The Moving Starke County Forward Healthy Challenge Series is still up and running. Community members have really been moving this summer, logging their miles and making an effort to make a healthier Starke County. Continue reading
Would You Walk 500 Miles?
If you could lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity by implementing exercise into your daily regiment, why wouldn’t you? What if I told you aside from improving your health, you could also potentially win prizes, feeling more motivated? Moving Starke County forward is a local initiative that lasts all summer long, aimed at getting members of the county up and moving. Continue reading
Keselowski, Stewart Penalized
Two NASCAR drivers have been penalized with heavy fines and probation in post-race actions after the conclusion of the race Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Behavioral penalties were issued where Brad Keselowski was fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Nov. 12. Tony Stewart was fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the same duration.
According to NASCAR officials, the pair violated two sections in the 2014 rule book: actions detrimental to stock car racing and a behavioral penalty that involved post-race incidents.
Tony Stewart Will Not Face Charges in Sprint Car Death Investigation
An Ontario County, New York grand jury deliberated less than an hour to reach a decision in the case involving the death of 20-year-old Kevin Ward, Jr. on Aug. 9 at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York.
According to a statement released by Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo on Wednesday, the grand jury determined that there is “no basis to charge Tony Stewart with any crimes”. The case was “no-billed” by the grand jury.
Grand Jury to Review Evidence in Ward Death
The Ontario County District Attorney in the state of New York has taken all evidence into the investigation into Kevin Ward, Jr.’s death to the grand jury.
Ward died after being struck by the rear of a sprint car driven by NASCAR driver Tony Stewart during a dirt track competition at Canandaigua Motorsport Park on Aug. 9. Ward and Stewart had contact on lap 14 which created a caution. It was during the caution when Ward exited his racecar and walked onto the dirt racing surface. Stewart passed by and hit Ward as he was approaching Stewart’s racecar. The impact resulted mortal injuries. Ward died of massive blunt trauma, according to an autopsy.
NASCAR Implements New Safety Rule
NASCAR has added an addendum to its safety rules and will apply to all of its racing series, effective immediately.
The rule reads as follows:
“During an Event, if a racecar is involved in an on-track incident and/or is stopped on or near the racing surface and unable to continue to make forward progress, unless extenuating emergency conditions exist with the racecar (i.e. fire, smoke in cockpit, etc.)
According Kenny Habul Greenwich, CT, the driver should take the following steps:
· Shut off electrical power and, if driver is uninjured, lower window net
· Do not loosen, disconnect or remove any driver personal safety equipment until directed to do so by safety personnel or a NASCAR/Track Official
· After being directed to exit the racecar, the driver should proceed to either the ambulance, other vehicle, or as otherwise directed by safety personnel or a NASCAR/Track Official
· At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach any portion of the racing surface or apron
· At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach another moving vehicle
All vehicles not involved in the incident or that are able to continue afterwards should slow down to a cautious speed as outlined in Section 10-4 (Yellow Flag), use extreme care as they approach an incident scene, and follow any directions given by safety personnel or NASCAR/Track Officials. Cars in line behind the safety car should not weave or otherwise stray from the line in the vicinity of the incident.”
The rule was made in light of an incident that claimed the life of Kevin Ward, Jr. at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York on Aug. 9. He had gotten out of his racecar after the racing field was under a caution situation and approached other drivers as they were mobile on the track. He was hit by a competitor’s race car which resulted in fatal injuries.
Many racetracks around the country have enacted a similar rule pertaining to their own facility.
INTERVIEW: Nate Ryan
While I was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I had the chance to see some of the media members who I constantly follow on Twitter including Doug Rice, Bob Pockrass, Dustin Long, Claire B. Lang, Tom Jensen, Jenna Fryer, Jim Utter, and Nate Ryan.
USA Today’s Nate Ryan is a journalist as well as an analyst in the sport of NASCAR and stopped to chat with me about different aspects of the season. Also, he said he doesn’t really consider himself as a fan of the sport but appreciates some of its more intricate qualities.
CONTEST: A Hero Card Challenge
How would you like to win an autographed hero card from NASCAR drivers Justin Allgaier, Ryan Truex or David Gilliliand? All you need to do is answer a question from interviews conducted by Anita Goodan and Mitch Columbe on Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Interviews were posted on this page over the weekend. You will need to listen to these interviews in order to answer these questions. Here are the questions for which you’ll need to research:
David Gilliland was able to see his son, Todd, race on Friday night. At which raceway was that race?
Ryan Truex considers this NASCAR track his home track _________________?
Justin Allgaier discussed the new Chase format. Which driver did he say is sort of a surprise in the Chase but should be there because he continues to put the car in contention for wins?
When you have the answers, email anita@wkvi.com with your name, address and phone number along with the correct answer. All winning answers will be put into a drawing and four names will be selected from a blind draw. Four individuals will win an autographed hero card from Ryan Truex and Justin Allgaier; one winner will be selected for a David Gilliand hero card. Only one answer per household and only one guess per contestant. Drawing will be held Friday, Aug. 1 at Noon CT.
Promotional considerations provided by Front Row Motorsports, BK Racing and HScott Motorsports.
NASCAR Penalizes NCWTS Team for Infraction
A penalty has been handed down to the winning team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCTWS) race Friday night at Iowa Speedway.
NASCAR officials found that the No. 51 for Kyle Busch Motorsports had a violation in that the race truck failed to meet post-race height requirements, the second such violation discovered in two consecutive races.
