Click on thumbnail to see [...]]]> Here we have what the 2013 Ford Fusion will look like when the 2013 Daytona 500 rolls around. I like it. I’m looking forward to seeing the Chevrolet and Toyota offerings as well. We’ll do our best to have ‘em here for you as soon as we can.

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Samantha is finishing up a degree in psychology and has been working on her thesis paper which she will defend this month. She plans on continuing to use this knowledge at Kyle Busch Motorsports.

The area of [...]]]> I had the opportunity to interview Samantha Busch recently. I have to say she impressed me even more after the interview.

Samantha is finishing up a degree in psychology and has been working on her thesis paper which she will defend this month. She plans on continuing to use this knowledge at Kyle Busch Motorsports.

The area of psychology that her concentration is in is called Industrial/Organizational Psychology. This area has a lot to do with reward systems, performance appraisals, training and so on so it is very relevant to KBM. Samantha’s big thesis was on reward systems used at Joe Gibbs Racing and she thinks there is some very valuable research based ideas that could help both organizations. A significant portion of her paper focused on low-cost reward and recognition programs along with the huge role social media could play in these areas. Samantha is very excited to see how this will work and help both organizations.

I asked if she used any of her knowledge in helping Kyle deal with some of the things he has gone through. To which she replied,” I like to think I can help him stay a bit calmer by always being a shoulder to lean on and a person to vent to. “

I know you are big into working out but how easy is it do on the road, the coach isn’t that roomy is it?

Samantha responded, “I am a huge workout nut! I used to teach spin and body sculpting in college and I still love staying active all the time. Although there is not much room on the bus I have some great, kick butt workout routines that only require a set of 5 or 8 pound dumbbells and a mat. During this off season I plan on filming short workout videos that anyone can do in the comfort of their own living room but that really get results. It’s all about making the most of the space you have and pushing yourself to the next level. “

For those of you not on twitter Samantha will give style tips and usually post a picture of what she’s wearing and her shoes. She often says the cost and where she got it from. So when I asked her about it this is what she had to say.” Growing up I was a girly girl so I guess it must have started then. I always loved creating funky outfits. I try to keep up with some of the trends but really always tell people to wear what makes them feel good about themselves. People aren’t always going to like what you are wearing but if you feel hot in it then that’s all that matters! I really enjoy how people interact with me on Twitter and Facebook and ask me to help them accessorize or put together outfits for them. Also, I love a good sale. This I know I got from my mom! It is way more fun to wear an outfit that you got a good deal on. I really love places such as TJ Maxx because they have an array of styles there and you can really find some good bargains. “

My daughters have picked up a shoe fetish not from me so I asked Samantha about hers. She answered,” This one I blame on my grandma, it must be in our genes. True story, my grandma has dementia and had to move into my parent’s home so that we could keep an extra eye and provide healthcare for her around eight years ago now. When the family went to her house to clean it out and get ready for her move and to sell it, we found closets in the basement filled with shoes! I can not even tell you how many pairs were there but there was a ton! Unfortunately, she’s an 8 and I’m a 5.5 or else I would have been rocking them! I do not know your daughters but by that statement I can tell I like her ”

Do you have an active role at KBM and if so what is it? Yes she does a little bit of everything. This off season we have worked towards restructuring KBM by hiring additional essential people and defining everyone’s key roles. Also, working with our accountant to help set up a reward program and 401K plan for our employees. She also helps on media events and basically anywhere people need her. She really loves getting to help out and feels like learning so much!

Samantha helps run the Kyle Busch Foundation. This past season we put on a fishing tournament where we raised enough money to make Christmas really special for our kids. We bought individual gifts for a few hundred kids along with a few big items for the homes. We individually wrapped and tagged all the presents so that the kids really felt special. This upcoming year we plan on doing a few more events and will continue to bring the kids to the track to get to watch Kyle!

If you haven’t seen many pictures of Samantha and Kyle they usually have their westies with them. Being the animal lover that I am and having had a westie growing up I had to ask about the dogs.

We bring the dogs everywhere that we bring the bus since hotels usually do not allow them so they travel to pretty much 90% of the races and they love it! They love going out for walks around the coach lot and luckily the noise of the cars doesn’t bother them at all. Kelly is doing great after her horrible incident the other year. She got a rawhide caught in her throat and it did some pretty bad damage to the point she had a feeding tube for a few months. She is doing great now; you wouldn’t even know anything happened. She gained all of her weight back and has more energy then ever. The dogs were Kyle’s but now we joke that they are mine since they are my little shadows all around the house. Kyle’s parents always had Terriers so that’s why he went with them.

