Well, the race finally got underway! Yeah!!
Wow on that Michael Waltrip flame-filled wreck! I'm glad he got out okay, but goodness...I was wondering when the rescue guys where going to actually use the fire extinguishers when he was obviously struggling to get out of his car WITH flames and smoke around him. Had to smile at the observation that he smelled like smoke...duh.
Carl Edwards had a good race...too bad for the mishap on pit lane early on...although he didn't seem to suffer...it has to play mind games with you.
Dale Jr. had a good race...but dang...don't know how he can possibly make up that much of a deficit with just one race left to get into the Chase.
Of course this win gives Johnson another of the NASCAR bonus 10 bump going into the Chase as well.
yippee
Monday, September 3, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Dale Earnhardt Jr....and his numbers game
This numbers business about what number Jr will use on his car is still playing on strong.
Every other article is Jr. number this and Jr. number that.
Funny after that commercial they had where he changed his number...and then said just kidding. ha
Hope the race is a good one tonight. Glad to hear that Brad Keselowski was released from the hospital. That crash last night in the Busch race was brutal.
Every other article is Jr. number this and Jr. number that.
Funny after that commercial they had where he changed his number...and then said just kidding. ha
Hope the race is a good one tonight. Glad to hear that Brad Keselowski was released from the hospital. That crash last night in the Busch race was brutal.
Still waiting for Fontana...
Well...almost 6pm and still waiting on NASCAR. Apparently it is hot, hot, hot...as that seems to be the jest of all the reporting.
Like did someone miss the memo that it is hot in California in early September?
But it was fun to see Mike Joy reporting from the old track. Entertaining...while I wait.
Like did someone miss the memo that it is hot in California in early September?
But it was fun to see Mike Joy reporting from the old track. Entertaining...while I wait.
Late California NASCAR Racing
Ahhhhhh...it's noon and where is NASCAR.
Oh yeah, it's in California.
Bah.
Oh yeah, it's in California.
Bah.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Kenny Wallace Links
Kenny Wallace Racing 2007 - Home Kenny Cruise 2007 · Kenny and Coastal 181 Produce a New Book: "Inside Herman's World" · Driver Kenny Wallace on the Hood of #78 at Darlington Raceway ...
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Kenny Wallace Racing 2007 Hanging With Herman: Missing Michigan · Story: No stranger to dirt tracks, Schrader, Wallace · Danger KW.COM is Moving · Dirt: Kenny Wins at Macon ...
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Auto Racing Kenny Wallace - CBSSports.com Nextel Cup Home · Results · Standings · Box Score · Schedule · Drivers. Kenny Wallace, Kenny Wallace. Born: 08/23/1963 Hometown: St. Louis, Mo. ...
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Kenny Wallace Racing 2007 Hanging With Herman: Missing Michigan · Story: No stranger to dirt tracks, Schrader, Wallace · Danger KW.COM is Moving · Dirt: Kenny Wins at Macon ...
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Thursday, August 23, 2007
Rain...rain...rain...
Well, after long last the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Michigan finally ran on Tuesday.
What was the deal with starting the race UNDER YELLOW when there was obviously a blanket of fog on the track? I liked how first they commented that NASCAR was making sure the track was dry...then making sure the spotters could see...then making sure the tower could see.
I think the commentators make it up on the fly at times. lol
And the whole Kevin Harvick/Juan Pablo Montoya thing is kind of old...Kevin. I mean come on...Montoya did a good job of keeping the car off the wall. But even if he'd crashed it up big time...is that really a good time to actually gloat on the radio?
You know...the whole he who laughs last thing...
It was a wreck. It happens. Move on.
Oh yeah...Kurt Busch won the race.
Bah.
What was the deal with starting the race UNDER YELLOW when there was obviously a blanket of fog on the track? I liked how first they commented that NASCAR was making sure the track was dry...then making sure the spotters could see...then making sure the tower could see.
I think the commentators make it up on the fly at times. lol
And the whole Kevin Harvick/Juan Pablo Montoya thing is kind of old...Kevin. I mean come on...Montoya did a good job of keeping the car off the wall. But even if he'd crashed it up big time...is that really a good time to actually gloat on the radio?
You know...the whole he who laughs last thing...
It was a wreck. It happens. Move on.
Oh yeah...Kurt Busch won the race.
Bah.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
NASCAR....Crime and Punishment
Hmmmmm....not responding promptly to a black flag earned Robby Gordon a suspension from the Cup race...yet state your desire to kick someone's ass on national television......no problem. "Good for the sport"..."boys being boys".....
NASCAR's rules seem to have no rhyme or reason.
By definition....A threat is a declaration of intention to inflict punishment or harm on another. It will often be conditional upon a particular course of action on the part of the recipient.
oh well....whatever.
NASCAR's rules seem to have no rhyme or reason.
By definition....A threat is a declaration of intention to inflict punishment or harm on another. It will often be conditional upon a particular course of action on the part of the recipient.
oh well....whatever.
Montoya, Harvick feud not over
Montoya, Harvick feud not over
By Diego Mejia Saturday, August 18th 2007, 03:11 GMT
Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya met today with NASCAR officials at Michigan International Speedway to talk about their incident at Watkins Glen, but apparently peace was not made between the pair.
Montoya crashed into Harvick after being pushed from behind by Martin Truex Jr on a restart with 17 laps to go last Sunday at Watkins Glen. They had a verbal exchange and pushed and grabbed each other after climbing from their wrecked cars until being split by officials.
NASCAR said earlier this week that no penalties would be imposed on either driver. In their meeting today at Michigan, Montoya and Harvick were told that they would not be allowed to go further than they went at Watkins Glen, as Montoya confirmed.
"Yeah, we went, both of us. And they said, you know, you've got to be careful guys, because that's the limit of things you can do," Montoya said.
