $5 for Friday and $20 for Saturday and Sunday.
* Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship and Ricky Carmichael University: The inaugural Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship will take place on Sunday, March 7 at Daytona International Speedway, and on Monday, March 8, Carmichael will then host Ricky Carmichael University, the first public riding school ever hosted by the 15-Time AMA National Champion.
Both events will take place on the same course that is used for the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Saturday, March 6.
The class structure for the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship will include classes for youth riders on 50cc bikes all the way up to vet and senior classes. The race will follow a supercross format, using heat races and last-chance qualifiers to seed the field of riders into a main event in each class and riders can sign up by visiting www.mxsports.com.
The Ricky Carmichael University event on Monday, March 8, is an unprecedented opportunity for amateur racers to learn riding secrets from the legendary Supercross champion who is known as the Greatest of All-Time.
* Demo rides and displays: Outside of Daytona International Speedway, motorcycle enthusiasts can test-ride the latest and greatest motorcycles with free manufacturer demo rides and displays. Among the manufacturers expected to attend include Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Harley-Davidson, Victory, Triumph and Boss Hoss. Riders must hold a valid motorcycle driver license and DOT approved helmet in order to participate in the demo rides.
* Free admission to D5X: Daytona 500 Experience, the Official Attraction of NASCAR, will have free admission on Thursday, March 4 through Saturday, March 6 and will go by the name of D5X and celebrate Daytona 200 Week with food, beverages and entertainment. The attraction is also home to the winning Daytona 500 car – Jamie McMurray’s No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet.
* Spring Dash: It’s the ride of a lifetime – two laps around the historic Daytona International Speedway. On Thursday night, March 4, bike enthusiasts will get that chance in the fifth annual Spring Dash At Daytona. The package includes a Spring Dash T-Shirt, two parade laps around the track, an After Party in the Sprint FANZONE with live entertainment and two beverage tickets. Tickets are only $40. Tickets can be purchased at the Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone outside of Turn 4 on Friday, Feb. 26 – March 4, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and are also available at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com
* Bikini contest: On Saturday, March 6 between 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., the annual Hooters Bikini Contest will take place in Thunder Alley located in the Midway outside of Turn 4.
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” traveled to Loris, South Carolina – with race car driver Jeff Gordon as the celebrity volunteer — to meet Amanda and Derrick Suggs, a young couple who had just started their own family when they adopted Amanda’s younger siblings to prevent them from being separated in foster care. When Derrick and Amanda got married, they moved into the home Derrick inherited from his grandfather. Built by his grandfather in 1953, the home came with a long list of repairs required to make it livable: a leaking roof, outdated and exposed electrical wiring, rotting foundation, and broken and cracked asbestos siding on the outside of the house. In just seven days, “EM:HE” will build a safer, stronger home that will protect and support this incredible family. This episode will air in April (date tba) on ABC.
At a very young age, Amanda was forced to take on the role of a mother figure for her siblings. The children were often left alone for extended periods of time and because the family moved so often, the kids were frequently out of school. Between missing school and caring for her siblings, Amanda fell so far behind that she dropped out of school after the seventh grade. At 16, Amanda reached out to her aunt for help and she agreed to take care of Amanda and the two oldest boys. Living with her aunt helped Amanda get her life back on track and within three months, she received her GED and began community college classes. When she turned 18, Amanda moved to Myrtle Beach to continue her college education. When she met Derrick, they instantly fell in love, were married, and soon welcomed their first born, Walker. Shortly thereafter, Amanda’s brother Jacob informed her that he and his younger brothers were being taken away from their parents and placed in foster care. Without hesitation, Derrick and Amanda brought the boys to live with them. James, Jacob, and Jordan had nothing but the clothes on their backs when they arrived, but with the love and support of Amanda and Derrick, they caught up with their academics and are all on pace to graduate on time.
Derrick enjoys playing the role of father, big brother, and friend to the boys, but he is much more than just a dedicated father and husband. Derrick has gone above and beyond to improve the image of the police department and revitalize the relationship between the police and the community. He created a community outreach team within his police squad to help clean up the high crime areas of his district and also set up various youth activities such as “Shop with a Cop,” which takes underprivileged youth out to buy toys and clothes. Last year, Derrick and his partner saved the life of an infant who had stopped breathing while his mother was driving down the highway and were nominated for “Officers of the Year.” Derrick, 28, and Amanda, 26, have given every bit of themselves to their children (James, 19, Jacob, 17, Jordan, 10, Walker, 5, and Mason, 9 months) and their community, but they still lack the time and money required to fix their home.