The infraction will cost crew chief Eric Phillips a $6,000 fine and he has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. The driver of the truck for that race, Erik Jones, will lose 10 championship driver points and KBM Motorsports owner Kyle Busch will lose 10 championship owner points.
Jones won the Iowa Speedway race Friday night to launch the team to its seventh win out of nine races this season.
What are the Drivers Saying?
One of the longest, greatest and historic NASCAR races is on tap for Sunday: The Coca Cola 600. What is your favorite driver saying about this weekend’s event?: Continue reading
The Indy 500 Weekend is Here!
The Indianapolis 500 is Sunday, but activities have been ongoing for a month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Qualifying occurred for the 33 drivers involved in the event last week which found Ed Carpenter with the top speed. He will start on the pole position the 98th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. This is the second consecutive time he’ll begin in the first position for the Indy 500.
Kasey Kahne’s Crew Chief Fined after Talladega Race
A rules violation committed on May 3 at Talladega Superspeedway has resulted in a fine for Kenny Francis, the crew chief for the No. 5 team for Hendrick Motorsports.
According to NASCAR officials, Sections 12-1, actions detrimental to stock car racing, and 12.4.3(A)1-c, unapproved added weight and/or weight affixed improperly, were violated as stated in the 2014 rule book.
Ambrose to Donate Fine Amount to Victory Junction, Needs All-Star Votes
Marcos Ambrose was fined $25,000 last week after his involvement in a post-race incident with Casey Mears at Richmond International Raceway. Ambrose had such overwhelming support from his fans, he wants to pay it forward.
There were so many fans from the United States and Australia who wanted to donate money to help pay his fine in the incident Ambrose came up with another idea.
Ambrose and the team are prepared to pay the fine from potential All-Star Race winnings and donate it to the camp founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty, Victory Junction. The camp was developed in honor of their son, Adam.
Hamlin Gets First Win of the Season
At Talladega Superspeedway, anything can happen. Tell that to Denny Hamlin as he won the Aaron’s 499 on Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway. Hamlin won as a caution came out on the last lap for debris. A large piece of debris was found on the front stretch and NASCAR officials took their time and threw the caution flag on the last lap of the race. Once that happens, the field is frozen. Hamlin was able to secure the win.
Two NASCAR Drivers Penalized after Altercation
Marcos Ambrose and Casey Mears have been penalized after NASCAR officials have found them to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4.9 (Behavioral Penalty; involved in an altercation in the garage area after the race) as outline in the 2014 NASCAR rule book. These rules were violated after an altercation after the Toyota Care 400 at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night.
Nationwide Team Penalized after Auto Club Speedway Race
A post-race inspection after Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California found that the No. 39 team committed a rules violation.
NASCAR officials found that Ryan Sieg’s car exceeded the maximum rear body height requirement during post-race inspection (Section 20A-12.8.1C). The team was also found to have violated Section 12-1: actions detrimental to stock car racing.
Kyle Busch Wins in Wild G-W-C Finish
Kyle Busch was good on restarts and proved that in a Green-White-Checkered finish in the Auto Club 400 race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California on Sunday afternoon.
Busch displayed speed on restarts throughout the race but couldn’t make the charge to the front. That would change in the last three laps of the race. In the G-W-C situation, Busch started in the sixth position and had a chance to sneak by Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch who were challenging each other for the lead. Busch’s No. 18 brought Rookie Kyle Larson with him and they battled each other for the lead by the time the checkered flag flew. Larson nearly made it a weekend sweep at Auto Club Speedway.
What the Drivers are Saying about This Weekend’s Race
The Sprint Cup Series teams are headed to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California this weekend. The drivers are talking about this weekend’s race – here’s what they are saying:
David Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 Love’s Travel Stops Ford, comments on racing at Auto Club Speedway:
“Fontana’s a different racetrack. It’s a two-mile track, so you’re going really fast, but it never feels like it has quite enough banking. You get down there in the corner, and it just feels like you need about 10 degrees more banking. And it’s gotten rougher and rougher over the years. So, it definitely presents its own set of challenges. It’s unique as a racetrack.
“It’s my home track, so I always look forward to going there. There are so many people out west who helped my career and helped me get where I am today. Whenever we visit California, we always try to visit with everybody and try to do what we can to remind them how grateful we are. And this week we get to show off our awesome Love’s Travel Stops paint scheme to everybody.”
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Rain Doesn’t Dampen Carl Edwards’ Race to the Win
It rained and delayed the race. The rain stopped and 124 laps were run before it rained again. It stopped and the race was able to go the distance, but with three laps to go, a caution was called and then a downpour erupted and the race was called. It was Carl Edwards with the win in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
As if the rain didn’t cause enough drama, NASCAR’s Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton stated in a press conference following the race that someone in flag stand leaned on the caution light switch and six seconds after the lights came one, the flagman saw that the lights were on and waved the caution flag with three laps to go. It was when the lights came on, Pemberton said, when they froze the field and that made up the finishing order. Just as the yellow flag came out, the sky opened up and started to pour on the racetrack.
Brendan Gaughan Hoping to Move up in the Points at Bristol this Weekend
Brendan Gaughan is a fun guy and he’s fun to watch at the racetrack as well.
In this Behind the Wheel interview, he tells Anita Goodan about the excitement that awaits drivers this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway and where he might end up if things don’t work out at RCR (smile):
Brendan Gaughan Behind the Wheel