When asked if he had called Harvick this week to try and clear the air over their incident, the Colombian replied he didn't need to apologize because he had done nothing wrong at Watkins Glen.
"No. If I would have done something wrong I would," Montoya added. "But in myself and in my team I don't think we did anything wrong. I would have screwed up on the brakes and spun by myself and taken him out, I'd say 'Hey, you're completely right' but it wasn't."
"When it's been my fault before, we got together at Daytona and it was my fault, I even called him and said, 'Hey, I'm sorry.'"
Montoya stated he would prefer to have a good relationship with Harvick and lamented that the Richard Childress driver was still pointing at him for causing the accident that later raised the animosity between them.
"It's a shame," the Ganassi driver added. "You know, I think he's a great guy, he's a great racer and it's a shame the position he's in. I think we're mature enough and big enough.
"I haven't been in this sport long enough but I've been racing all my life and I learned to get over things like this because we're going to meet again and again and again in the racetrack and it's a lot nicer and better when you have a good relationship."
Harvick criticized Montoya earlier on Friday and insisted he still has the same opinion about their crash.
"I've had a look at the tape and what I've seen is what I saw in my mirror: a car dart to the right, block and run into the side of me," said Harvick. "He drives like he doesn't know what he's doing, to be honest with you. He goes out, he can run fast but he's all over the place and every week it seems like he runs into a different person.
"In four weeks it's cost us a couple of hundred points and he shrugs it off like he doesn't really care about anybody or anything, that he's just here to race. You make him mad and it's: 'Well I've got a five-year contract and I'll just wreck you every week.' It's hard to talk to him and he doesn't really respect anyone around him."
The reigning Busch Series champion went as far as claiming that he was not alone on his opinion about Montoya.
"My opinion is pretty widespread. I'm not the only one with that opinion. Everybody's tired of tearing their stuff up for no reason," added Harvick.
To make things more interesting, they will be starting one behind the other on Sunday's race at Michigan. Montoya qualified ahead on 26th, while Harvick will be taking the start from 28th place on the grid.
By Diego Mejia Saturday, August 18th 2007, 03:11 GMT
Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya met today with NASCAR officials at Michigan International Speedway to talk about their incident at Watkins Glen, but apparently peace was not made between the pair.
Montoya crashed into Harvick after being pushed from behind by Martin Truex Jr on a restart with 17 laps to go last Sunday at Watkins Glen. They had a verbal exchange and pushed and grabbed each other after climbing from their wrecked cars until being split by officials.
NASCAR said earlier this week that no penalties would be imposed on either driver. In their meeting today at Michigan, Montoya and Harvick were told that they would not be allowed to go further than they went at Watkins Glen, as Montoya confirmed.
"Yeah, we went, both of us. And they said, you know, you've got to be careful guys, because that's the limit of things you can do," Montoya said.
When asked if he had called Harvick this week to try and clear the air over their incident, the Colombian replied he didn't need to apologize because he had done nothing wrong at Watkins Glen.
"No. If I would have done something wrong I would," Montoya added. "But in myself and in my team I don't think we did anything wrong. I would have screwed up on the brakes and spun by myself and taken him out, I'd say 'Hey, you're completely right' but it wasn't."
"When it's been my fault before, we got together at Daytona and it was my fault, I even called him and said, 'Hey, I'm sorry.'"
Montoya stated he would prefer to have a good relationship with Harvick and lamented that the Richard Childress driver was still pointing at him for causing the accident that later raised the animosity between them.
"It's a shame," the Ganassi driver added. "You know, I think he's a great guy, he's a great racer and it's a shame the position he's in. I think we're mature enough and big enough.
"I haven't been in this sport long enough but I've been racing all my life and I learned to get over things like this because we're going to meet again and again and again in the racetrack and it's a lot nicer and better when you have a good relationship."
Harvick criticized Montoya earlier on Friday and insisted he still has the same opinion about their crash.
"I've had a look at the tape and what I've seen is what I saw in my mirror: a car dart to the right, block and run into the side of me," said Harvick. "He drives like he doesn't know what he's doing, to be honest with you. He goes out, he can run fast but he's all over the place and every week it seems like he runs into a different person.
"In four weeks it's cost us a couple of hundred points and he shrugs it off like he doesn't really care about anybody or anything, that he's just here to race. You make him mad and it's: 'Well I've got a five-year contract and I'll just wreck you every week.' It's hard to talk to him and he doesn't really respect anyone around him."
The reigning Busch Series champion went as far as claiming that he was not alone on his opinion about Montoya.
"My opinion is pretty widespread. I'm not the only one with that opinion. Everybody's tired of tearing their stuff up for no reason," added Harvick.
To make things more interesting, they will be starting one behind the other on Sunday's race at Michigan. Montoya qualified ahead on 26th, while Harvick will be taking the start from 28th place on the grid.
Who is Chad Knaus?
Chad Anthony Knaus (pronounced kuh-NOWSE) (born August 5, 1971 in Rockford, Illinois) is a NASCAR Nextel Cup crew chief for Jimmie Johnson, who currently drives the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet Monte Carlo owned by teammate Jeff Gordon and operated by Rick Hendrick's Hendrick Motorsports.
Born in Illinois, Chad Knaus grew up around the racetracks of the Midwest helping his father race against the likes of Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki, Rusty Wallace and Dick Trickle. By the time he was 14, Knaus served as crew chief during his father's Rockford Speedway championship season. The father-son combination also won the Great Northern Series championship and finished second in the Winston Racing Series. A few years and many victories later, Knaus moved to North Carolina in 1991 to pursue a job in national stock car racing.