I was curious if Kyle’s street driving bothered her or if he complained about her driving. Samantha responded,” I think everyone complains about my driving but I am still sticking to my word that I am a good driver LOL. Kyle’s driving doesn’t bother me. It actually works out great that he loves to drive because I really don’t like to. Even after racing 500 miles at Bristol he drives home from the race because he likes to! I prefer to sit up front with the dogs on my lap and take in the scenery!”

To read Samantha’s style tips or see her workout videos go to www.samanthabusch.net

For more information on the Kyle Busch Foundation www.kylebuschfoundation.org I had the opportunity to interview Samantha Busch recently. I have to say she impressed me even more.

Samantha is finishing up a degree in psychology and has been working on her thesis paper which she will defend this month. She plans on continuing to use this knowledge at Kyle Busch Motorsports. The area of psychology that her concentration is in is called Industrial/Organizational Psychology. This area has a lot to do with reward systems, performance appraisals, training and so on so it is very relevant to KBM. Samantha’s big thesis was on reward systems used at Joe Gibbs Racing and she thinks there is some very valuable research based ideas that could help both organizations. A significant portion of her paper focused on low-cost reward and recognition programs along with the huge role social media could play in these areas. Samantha is very excited to see how this will work and help both organizations.

I asked if she used any of her knowledge in helping Kyle deal with some of the things he has gone through. To which she replied,” I like to think I can help him stay a bit calmer by always being a shoulder to lean on and a person to vent to. “

I know you are big into working out but how easy is it do on the road, the coach isn’t that roomy is it?

Samantha responded, “I am a huge workout nut! I used to teach spin and body sculpting in college and I still love staying active all the time. Although there is not much room on the bus I have some great, kick butt workout routines that only require a set of 5 or 8 pound dumbbells and a mat. During this off season I plan on filming short workout videos that anyone can do in the comfort of their own living room but that really get results. It’s all about making the most of the space you have and pushing yourself to the next level. “

For those of you not on twitter Samantha will give style tips and usually post a picture of what she’s wearing and her shoes. She often says the cost and where she got it from. So when I asked her about it this is what she had to say.” Growing up I was a girly girl so I guess it must have started then. I always loved creating funky outfits. I try to keep up with some of the trends but really always tell people to wear what makes them feel good about themselves. People aren’t always going to like what you are wearing but if you feel hot in it then that’s all that matters! I really enjoy how people interact with me on Twitter and Facebook and ask me to help them accessorize or put together outfits for them. Also, I love a good sale. This I know I got from my mom! It is way more fun to wear an outfit that you got a good deal on. I really love places such as TJ Maxx because they have an array of styles there and you can really find some good bargains. “

My daughters have picked up a shoe fetish not from me so I asked Samantha about hers. She answered,” This one I blame on my grandma, it must be in our genes. True story, my grandma has dementia and had to move into my parent’s home so that we could keep an extra eye and provide healthcare for her around eight years ago now. When the family went to her house to clean it out and get ready for her move and to sell it, we found closets in the basement filled with shoes! I can not even tell you how many pairs were there but there was a ton! Unfortunately, she’s an 8 and I’m a 5.5 or else I would have been rocking them! I do not know your daughters but by that statement I can tell I like her ”

Do you have an active role at KBM and if so what is it? Yes she does a little bit of everything. This off season we have worked towards restructuring KBM by hiring additional essential people and defining everyone’s key roles. Also, working with our accountant to help set up a reward program and 401K plan for our employees. She also helps on media events and basically anywhere people need her. She really loves getting to help out and feels like learning so much!

Samantha helps run the Kyle Busch Foundation. This past season we put on a fishing tournament where we raised enough money to make Christmas really special for our kids. We bought individual gifts for a few hundred kids along with a few big items for the homes. We individually wrapped and tagged all the presents so that the kids really felt special. This upcoming year we plan on doing a few more events and will continue to bring the kids to the track to get to watch Kyle!

If you haven’t seen many pictures of Samantha and Kyle they usually have their westies with them. Being the animal lover that I am and having had a westie growing up I had to ask about the dogs.

We bring the dogs everywhere that we bring the bus since hotels usually do not allow them so they travel to pretty much 90% of the races and they love it! They love going out for walks around the coach lot and luckily the noise of the cars doesn’t bother them at all. Kelly is doing great after her horrible incident the other year. She got a rawhide caught in her throat and it did some pretty bad damage to the point she had a feeding tube for a few months. She is doing great now; you wouldn’t even know anything happened. She gained all of her weight back and has more energy then ever. The dogs were Kyle’s but now we joke that they are mine since they are my little shadows all around the house. Kyle’s parents always had Terriers so that’s why he went with them.

I was curious if Kyle’s street driving bothered her or if he complained about her driving. Samantha responded,” I think everyone complains about my driving but I am still sticking to my word that I am a good driver LOL. Kyle’s driving doesn’t bother me. It actually works out great that he loves to drive because I really don’t like to. Even after racing 500 miles at Bristol he drives home from the race because he likes to! I prefer to sit up front with the dogs on my lap and take in the scenery!”