The Suggs family will go on a Walt Disney World vacation while “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team leader Ty Pennington, designers Ed Sanders, Paige Hemmis, and John Littlefield, race car champion Jeff Gordon, and community volunteers rebuild their home.
AMA Pro Racing kicks off its 2010 season at the legendary Daytona International Speedway for the 69th running of the famous Daytona 200, March 3-5 as part of the Daytona 200 Week activities.
This will be the second year the Daytona 200 will be run at night under the lights at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, March 5th. Practice and qualifying for the Daytona 200 will take place Wednesday, March 3rd and Thursday, March 4th.
The AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike class will see double action with two races for the very first time at Daytona. The first 15 lap race will take place on Thursday, March 4th and the second race will be on Friday, March 5th giving fans two opportunities to see this exciting class. Josh Hayes, 2009 Daytona 200 Winner Ben Bostrom, AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike returnee John Hopkins, Aaron Yates, Tommy Hayden, 2006 Daytona 200 winner Jake Zemke and Geoff May headline the AMA Pro American SuperBike class this year. With seven-time champion Mat Mladin’s retirement, the field is wide open.
The classic Daytona 200 has been run continuously since 1937 with only the war years interrupting what is a true American classic motorcycle race. Every accomplished and important rider and motorcycle manufacturer has featured and won this event. To join the illustrious group of previous winners is to enter into a group of riders who share a special place in the history books of motorcycle racing. Ed Kretz of Pomona, CA won the very first Daytona 200 on his Indian motorcycle. The list of winners extends to legends such as NASCAR great Paul Goldsmith to USAC and Flat Track star Joe Leonard to Flat Track greats Gary Nixon and Cal Rayborn to world champions Kenny Roberts and Eddie Lawson to Scott Russell, Miguel Duhamel, Nicky Hayden and Mladin and last year’s winner, Bostrom. All have proven to be the best of the best. Racing under the lights again this year on Friday, March 5th, the 57 lap race will once again start the 2010 season off in fine fashion.
This year’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL field see the return of 2009 champion Danny Eslick on his new Geico Powersports RMR Suzuki. Also returning will be Graves Yamaha riders Josh Herrin and Tommy Aquino. Martin Cardenas will be riding the M4 Suzuki and 2009 SunTrust MotoGT champion Mark Crozier will be running his DNA Ducati 848. Looking to improve on her 21st place finish last year will be Melissa Paris, whose performance last year was the best result ever for a female rider at Daytona.
The AMA Pro Racing SuperSport class will also have two races this year, showcasing the Young Gun group of riders aged 16 to 21 against the more experienced Top Gun class of riders which is comprised of more experienced Expert licensed riders and local talent. Each AMA Pro Racing SuperSport race will be 35 miles in length and will run Thursday, March 4th and then again on Friday, March 5th. Each race will run prior to the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike races on both days.
Practice for all three classes begins on Wednesday, March 3rd and the races begin on Thursday, March 4th. Make sure to check out the many displays, demo rides and activities inside and outside of the Daytona International Speedway, the Sprint FanZone will be operating throughout the events and don’t miss the D5X, admission is free from March 4th through March 6th.
The Daytona 200 will air on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET. The AMA Pro American SuperBike races will air back-to-back, Saturday, March 6th at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Yes, He Really Said That-from the Valvoline Track Talk Newsletter, Jeff Gordon, on how important it is to NASCAR for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win well. “It’s absolutely important and anybody out here that feels like that’s a joke is only kidding themselves.”
Justin Marks made ARCA history Saturday afternoon, winning the rain-shortened Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace at Palm Beach International Raceway.
Marks, in the Construct Corps Dodge for Win-Tron Racing, earned his first career ARCA Racing Series victory utilizing rain tires provided by Hoosier Racing Tire, the first time ARCA has used a “wet” tire compound in its 58 year history.
“It was a great race – a great win for me…for Win-Tron, for Construct Corps,” a soaked Marks proclaimed in victory lane. “It was the perfect rain conditions to run a rain race. The track was just wet enough to slide around, get on rain tires and find that line, but it never rained too hard, except for the last three laps when it just poured, and we could barely see.”