After working with Stanley Smith's stock car team, Knaus landed a job working on the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team led by crew chief Ray Evernham and raced by driver Jeff Gordon. From 1993 to 1997, Knaus advanced from a general fabricator to manage the entire chassis and body construction program for the No. 24 team. Serving as a tire changer on the original Rainbow Warriors pit crew, Knaus was an integral part of the 1995 and 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship teams.
Following the 1997 season, Knaus joined Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as car chief, where he worked with Steve Park, and later Michael Waltrip. During the 1998 season, he moved to Tyler Jet Motorsports, and in 1999, the call came that would lead Knaus to Dodge, Melling Racing and his ultimate career goal. Ray Evernham wanted Knaus to lead the Dodge Development team, an opportunity he quickly seized.
During two Dodge test sessions, Knaus worked with Melling Racing driver Stacy Compton. The two worked well together, resulting in Knaus' hire as crew chief for Compton in 2001.
Criticism
In early 2006, Knaus was accused of "cheating" after Jimmie Johnson's Daytona 500 qualifying run. Knaus made an illegal adjustment to the rear window, which resulted in his suspension from Cup events until March 22. Despite the loss of his crew chief, Johnson won the Daytona 500 with interim crew chief, Darian Grubb. While more accusations of cheating were made, the car passed NASCAR inspection.
On June 23, 2007, Knaus again found himself at the center of controversy. Knaus admitted to making modifications to the front fenders of the racecar to improve front downforce. These modifications were discovered and disallowed during initial inspection. [1] Johnson was not allowed to qualify the car, and he started at the back of the field. Knaus was fined $100,000, and was suspended for six races.
Born in Illinois, Chad Knaus grew up around the racetracks of the Midwest helping his father race against the likes of Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki, Rusty Wallace and Dick Trickle. By the time he was 14, Knaus served as crew chief during his father's Rockford Speedway championship season. The father-son combination also won the Great Northern Series championship and finished second in the Winston Racing Series. A few years and many victories later, Knaus moved to North Carolina in 1991 to pursue a job in national stock car racing.
After working with Stanley Smith's stock car team, Knaus landed a job working on the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team led by crew chief Ray Evernham and raced by driver Jeff Gordon. From 1993 to 1997, Knaus advanced from a general fabricator to manage the entire chassis and body construction program for the No. 24 team. Serving as a tire changer on the original Rainbow Warriors pit crew, Knaus was an integral part of the 1995 and 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship teams.
Following the 1997 season, Knaus joined Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as car chief, where he worked with Steve Park, and later Michael Waltrip. During the 1998 season, he moved to Tyler Jet Motorsports, and in 1999, the call came that would lead Knaus to Dodge, Melling Racing and his ultimate career goal. Ray Evernham wanted Knaus to lead the Dodge Development team, an opportunity he quickly seized.
During two Dodge test sessions, Knaus worked with Melling Racing driver Stacy Compton. The two worked well together, resulting in Knaus' hire as crew chief for Compton in 2001.
Criticism
In early 2006, Knaus was accused of "cheating" after Jimmie Johnson's Daytona 500 qualifying run. Knaus made an illegal adjustment to the rear window, which resulted in his suspension from Cup events until March 22. Despite the loss of his crew chief, Johnson won the Daytona 500 with interim crew chief, Darian Grubb. While more accusations of cheating were made, the car passed NASCAR inspection.
On June 23, 2007, Knaus again found himself at the center of controversy. Knaus admitted to making modifications to the front fenders of the racecar to improve front downforce. These modifications were discovered and disallowed during initial inspection. [1] Johnson was not allowed to qualify the car, and he started at the back of the field. Knaus was fined $100,000, and was suspended for six races.
Unrepentent Knaus and Letarte back at the track, getting teams ready for Chase
Unrepentent Knaus and Letarte back at the track, getting teams ready for Chase
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Auto Racing Writer
August 18, 2007
AP - Aug 17, 7:57 pm EDT
More Photos
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- After finishing a six-week NASCAR suspension, crew chief Steve Letarte was back at the track and, apparently, feeling just a little strange to be there.
"Throughout the whole process, when we weren't on the track, we were on the phone with Steve and he was as much a part of it as he could be," said his driver, Jeff Gordon. "It's awkward for him because he hasn't been in the garage area. He almost feels like going to the bus to call us."
Since they were suspended in June, Letarte and fellow Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus have managed to stay busy. But that hasn't kept them from being frustrated.
"I'm not going to lie to you, it's tough," Knaus said Friday after rejoining reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 team at Michigan International Speedway to prepare for Sunday's 3M Performance 400.
Knaus and Letarte, who works with the No. 24 of four-time Cup champion Gordon, were banned from attending six races after NASCAR technical inspectors found front fenders that were not approved on their entries before the June 24 race at Sonoma.
"It's very frustrating," said Letarte, who had never before been suspended. "I (could) do everything Monday through Thursday to prepare them, give them my notes, give them my ideas, this is how the last race went, this is how the next race might go. But, when they leave and come out to the racetrack, they're kind of on their own."
Knaus has had suspensions in the past -- and they don't get any easier.
"I've never done anything else my whole life and Steve's in the same boat," Knaus said. "In 24, 25 years of racing, I've been gone every weekend, every week I'm gone somewhere else, some other town going racing.
"When you instill that kind of competitive nature into your blood, it's kind of difficult to unplug yourself. But it's what happens, you just have to deal with it. I didn't enjoy it, that's for sure. It's good to be back."
Both teams have done a decent job in the absence of their leaders.
Gordon, leading the season standings, has posted top-10 finishes in all six races and increased his points lead over runner-up Denny Hamlin from 171 -- after NASCAR docked both Gordon and Johnson 100 points for "Fender-gate" -- to 344.
Johnson hasn't been quite as fortunate.
He was fourth, 366 behind his teammate after the points deduction. Heading into Sunday's event -- one of four races left before the 12-man field for the Chase for the championship is set -- Johnson is seventh, 595 points behind Gordon, who has already clinched a spot in the postseason.
