The Smoke Has Settled

The smoke has settled over Speed Weeks at Daytona International Speedway and there was smoke. Speed Weeks 2013 was filled with wrecks, starting with testing; then The Inaugural Battle at the Beach which had controversial finishes in each. The biggest wreck came Saturday coming to the checked flag when Regan Smith and Brad Keselowski tangled when Smith went to block. This caused the big one coming to the line it also sent rookie Kyle Larson air born slamming nose first into the catch fence. The fence did its job correctly by keeping Larson’s car out of the grandstands yet debris went flying into the stand injuring fans. Tony Sterwart was the one who made it through the wreck to take yet another victory in the Nationwide series at Daytona. The 500 also had a last lap wreck in which Nascar made the correct call by not throwing the caution since no cars were in danger if they ran to the checkered in which Jimmie Johnson held off a last lap charge from Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. to end a six year 20^th or worse 500 drought.

            Although the 500 was not the race most were probably expecting most of the race was spent in a straight line lacking the action that the past few years have supplied. The small spoilers and longer bumpers lead to the end of tandem drafting. We can most likely expect a rules change by the time we get to Talladega. The Nationwide series has it down tandem drafting to pack racing there speedway package works so hopefully we will see a pack for the cup cars like that. One thing is for sure the season will sure be interesting off to Phoenix.

-Stephen Appell

5 Races Down 5 to Go

Were half way through the Races during Speedweeks at Daytona. The ARCA Racing Series kicked off the races with a usual Daytona style race with the big one in which Jon Wes Townly too the victory, later that night the Sprint Cup cars took the track for there first race in the Sprint Unlimited. This was the first chance for fans to see how the new GEN 6 car would fair during a race and it was not what we were used to seeing, as the passing was not as present unlike years past although Kevin Harvick had an impressive win over Greg Biffle. The following races of the first ever Battle at the Beach had fireworks for the first two. In the Late Model race rising star Kyle Larson had a controversial bump to leader CE Faulk, followed by Larson spinning CE exiting turn 4 coming to the checkered flag. Tuesday nights Modified was dominated by Todd Szegedy who lead 126 laps before a lower right front ball joint broke on his car, handing the lead to Mike Stefanik who lead until the last lap when second place Steve Park was bumped by third place which forced him into the back of Stefanik turning him around exiting turn two. Following the modified rac was the K&N Pro Series East and West race which was as exciting compared to the previous two races. Gene Price Motorsports new comer Cameron Haley was victorious in the final Battle at the Beach race.
We have 5 more races to go wit the Budwiser Duels, Camping World Truck, Nascar Nationwide Series, followed by the Daytona 500

The Man "Fast" Jack Beckman

“Fast” Jack Beckman is one of the best NHRA Top Fuel/Funny Car drivers to ever take to the track, in Beckman’s career he has 14 Final Round wins all in funny car. Beckman is not juts a driver, he is also an instructor at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and has taught over 7,000 different students, some of which he races against today. In 2003 Beckman was crowned Lucas Oil Series Super Comp and Division 7 Super Comp champion. But in May 2004 Jack Beckman discovered he had a new race to win, and that race was defeating cancer. Beckman was diagnosed with level 3B Lymphoma, which has a survival rate between 46-60 percent. The always bright and colorful Beckman accepted this challenge and fought for his new championship. On October 25, 2004 Jack had his final chemotherapy treatment, and was informed shortly after that his cancer was in remission. Beckman knew exactly what he had to do now, and that was get back to what he loved and he did it in style. Come April 2005 “Fast” Jack Beckman qualified for his first ever NHRA event in his Top Fuel debut, driving for Dexter Tuttle, and won his first profession round in round one. At the end of the 2007 season Beckman joined the Funny Car ranks with powerhouse team Don Schumacher Racing. In 2008 he finished 3^rd in points, 2009 fifth, 2010 fourth and last year he fell short to his teammate Matt Hagen and finished 2^nd in the standings. The number one position is only position left in the top five for Beckman, and he currently sits as the point’s leader going into the 2012 season finally in two weeks in Pomona, Ca. Beckman and crew are hoping to make dreams come true, he has fought harder then any other driver and has always had a smile on his face as he does. There is no one quite like “Fast” Jack Beckman in the pits; he is a face of dedication and determination, and a role model to always stay positive no matter what.  

