Gaughan's Time to Shine

The off season marks a new start and opportunity for Brendan Gaughan at Richard Childress Racing. Gaughan will compete full time in the Nationwide Series in the number 62 South Point Chevy, using the points from the 33 car. With this new “blessing” as he called it he is ready to succeed.

            No doubt Gaughan is a good driver but in his former opportunities he did not have strong showings. In 2007 Penske gave him a shot in the cup series, Gaughan recorded only four top ten’s and one top five, before being released. In 2009 Rusty Wallace Racing presented him with a ride for two years, where he had six top five’s and seventeen top ten’s total. From my point of view in these opportunities there appears to be a common factor, was it top notch equipment? Now given these teams had good cars, yet he may not of had that opportunity he could have with the cars he was in, He was the third car at Penske and the second at RWR.

            Now he does have the opportunity and he is ready to prove himself. Every RCR car has the capability to win at any track whether it is a part time car or full time. In Nationwide races this year he was a strong contender at times. Since his move to RCR in the tucks Gaughan has had very impressive runs and showed he still has it. In Phoenix Gaughan stated “He can’t wait to get next season started and to show Richard he will get it done.” From my perspective instead of bringing in a young shoe Richard Childress took a chance on the experienced Gaughan and presented him with the opportunity. Gaughan finally has the equipment to do what he needs to do to be a threat next season in the Nationwide series and he will be one. This will be a true point the team and equipment can hinder driver’s possibilities.

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-           -  Stephen Appell

We Say Farewell

News broke Saturday night that actor and racer Paul Walker and racer Roger Rodas had tragically passed away due to a single car accident in Santa Clarita. Walker most know for his role as Connor O'Brain in the famous Fast & Furious films and Rodas a Pro-Am racer were in a 2005 Porsche GT when they lost control and hit a light pole or tree, causing the car to split and catch fire.
Walker was an avid car enthusiast and was on his way back to a car show benefiting typhoon victims put on by his organization Reach Out WorldWide with Rodas when the accident occured. Walkers death was shocking to the community, he was well liked by many fans not just for his acting but his actions off screen. His fellow Co-Stars were heartbroken over the news, Tyrese Gibson was at the accident sight on Sunday with tears streaming. Vin Diesel was also at the sight last night when he thanked everyone over a police car loud speaker for coming to remember his "brother". But let us not forget Roger Rodas a well accomplished pro-am sports car racer. Rodas was not only a long time friend to walker but his financial adviser and teammate. Rodas competed in Porsche Cup and most recently in the Pirelli World Challenge where he was an owner driver for his team Always Evolving, he claimed rookie of the year with two wins and six podium finishes.
These two loved cars and they loved to give back.
Walker leaves servived by his daughter Meadow, and Rodas with a family of his own.
 They will forever be missed but never forgotten, thank you for all you both have given us rest in peace and Godspeed.

This link is a song that RZA of the Wu Tang Clan made for his friend Paul Walker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16SAFgCSHTI

-Stephen Appell   

Gen 6 Synopsis

            The Sprint Cup season is over and now it is time to chime in on how the new Gen 6 car performed.

            NASCAR where was this car in 2007, this car is fantastic.

            First off the manufacturers have model identity once again, very reminiscent of the 80’s, the showroom look is back. In the previous seasons with the original Car of Tomorrow the only identity the manufactures had were the grill indents where the decals sat,; now each manufacture is unique, practically no similarities between them. The best part about the new body is that they retained great aerodynamics, and the safety is only getting better which is of the utmost importance.

            So while the differing bodies look good, the true question was how did it preform overall?

            It was off the charts, perfect from superspeedways to short tracks. At the superspeedways the cars were twitchy in the draft like pre-COT cars. Drafting is fun to watch again due to the twitchy manner, along with the bumpers and noses not lining up.

            The intermediate tracks stood out the most; Auto Club Speedway had the best finish of the season, a track leading the category of boring races was in fact the stand-out of the season. The Gen 6 shined on the road courses, it was easily whipped left and right with tight competition.

             Short tracks are short tracks they have always been and always will be exciting, even more so with faster cars.

            Best of all, qualifying offered heart pounding excitement at times. Nineteen track records were set this season, no one knew who the pole sitter would be until the last hundredth of a second.

My opinion is simple - the Gen 6 is astonishing,  the car the fans have been waiting for.

-Stephen Appell