There's little chance Johnson will miss out on the Chase, since he is still 356 points in front of 13th-place Ryan Newman. But momentum is key heading into the stock car playoff.
Crashes in consecutive races at Chicago and Indianapolis relegated Johnson to finishes of 37th and 39th and seriously slowed his team's progress. But he has since righted the ship, finishing fifth at Pocono and third at Watkins Glen.
Both teams greeted the return of their crew chief with a strong effort Friday, with Gordon winning his series-leading sixth pole of the year and Johnson qualifying seventh.
"I think that Steve just brings a little something special," Gordon said. "He's the guy who's gotten us into the situation, leading the points, winning four races and qualified for the Chase."
Since the crew chiefs were suspended only from coming to the tracks, Knaus and Letarte were able to take the lead in repairing Johnson's battered cars.
"We share a shop and the No. 24 has been fortunate," Letarte said. "We've had some pretty good luck all year. The No. 48 has been a little unfortunate, getting caught up in some of those accidents. So we've just been making sure that the two teams have a full stable of cars entering the Chase."
Johnson appeared relieved to have Knaus, the only crew chief he's had in his six seasons in Cup, back at the track.
"We're very proud of the team and the effort we've put out through all of it, but there's no doubt that we've been less of a team without Knaus at the track," the driver said.
Neither one of the crew chiefs was repentant about the technical violations that prompted the penalties.
"I'm sorry for what happened but, for the reason that it happened, I'm not sorry because what we did was not something that we thought was bad," Knaus said. "We didn't feel like we were breaking the rules.
"I don't feel any regret, remorse or anything like that. Am I sorry I missed the races? Am I sorry that I wasn't there? Absolutely. ... But regret or remorse, no, that's not even an option."
Letarte said he too is just ready to move on.
"If you're asking if I laid awake at night thinking about it, no," he said. "I'm not too worried about it. I kind of have bigger goals. I lay awake more at night trying to figure out how we're going to win a championship (rather) than for not being here for the last six races."
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Auto Racing Writer
August 18, 2007
AP - Aug 17, 7:57 pm EDT
More Photos
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- After finishing a six-week NASCAR suspension, crew chief Steve Letarte was back at the track and, apparently, feeling just a little strange to be there.
"Throughout the whole process, when we weren't on the track, we were on the phone with Steve and he was as much a part of it as he could be," said his driver, Jeff Gordon. "It's awkward for him because he hasn't been in the garage area. He almost feels like going to the bus to call us."
Since they were suspended in June, Letarte and fellow Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus have managed to stay busy. But that hasn't kept them from being frustrated.
"I'm not going to lie to you, it's tough," Knaus said Friday after rejoining reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 team at Michigan International Speedway to prepare for Sunday's 3M Performance 400.
Knaus and Letarte, who works with the No. 24 of four-time Cup champion Gordon, were banned from attending six races after NASCAR technical inspectors found front fenders that were not approved on their entries before the June 24 race at Sonoma.
"It's very frustrating," said Letarte, who had never before been suspended. "I (could) do everything Monday through Thursday to prepare them, give them my notes, give them my ideas, this is how the last race went, this is how the next race might go. But, when they leave and come out to the racetrack, they're kind of on their own."
Knaus has had suspensions in the past -- and they don't get any easier.
"I've never done anything else my whole life and Steve's in the same boat," Knaus said. "In 24, 25 years of racing, I've been gone every weekend, every week I'm gone somewhere else, some other town going racing.
"When you instill that kind of competitive nature into your blood, it's kind of difficult to unplug yourself. But it's what happens, you just have to deal with it. I didn't enjoy it, that's for sure. It's good to be back."
Both teams have done a decent job in the absence of their leaders.
Gordon, leading the season standings, has posted top-10 finishes in all six races and increased his points lead over runner-up Denny Hamlin from 171 -- after NASCAR docked both Gordon and Johnson 100 points for "Fender-gate" -- to 344.
Johnson hasn't been quite as fortunate.
He was fourth, 366 behind his teammate after the points deduction. Heading into Sunday's event -- one of four races left before the 12-man field for the Chase for the championship is set -- Johnson is seventh, 595 points behind Gordon, who has already clinched a spot in the postseason.
There's little chance Johnson will miss out on the Chase, since he is still 356 points in front of 13th-place Ryan Newman. But momentum is key heading into the stock car playoff.
Crashes in consecutive races at Chicago and Indianapolis relegated Johnson to finishes of 37th and 39th and seriously slowed his team's progress. But he has since righted the ship, finishing fifth at Pocono and third at Watkins Glen.
Both teams greeted the return of their crew chief with a strong effort Friday, with Gordon winning his series-leading sixth pole of the year and Johnson qualifying seventh.
"I think that Steve just brings a little something special," Gordon said. "He's the guy who's gotten us into the situation, leading the points, winning four races and qualified for the Chase."
Since the crew chiefs were suspended only from coming to the tracks, Knaus and Letarte were able to take the lead in repairing Johnson's battered cars.
"We share a shop and the No. 24 has been fortunate," Letarte said. "We've had some pretty good luck all year. The No. 48 has been a little unfortunate, getting caught up in some of those accidents. So we've just been making sure that the two teams have a full stable of cars entering the Chase."
Johnson appeared relieved to have Knaus, the only crew chief he's had in his six seasons in Cup, back at the track.
"We're very proud of the team and the effort we've put out through all of it, but there's no doubt that we've been less of a team without Knaus at the track," the driver said.
Neither one of the crew chiefs was repentant about the technical violations that prompted the penalties.
"I'm sorry for what happened but, for the reason that it happened, I'm not sorry because what we did was not something that we thought was bad," Knaus said. "We didn't feel like we were breaking the rules.