To read Samantha’s style tips or see her workout videos go to www.samanthabusch.net

For more information on the Kyle Busch Foundation www.kylebuschfoundation.org

Andy started racing go karts when he was 12 but had wanted one since he was 4. Once [...]]]> I have to say this was a fun interview. I’ve interviewed Andy on the radio and now for this, I finally met him in person at Kansas after we both grew up in the same town of Northport, NY.

Andy started racing go karts when he was 12 but had wanted one since he was 4. Once he finally got in one he knew racing was going to be his focus for many years to come.

For those of you that think Long Island is flat there are a few good hills around , before Andy got the go kart he used to take every toy that had wheel on it and fly down a hill by his house. At age 10 he got into skateboarding which he would ride down the hill. That was fun until he saw the cover of Trandworld Skateboarding when he was about 12 and wanted to try streetluge racing. Andy thinks of this as the grassroots of his racing. Just the man, hill and what means to come down the hill first with a smile on your face.

If you haven’t followed Andy much this year then you don’t know that Andy trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He says he just likes to fight and the plus side is it gets him in better shape for racing. You all think Carl Edwards is in good shape, I think Andy probably is with all the time in the gym he spends.

I asked Andy if he felt accepted by the NASCAR drivers and he said, “Bit by bit I think I gained a little. By the midpoint of the season I had made a bunch of friends in the paddock and more people began to open up.” I would say hearing all those nice comments at the banquet had to help too.

I asked if he had looked for another ride in NASCAR because darn this is the second ROTY to not have a ride the following season after winning.

Andy responded with,” I spoke to a few people but looking at the landscape of the Cup series at the time it was tough. You had guys like Reutiman, Vickers, Ragan and a coupe of other names that were starting to drop that were looking for rides. You had three teams certainly closing their doors and the team that I was on didn’t look like it had a bright future as well. I had a great offer from the Magnus Racing team in October and when the other issues surrounding the Cup team I was working for were unfolding it made sense to jump at a great opportunity in sports cars.”

Though Andy will be driving for Magnus next season he is very opening to running NASCAR events or even tutoring drivers for road courses. Glad to see he still likes NASCAR.

I asked why he picked Magnus Racing, knowing it’s a newer team. Andy answered,” Magnus is a great team. They are very young but I think they have a ton of potential. My teammate and team owner John Potter is ambitious and wants to win and he is a smart business man, he has surrounded himself with great personel who not only work hard and are smart but everyone on the team gets together well. Things gel well and that will help us win.”

Andy had just finished with the testing and had this to say about it,” Very good, we are fast and I’m happy. This will be the most competitive GT race in the history of the Daytona 24. Mark my words; this is going to be the best battle you have ever seen, nonstop for 24 hours. There will be a huge battle with Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Mazda, Audi and others fighting for the win from the drop of the green all the way to the checkers.”

Knowing Andy’s love of racing and in/on anything I asked what would he like to try and he said Monster Truck. I can honestly see him racing one of those.

Living out here in Colorado I asked would he ever consider the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb and he said yes as long as he had a safe ride.. Maybe I’ll just have to see what I can do about finding him a ride.

You can catch Andy along with a few other NASCAR drivers in the Rolex 24 hour race from Daytona January 28-29,2012 on SPEED.

Rain canceled Friday’s cup practices. Truck race set off first practice time.

Ron Hornaday makes his 300th career start.

James Buescher and Ty Dillon on the front row of the truck race.

Buescher to the lead on green flag.

Caution lap 4 as Jennifer Jo Cobb blew and engine.

Green flag restart lap 9 [...]]]> It’s championship weekend… what would the races bring?

Rain canceled Friday’s cup practices. Truck race set off first practice time.

Ron Hornaday makes his 300th career start.

James Buescher and Ty Dillon on the front row of the truck race.

Buescher to the lead on green flag.

Caution lap 4 as Jennifer Jo Cobb blew and engine.

Green flag restart lap 9 Harvick to the lead.

Lap 13 shows 3 trucks out of race.

Lap 21 caution, Harvick first off pit road and to the lead on restart lap 24.

3 wide for the lead on lap 26 Buescher to lead around Harvick and Hamlin.

Caution lap 30 Gresham spun Qurroga who slid but didn’t hit anything.

Green flag restart lap 35, Sauter to the lead while Harvick and Buescher get into each other.

Lap 38 Sadler and Sauter battle for lead,Sauter remains in the lead.

Lap 40 Sadler get the lead.

Green flag stops start lap 70.

Lap 73 Harvick gets hit by Buescher getting on to pit road.

Sauter back to the lead after stops cycle threw.