Marks led on two occasions, first pacing the field on laps 41 through 56, and opening up leads as much as 15 seconds. Marks would give up the point to Robb Brent during the final round of pit stops of the day on lap 56 but would resume the lead when Brent pitted on lap 59. From there, the Rocklin, CA driver maintained a comfortable 30 car length cushion over Brent until the skies opened up on lap 68, and the 3rd and final caution flag of the day waved over the speedway. Marks crossed under the yellow and checkers waving together in a torrid down-pour, and the celebration was on.
“It feels great to win for my sponsor, Construct Corp,” Marks exclaimed, who took over the points lead. “I ran my first ARCA race in 2005, so it’s been a long time coming. I have had a lot of help along the way in the ARCA series, in RAB Racing, Jeff Buice at Shaver Motorsports, Germain, Venturini – I have raced for a lot of different teams, and they all have played a part. They have all helped me. To be able to take everything I learned and apply it to what I feel is the best team out here, Win-Tron Racing, and really go for a championship, this is sort of vindication. It lets us all know that we have a winning combination, and we can really contend for the championship.”
Series officials were forced to throw the checkered flag on the event five laps short of its original distance, completing 70 of the advertised 75 laps, due to the heavy rain. The 2.034 mile PBIR course was the victim of rain showers on and off throughout the afternoon, which led to most teams changing from the Hoosier Short Track Radial “slick” tire to the grooved “rain” tires during the 2nd caution period on lap 22.
ARCA and Hoosier Tire Officials had been preparing for the first season in ARCA history in which a pair of road course races would dot the schedule. Hoosier developed the rain tire based off the successful introduction of their short tack radial two years ago, and the new tire made its first competitive debut just 20 laps into the event when Steve Arpin pitted under green for tires…rain tires.
Arpin’s stop triggered a historic moment for ARCA, as teams began to transition into racing in the rain for the first time. Most teams ran a full fuel run on the wet tires, and both Hoosier and ARCA Officials were very pleased with the results.
“Based upon the feedback we got from both the teams and Hoosier, we are pleased with the performance of the new rain tire,” commented Joe Wells, ARCA VP of Competition. “This has truly been an historic day for our series.” Race winner Marks agreed.
Antonie Richards turned what is a popular form of transportation in his home country of Bermuda into a dream job of being a motorcycle racer.
During Daytona 200 Week, the 22-year-old Richards will make his AMA Pro Racing debut at the “World Center of Racing” in the AMA Pro SuperSport doubleheader next Thursday and Friday.
This weekend, the native of Devonshire, Bermuda is using the Championship Cup Series and American SportBike Racing Association events to get more track time on Daytona’s storied road course.
“It just takes laps really,” said Richards, who is riding a Suzuki for Celtic Racing. “It’s so unique and so fast. You really have to get out there and just get used to the speed and the draft because drafting here is bigger than it is anywhere else that I’ve been to.
“Just the prestige of the track makes it very exciting to be here and get out there on the legendary Daytona International Speedway. People point that out back home in Bermuda. They’re like ‘Wow you’re going to be on the NASCAR track.’ They don’t believe that we actually ride motorcycles here. They didn’t know that until I tell people I’m going to be here.”
After catching the itch to race motorcycles in 2007, Richards first started turning laps on a small quarter-mile track in Bermuda. For the past two years, he has been racing the CCS and WERA circuits in Florida as he continued to learn the ins and outs of motorcycle racing with the ultimate goal of reaching the AMA level.
“When we turn 16, we don’t get cars, we get a scooter or motorcycle,” Richards said. “That’s where I started — riding in the street. I decided I loved racing as a sport. I always watched it on TV. I used to watch all the AMA races, Moto GP, World Superbike and all that stuff. I was a huge fan.
“I decided that I’m pretty good at riding on the street, I’m going to buy myself a 600. I bought myself a Yamaha.”
When Richards climbs aboard his motorcycle for next week’s SuperSport events, he’ll have plenty of family and friends watching from afar back in Bermuda.
“I’m going to have a lot of people support this and watch me back home, family and friends of course,” Richards said. “I’ll be the first Bermudian to race in the AMA class at Daytona so there will be people back home tuned in to SPEED to watch the race.” The American Sportbike Racing Association and Championship Cup Series activities wrapped up on Sunday. Next up on the road racing schedule at DIS will be AHRMA, which will stage vintage motorcycle racing on Monday and Tuesday.
For tickets to all the Daytona 200 Week events, call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway).
The momentum for motorhead action on the tube is picking up momentum. The NASCAR circus moves into Atlanta Motor Speedway and Daytona Bike Week gets underway. To get all of the specific details check RaceFanTV.com on the internet.
NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.
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