"I don't feel any regret, remorse or anything like that. Am I sorry I missed the races? Am I sorry that I wasn't there? Absolutely. ... But regret or remorse, no, that's not even an option."
Letarte said he too is just ready to move on.
"If you're asking if I laid awake at night thinking about it, no," he said. "I'm not too worried about it. I kind of have bigger goals. I lay awake more at night trying to figure out how we're going to win a championship (rather) than for not being here for the last six races."
Friday, August 17, 2007
Driver John Blewett killed in Thompson Speedway crash involving brother, other cars
Driver John Blewett killed in Thompson Speedway crash involving brother, other cars
By STEPHEN SINGER, Associated Press Writer
August 17, 2007
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- A 33-year-old race car driver died in a crash involving his brother and several cars at the Thompson Motor Speedway.
John Blewett III of Howell, N.J., died Thursday night after he and Jimmy Blewett hit a wall in the 107th lap of the 150-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event in Thompson.
John Blewett's car ended up on top of his brother's car, said Woody Pitkat, who was behind the crash.
"Jimmy got out of his car. He was yelling and screaming. He was just a wreck," Pitkat said in a telephone interview Friday. "He was yelling at people to get (John) out of the car."
John Blewett, who suffered head and neck injuries, was extricated from the car and taken to Hubbard Regional Hospital in Webster, Mass., where he was pronounced dead, state police said.
It's being investigated as an untimely death, a state police spokesman said.
A NASCAR spokesman said the Blewett brothers were veteran drivers. Pitkat estimated the speed of the cars at more than 100 mph at the time of the crash.
"I was laying back because they were racing pretty hard," said Pitkat, whose car was hit from the rear.
Also at Thompson speedway, a professional all-terrain vehicle driver from Easthampton, Mass., was killed during practice laps in May 2006.
Two years earlier, race car driver Tommy Baldwin of Moriches, N.Y., was killed in a crash in a Featherlite modified race.
By STEPHEN SINGER, Associated Press Writer
August 17, 2007
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- A 33-year-old race car driver died in a crash involving his brother and several cars at the Thompson Motor Speedway.
John Blewett III of Howell, N.J., died Thursday night after he and Jimmy Blewett hit a wall in the 107th lap of the 150-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event in Thompson.
John Blewett's car ended up on top of his brother's car, said Woody Pitkat, who was behind the crash.
"Jimmy got out of his car. He was yelling and screaming. He was just a wreck," Pitkat said in a telephone interview Friday. "He was yelling at people to get (John) out of the car."
John Blewett, who suffered head and neck injuries, was extricated from the car and taken to Hubbard Regional Hospital in Webster, Mass., where he was pronounced dead, state police said.
It's being investigated as an untimely death, a state police spokesman said.
A NASCAR spokesman said the Blewett brothers were veteran drivers. Pitkat estimated the speed of the cars at more than 100 mph at the time of the crash.
"I was laying back because they were racing pretty hard," said Pitkat, whose car was hit from the rear.
Also at Thompson speedway, a professional all-terrain vehicle driver from Easthampton, Mass., was killed during practice laps in May 2006.
Two years earlier, race car driver Tommy Baldwin of Moriches, N.Y., was killed in a crash in a Featherlite modified race.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Matt Kenseth's Fan at Watkins Glen
hehe...forgot about this earlier...
okay, the cars are all stopped on the track for the red flag while they are clearing turn 1 following the Harvick/Montoya/Burton clanger.
Shirtless dude CLIMBS over a little barrier ONTO the track toting a hat....wanting an autograph from Matt Kenseth.
DURING THE RACE... lol
It was funny, but it could of been ugly. Sheesh...what's NASCAR's policy on driver safety again? Good grief...
okay, the cars are all stopped on the track for the red flag while they are clearing turn 1 following the Harvick/Montoya/Burton clanger.
Shirtless dude CLIMBS over a little barrier ONTO the track toting a hat....wanting an autograph from Matt Kenseth.
DURING THE RACE... lol
It was funny, but it could of been ugly. Sheesh...what's NASCAR's policy on driver safety again? Good grief...
Wheel Hop de Bob...what is a wheel hop?
Wheel hop...wheel hop...wheel hop...I keep hearing it, so I had to look it up.
Definition: An undesirable suspension characteristic in which a wheel (or several) moves up and down so violently that it actually leaves the ground. Wheel hop can be caused by many problems, including excessive unsprung weight, insufficient shock damping, or poor torsional axle control.
Hmmmm... okay...
Definition: An undesirable suspension characteristic in which a wheel (or several) moves up and down so violently that it actually leaves the ground. Wheel hop can be caused by many problems, including excessive unsprung weight, insufficient shock damping, or poor torsional axle control.
Hmmmm... okay...
Will Harvick be Penalized for the Montoya Showdown?
Now, I don't know how NASCAR will rule...but it sure looked to me like Montoya was trying to walk away from Harvick while Harvick just kept after him.
It was Harvick who parked his car in front of Montoya and then beelined over to confront him.
Wasn't it Harvick that punted Pruett last week? Heck...Montoya didn't even cause it.
But him declaring in the interview that he was wanting to kick Montoya's ass....that was dumb on his part. Sheesh...the camera light was on! Montoya might be brutal on the track, but Kevin didn't help his cause when he documented his intent... dumb, dumb, dumb. :)
It was Harvick who parked his car in front of Montoya and then beelined over to confront him.
Wasn't it Harvick that punted Pruett last week? Heck...Montoya didn't even cause it.