Caution with 38 to go Chastin spun as truck got loose, Sauter first off pit road.

Caution with 17 laps to go for rain, Sauter in lead .

NASCAR red flags and calls race with 15 to go.

Sauter wins. Austin Dillon wins Championship.

Austin Dillon is the youngest Champ in NASCAR Truck history.

Childress says it feels like when Earnhardt won his first Championship.

This is the 2nd NASCAR Truck Championship for RCR Racing.

Joey Coulter is the 2011 NASCACR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

This is the 11th Driver title for RCR.

Keselowski starts on the pole for the Nationwide race.

NASCAR has scheduled a competition caution for lap 35.

One of the best anthems this season.

Sadler to the lead on the start of the race.

Lap 3 Morgan Shepherd blew an engine, Skinner into the wall and McClure has damage too.

5 cars off the track already.

Restart lap 7 with Sadler back to the lead.

Lap 9 Keselowski to the lead.

Caution lap 15 Steven Wallace kissed the wall

Restart lap 17 Bowyer to the lead.

Lap 19 Keselowski to lead, 4 cars officially out of race.

Lap 30 Stenhouse JR clinched championship.

Competition Caution lap 35, Keselowski off pit road first.

Lap 61 Edwards to the lead.

Lap 86 green flag stops start.

Caution lap 94 Ranger spin then hits inside wall.

Lap 97 restart Edwards to the lead, 18 cars on lead lap.

Lap 100 Bayne to the lead

Lap 131 caution Barnett into the wall

Restart lap 137 Edwards to the lead.

Lap 146 caution Steven Wallace spin in turn 1. Bowyer and Annett stayed out, Keselowski 1st off pit road.

Restart lap 151 Bowyer to the lead

46 to go spotter Calinoff tells Stenhouse new leader the 6.

Lap 174 Caution Bayne in the wall again with a right rear tire cut.

Stremme off pit road first with a 2 tire stop.

Lap 179 back to green, Keselowski to the lead.

Caution lap 182 Sorenson has a flat and spins

14 to go restart Keselowski to the lead.

Caution lap 188 Kenny Wallace into the inside wall.

Back to green with 7 laps to go Edwards and Keselowski battle for the lead.

Keselowski wins the race. Stenhouse Jr the Champion. The #60 wins owners title.

Timmy Hill wins Rookie of the year.

Both truck and Nationwide Champs this year where ROTY last year.

Cool burnout with Stenhouse Jr and Edwards.

Keselowski’s win gives Penske racing its 350th all time victory.

There were no poles for Jimmie Johnson this year.

Carl Edwards on Pole Truex Jr on the outside.

Lap 3 Kurt Busch had a transmission go but no caution.

Caution lap 14 rain in turn, Stewart’s grill fixed under caution, hole from damage.

Edwards first off pit road and the lead on restart.

Caution lap 33 Blaney spin in turn 4.

More work on Stewart’s car. Rear tire changer slipped on Edwards stop

Montoya did not pit, Keselowski to the lead on restart

Bayne kisses the wall right in front of Stewart.

Edwards back t the lead.

Ambrose down a cylinder.

Green flags stops start lap 76, after they cycle through Edwards remains in the lead.

Lap 86 caution as Ragan blew and engine.

Restart lap 87 Edwards to the lead.

Kenseth kisses the wall no caution

Lap 105 Johnson pits unexpectedly

Lap 107 Caution rain in turn 3 and 4

Red flag lap 110, Harvick, Gordon, Edwards, Stewart off pit road

Restart lap 116 Gordon to the lead.

Montoya bounced off the wall lap 120.

Lap 123 Smoke to the lead.

Caution lap 133 Bayne in the wall.

Harvick first off pit road with 2 tires.

Green flag restart lap 138 Harvick to the lead.

Caution lap 140 48 spun

Green flag restart lap 146 Truex JR to the lead.

WOW what a restart SMOKE

Lap 152 Stewart (baby cakes) to the lead.

Lap 154 Caution big wreck, Cassel Bayne and Whitt on the back straight away.

Stewart had socket stuck in gun on right rear 2 tire stop.

Kenseth first off pit road and the lead lap 161

93 to goo Edwards to the lead.

Lap 185 Edwards clinched “most laps lead”

77 laps to go green flag stops begin with Burton pitting.

67 laps to go Stewart to the lead.

Caution lap 212 Rain

Edwards pits

49 to go Kyle Busch to the lead

38 to go restart Stewart to the lead.

Tony Stewart the Champion on the tiebreaker.

6 years for HMS engines and Chassis win as Champions

There 26 lead changes with 15 different leaders a record at Homestead.

Stewart passed 118 cars

“If this doesn’t go down as one of the greatest championship battles in history, I don’t know what will” ~Stewart

Only 97 days till the Daytona 500