The Battle Thickens

NASCAR has drawn a lot of attention this season with there tight points battles, but the NHRA has one that is even better as they close in on the final race of the season in just two short weeks in Pomona, CA. For Don Schumacher Racing it cant come soon enough as they will take home yet another NHRA Funny Car Championship; the only remaining question is which of his driver will it be. Fast Jack Beckman is currently sitting in the points lead only four points ahead of DSR teammate Ron Capps. Ironically the two teammates swapped crews shortly after the season began, Capps didn’t take long to adjust as he made six consecutive final rounds. Beckman and his new crew on the other hand did take a little warming up, but the made sure everyone still knew they were there after a record setting weekend by the team in St. Louis. The interesting thing about Beckman and Capps is, in there successful careers neither of them has a NHRA Championship.

This is all about to change for one of them in two very short weeks, and when the time comes every millisecond is going to count.

Lets Make A Deal

Nascar fans are always excited this time of year and not only for the chase, but for the new driver deals being made. Kenseth, Logano, Truex Jr, and Newman, were the four main names everyone was waiting to hear from and they did this past week. Just before last weekends race at Atlanta Martin Truex Jr. was happy to announce he is returning to Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the number 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota. A few days later the spotlight was shining on Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth as they made rumors become truth, as Logano stated he will be moving over to Penske, and Kenseth will take over the 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing. Kenseth wasn't the only driver sitting at the JGR table waiting to make announcements. Brian Vickers and Ryan Truex also made deals with JGR to run in the Nationwide Series. The biggest announcement came from Elliot Sadler, as he stated he will depart from Richard Childress Racing at the end of the year to join the JGR Nationwide team while running part time in the Sprint Cup Series for JGR as well. Ryan Newman finally made his decision known to the public after much speculation. Newman announced that he has resigned with Stewart-Haas racing to drive the 39 Chevrolet once again, no sponsor has been announced as of yet.
I would have to say the bigger winner this past week has to be Joe Gibbs Racing, as they have created a force of great talent in the Nationwide Series There line up will be Elliot Sadler, Brian Vickers, and Ryan Truex. I see a JGR top three Championship next season.

Partridge Looks To Double Up

The last time Ryan Partridge Racing and PPL. Motorsports made the trip to the Bullring in Las Vegas, there ace won the race. The southern California based team is back for the second time this summer to compete in the Hoosier Tire Late Models this Saturday and Sunday at the Bullring in Vegas. July 3rd was the first time the fresh pearly white Late Model had touched the surface of a race track in a long time; so the team played there hidden aces, Sunny Wahl and Ryan partridge. With Wahl wrenching on the car and Partridge driving they were the dead mans hand as they qualified fourth and from the drop of the green flag Partridge quickly lived up to his nick name and flew to the front to win the race. Well the team is back for rounds two and three this Saturday and Sunday at the Bullring, and with a victory there first time out I believe we all know who to place our bets on this weekend. Stay tuned for more to come out of Vegas.

Dodge Say Farewell Yet Again

                Just eleven years after Dodge made its return to Nascar in 2001, the manufacture says farewell yet again. Ralph Gilles President and CEO of Chrysler’s SRT Motorsports Brand, made the announcement earlier today during a Media Teleconference call, that the manufacture will not return after the conclusion of this season. Dodge has 215 overall Sprint Cup wins in Nascar, 55 of those wins came after their return in 2001. Penske Racing was the only current Sprint Cup team running the manufacture, but they announced earlier this year that they were returning to Ford for the 2013 season. With Penske moving to Ford in 2013 Dodge was essentially stranded without a large team to run with. Gilles stated that "A number of opportunities emerged, and our team worked diligently to put a structure together to fit our overall business and competitive objectives”, “…in the end, we simply couldn't develop the right structure". Despite falling short of their ultimate goal of a Sprint Cup championship, Dodge feels they have been successful since there return in 2001. Along with their 55 Sprint Cup wins, the manufacture has won Championships in Nascar’s Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series since 2001. Dodge simply made a business decision just as they did in 1977; hopefully we will see them back in competition soon.