But him declaring in the interview that he was wanting to kick Montoya's ass....that was dumb on his part. Sheesh...the camera light was on! Montoya might be brutal on the track, but Kevin didn't help his cause when he documented his intent... dumb, dumb, dumb. :)
Watkins Glen Race Results... Stewart Wins after Gordon Loses It
Well...after that long red flag stop of the race following the Harvick and Montoya melee, the racing started back up. Don't know what Gordon was thinking...did his rear brakes take over? However he overdrove into turn 1 and spun himself out of the win.
Carl Edwards was all over Stewart then, but blew the corner while Stewart cruised to take the checkers.
Of course, Stewart had made the same mistake back on lap 30, but he had time to recover...unlike Gordon.
Now the thing between Juan Pablo and Kevin Harvick...goodness! Truex got into the back of Montoya. Truex caused that accident...the pushing and shoving afterwards looked a little silly. Loved Rusty blurting out that he wanted to see if they were gonna fight. ha!
Speaking of Rusty...his quote of the day had to be after the race when he proclaimed that he had NEVER seen a race like that in a long time! Now which is it Rusty...have you never seen a race like it...or just not in a long time? ;)
Carl Edwards was all over Stewart then, but blew the corner while Stewart cruised to take the checkers.
Of course, Stewart had made the same mistake back on lap 30, but he had time to recover...unlike Gordon.
Now the thing between Juan Pablo and Kevin Harvick...goodness! Truex got into the back of Montoya. Truex caused that accident...the pushing and shoving afterwards looked a little silly. Loved Rusty blurting out that he wanted to see if they were gonna fight. ha!
Speaking of Rusty...his quote of the day had to be after the race when he proclaimed that he had NEVER seen a race like that in a long time! Now which is it Rusty...have you never seen a race like it...or just not in a long time? ;)
Monday, August 6, 2007
Busch wins at Pocono
Busch snaps winless drought; drives back into Chase contention
By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
August 6, 2007
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) -- Kurt Busch was desperately looking for a full-time crew chief to jolt his middling season. Pat Tryson longed for a second chance to show he could still lead a team to a Nextel Cup championship.
Once they got together, Busch and Tryson have been a perfect match.
With Tryson calling the shots, Busch dominated from start-to-finish and zoomed into championship contention with his first victory in 51 races Sunday at Pocono Raceway.
Busch's resurgence started when Tryson joined Penske Racing six races ago, the third crew chief the former champion has had this season. The win lifted Busch into the 12th and final spot of the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings -- one ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- with five races left until the championship races start.
``I don't know that I'm surprised because of how talented Kurt is as a race car driver,'' Tryson said. ``I didn't expect it to be this dominant.''
Busch, who turned 29 on Saturday, hadn't been in the top 12 in points since a 100-point penalty for reckless driving in June knocked him six spots down to 17th.
Now he's back and on his biggest roll of the season. He turned a 13-point deficit behind Junior into a seven-point edge.
``You know it's going to come down to the final race in Richmond,'' Busch said.
Busch, who had surged to 13th in the standings entering the Pennsylvania 500, led all but 25 laps and made his second career Pocono victory look easy. The 175 laps led was a Pocono record.
Not even a lug nut problem on pit road under caution late in the race and a hard-charging Earnhardt affected him very much. His No. 2 Dodge was clearly the car to beat all day.
Busch fell to ninth on the restart on the 143rd lap, but quickly made up ground and passed the revitalized Earnhardt for the lead with 47 laps left.
The 2004 series champion needs to keep his hot streak going -- three top 10s in four races -- if he wants to keep his spot for the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.
It was Busch's first win since March 26, 2006, at Bristol, and he was second in both Pocono races last year.
``You never for one instant think you have the race in the bag,'' Busch said. ``The only time I really thought about it was coming to the checkered, lap 199 coming to 200.''
The race didn't include Robby Gordon, who was suspended by NASCAR early Sunday morning for his conduct at the Busch Series race in Montreal a day before.
Earnhardt was second and Denny Hamlin, who swept both races at Pocono last year, finished third. Points leader Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five.
``We actually had a stronger car than the last time we were here,'' said Gordon, who won at Pocono in June. ``If the No. 2 car didn't exist today, then maybe some of us had a chance to win this thing. But wow.''
Tony Stewart had his two-race winning streak snapped and was sixth.
Busch led nearly the entire race except for a short stretch near the end when Earnhardt shook off early trouble with the No. 8 Chevrolet and temporarily took the lead. But Earnhardt, who failed to capitalize on his first pole since 2002, couldn't press him for very long.
``I don't want to finish 12th, I want to finish eighth or seventh,'' Junior said. ``We've got a few races, but I think we'll do fine.''
Certainly the 500-mile race wasn't as wild or controversial as the Busch Series race Saturday in Montreal. Robby Gordon upstaged the debut weekend for the series in Canada with his antics on the track, including his refusal to pull off the track as ordered and celebrating the same time as race winner Kevin Harvick.
NASCAR suspended Gordon for Sunday's race, and additional disciplinary action could come this week. P.J. Jones drove Gordon's car and finished 37th.
``I'll accept my penalty and I'll accept sitting out today's race,'' Gordon said.
Busch knows all about the consequences of stiff penalties after he was docked 100 points for reckless driving and endangering one of Stewart's crew members on pit road at Dover.
Busch said after qualifying second on Friday that he hoped those 100 points wouldn't be a factor in making the Chase. With the way he's driving the No. 2 Dodge, they won't matter.
``We've thrown away quite a bit of points this year,'' Busch said, rattling off a list of blown races. ``I'm not going to look back at those 100 points and think it's a deficit. It only made us into a stronger program.''
So did adding Tryson, who was available when he was let go as Greg Biffle's crew chief earlier this season. Tryson, a Malvern, Pa., native has given the Penske Racing a program a needed boost and settled the crew chief position that was filled by Troy Raker and Roy McCauley.
``I'm lucky enough to come in and work for these guys,'' Tryson said. ``They've accepted me and done everything I've asked.''
With these kind of results, why wouldn't they?
By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
August 6, 2007
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) -- Kurt Busch was desperately looking for a full-time crew chief to jolt his middling season. Pat Tryson longed for a second chance to show he could still lead a team to a Nextel Cup championship.
Once they got together, Busch and Tryson have been a perfect match.
With Tryson calling the shots, Busch dominated from start-to-finish and zoomed into championship contention with his first victory in 51 races Sunday at Pocono Raceway.
Busch's resurgence started when Tryson joined Penske Racing six races ago, the third crew chief the former champion has had this season. The win lifted Busch into the 12th and final spot of the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings -- one ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- with five races left until the championship races start.
``I don't know that I'm surprised because of how talented Kurt is as a race car driver,'' Tryson said. ``I didn't expect it to be this dominant.''
Busch, who turned 29 on Saturday, hadn't been in the top 12 in points since a 100-point penalty for reckless driving in June knocked him six spots down to 17th.
Now he's back and on his biggest roll of the season. He turned a 13-point deficit behind Junior into a seven-point edge.
``You know it's going to come down to the final race in Richmond,'' Busch said.
Busch, who had surged to 13th in the standings entering the Pennsylvania 500, led all but 25 laps and made his second career Pocono victory look easy. The 175 laps led was a Pocono record.
Not even a lug nut problem on pit road under caution late in the race and a hard-charging Earnhardt affected him very much. His No. 2 Dodge was clearly the car to beat all day.
Busch fell to ninth on the restart on the 143rd lap, but quickly made up ground and passed the revitalized Earnhardt for the lead with 47 laps left.
The 2004 series champion needs to keep his hot streak going -- three top 10s in four races -- if he wants to keep his spot for the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.
It was Busch's first win since March 26, 2006, at Bristol, and he was second in both Pocono races last year.
``You never for one instant think you have the race in the bag,'' Busch said. ``The only time I really thought about it was coming to the checkered, lap 199 coming to 200.''
The race didn't include Robby Gordon, who was suspended by NASCAR early Sunday morning for his conduct at the Busch Series race in Montreal a day before.
Earnhardt was second and Denny Hamlin, who swept both races at Pocono last year, finished third. Points leader Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five.
``We actually had a stronger car than the last time we were here,'' said Gordon, who won at Pocono in June. ``If the No. 2 car didn't exist today, then maybe some of us had a chance to win this thing. But wow.''
Tony Stewart had his two-race winning streak snapped and was sixth.
Busch led nearly the entire race except for a short stretch near the end when Earnhardt shook off early trouble with the No. 8 Chevrolet and temporarily took the lead. But Earnhardt, who failed to capitalize on his first pole since 2002, couldn't press him for very long.
``I don't want to finish 12th, I want to finish eighth or seventh,'' Junior said. ``We've got a few races, but I think we'll do fine.''
Certainly the 500-mile race wasn't as wild or controversial as the Busch Series race Saturday in Montreal. Robby Gordon upstaged the debut weekend for the series in Canada with his antics on the track, including his refusal to pull off the track as ordered and celebrating the same time as race winner Kevin Harvick.
NASCAR suspended Gordon for Sunday's race, and additional disciplinary action could come this week. P.J. Jones drove Gordon's car and finished 37th.
``I'll accept my penalty and I'll accept sitting out today's race,'' Gordon said.
Busch knows all about the consequences of stiff penalties after he was docked 100 points for reckless driving and endangering one of Stewart's crew members on pit road at Dover.
Busch said after qualifying second on Friday that he hoped those 100 points wouldn't be a factor in making the Chase. With the way he's driving the No. 2 Dodge, they won't matter.
``We've thrown away quite a bit of points this year,'' Busch said, rattling off a list of blown races. ``I'm not going to look back at those 100 points and think it's a deficit. It only made us into a stronger program.''
So did adding Tryson, who was available when he was let go as Greg Biffle's crew chief earlier this season. Tryson, a Malvern, Pa., native has given the Penske Racing a program a needed boost and settled the crew chief position that was filled by Troy Raker and Roy McCauley.
``I'm lucky enough to come in and work for these guys,'' Tryson said. ``They've accepted me and done everything I've asked.''
With these kind of results, why wouldn't they?
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Stewart wins the NASCAR Brickyard 400
Stewart wins Allstate 400 at the Brickyard again
July 29, 2007
By Bruce Martin PA SportsTicker Contributing Editor
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Tony Stewart's first Allstate 400 at the Brickyard victory in 2005 was dramatic, but his second Brickyard win on Sunday was dominant.
The driver from Columbus, Indiana who grew up dreaming of winning the Indianapolis 500 has done the next best thing by becoming a two-time winner of the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"We had the fastest car today," Stewart said simply.
Stewart celebrated in typical fashion by climbing the fence at the flag stand, a move IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves did here for the first time when he won the 2001 Indy 500. It allowed him to celebrate with his legion of loyal fans.
"This one is for every one of the fans in the stands that pull for me every week and take all the (expletive) from everyone else," Stewart said.
Stewart is expected to be fined for using the off-color term on television.
"It's a little late to be concerned about it now, isn't it?" Stewart said when asked about the potential sanction. "It pretty much is what it is.
"Whatever happens, they still can't take this trophy away from me today."
Stewart's victory check of $488,111 should be more than enough to pay the fine. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked $25,000 and 25 points when he used a similar term after winning at Talladega in 2004.
It was Stewart's second-straight Nextel Cup win and the 31st of his career. He won the last race two weeks ago at Chicagoland Speedway.
But unlike that win, a victory at the Brickyard is never "just another race" to the 36-year-old Hoosier native.
"I think I'll enjoy this one more than the first one," Stewart said. "The first one was just like taking the weight of the world off your shoulders. When you grow up 45 miles from here, there was a period of my life when I was driving a wrecker for a living, I was driving down 16th Street and Georgetown Road (site of the Speedway) thinking, 'Man, what would it be like to be 150 yards inside of that fence running 200 miles an hour?'"
Stewart would discover that by competing in five Indianapolis 500s and nine Brickyard 400s.
"I got to do that (in the Indy 500). Then I got to come here in a stock car then win for the first time," Stewart said of his 2005 victory. "That was such a weight off our shoulders. Today, we're just happy now. That's probably what helped us today, not being wound up, being able to be calm and relaxed because it wasn't untouchable any more.
"It was race the race those last 10 laps. It wasn't like my whole life depended on whether I pass the car in front of me or not."
Kevin Harvick got around Stewart to take over the lead with 18 laps to go. Stewart was so relaxed he could be heard over the team's radio saying, "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty" as he reeled in Harvick's Chevrolet.
With 15 to go, Stewart drove right up to the back of Harvick's bumper and began to pressure the 2003 Brickyard winner.
With 10 laps to go, Stewart drove under Harvick to take the lead in Turn 1 but Harvick got next to him in Turn 2 and drove him up the race track.
"When it came to racing Kevin, he's the same guy I drive a Busch car for, it was easier to put it in perspective, calm down and do what I needed to do which was race the race," Stewart said. "Kevin got really smart and changed how he was driving turn 2 and got to where I wasn't getting as big a run as I was before. I had to do something different.
"We got underneath him I squeezed him a little bit, not on purpose and ran him into the short chute. It was almost like a countermove when he got back underneath me. It was a drag-race down the backstretch. Whoever got into Turn 3 was probably going to win the race."
It was Stewart that made it into Turn 3. Once Stewart was in the lead, he drove away from the field to score a decisive victory. Harvick's Chevrolet dropped off and finished seventh.
"It was good racing until I got the left front fender caved in," Harvick said. "He (Stewart) didn't quite give us enough room."
Stewart's Chevrolet finished 2.982-seconds ahead of 2000 Indy 500 winner and NASCAR rookie Juan Montoya's Dodge Charger.
"I don't think anybody had anything for Tony today," Montoya said.
Four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon's Chevrolet was third followed by teammate Kyle Busch.
Pole-winner Reed Sorenson finished fifth in a Dodge. Sorensen is Montoya's teammate and gave team owner Chip Ganassi two drivers in the top five.
The race was a yellow-flag affair for the first half of the 160-lap race but it became apparent early that Stewart had the dominant car. He started 14th but was up to fifth by the eighth lap. He was third by lap 14 and first four laps later when he was the first off pit road during a yellow-flag pit stop.
The crashes would take about such contenders as last year's winner. Jimmie Johnson, who was involved in an eight-car pileup on lap 47 and then later the damage to the fender caused tire rub and he crashed on lap 62. But unlike last year, Johnson was never a factor in this race.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. appeared to be in prime contention to get both his first victory of the season and his first win in the Brickyard but his engine blew up on lap 136. Earnhardt led twice for 33 laps.
Stewart, who led seven times for a race-high 65 laps, would trade leads throughout the race and was in front when the green flag waved with 20 laps to go chased by Harvick, Gordon and Montoya.
Once again, the NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was hours of mindless boredom culminated with a dramatic finish.
And for the sixth time in the 14-year history of this race, the winner was a driver from the state of Indiana. But unlike four-time winner Gordon, who was born in California but spent his formative years in the state, Stewart is a home-grown native Hoosier who still lives in his hometown.
"Tony knows a lot better than I do because he was born and raised and raced his whole life around Indiana," Gordon said. "I came here as a kid, did a little bit of quarter-midget racing, then moved here when I was 15.
"I know Tony wanted that Indy 500 win; now he's got two Brickyard 400s. I know it means the world to him."
Forget Disney World, this is the place where Stewart's dreams come true and he gets to share it with the fans that mean the most to him.
"It just adds to this place being a special place," Stewart said. "My best friends are here. My family is here. People that I don't get to see very often are all at one place at one time together to watch me do what I do best, to do what I'm passionate about.
"When you're passionate about something, you wanted your family to be around it, you want you friends to be part of it. That's what makes it so special."
July 29, 2007
By Bruce Martin PA SportsTicker Contributing Editor
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Tony Stewart's first Allstate 400 at the Brickyard victory in 2005 was dramatic, but his second Brickyard win on Sunday was dominant.
The driver from Columbus, Indiana who grew up dreaming of winning the Indianapolis 500 has done the next best thing by becoming a two-time winner of the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"We had the fastest car today," Stewart said simply.
Stewart celebrated in typical fashion by climbing the fence at the flag stand, a move IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves did here for the first time when he won the 2001 Indy 500. It allowed him to celebrate with his legion of loyal fans.
"This one is for every one of the fans in the stands that pull for me every week and take all the (expletive) from everyone else," Stewart said.
Stewart is expected to be fined for using the off-color term on television.
"It's a little late to be concerned about it now, isn't it?" Stewart said when asked about the potential sanction. "It pretty much is what it is.
"Whatever happens, they still can't take this trophy away from me today."
Stewart's victory check of $488,111 should be more than enough to pay the fine. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked $25,000 and 25 points when he used a similar term after winning at Talladega in 2004.
It was Stewart's second-straight Nextel Cup win and the 31st of his career. He won the last race two weeks ago at Chicagoland Speedway.
But unlike that win, a victory at the Brickyard is never "just another race" to the 36-year-old Hoosier native.
"I think I'll enjoy this one more than the first one," Stewart said. "The first one was just like taking the weight of the world off your shoulders. When you grow up 45 miles from here, there was a period of my life when I was driving a wrecker for a living, I was driving down 16th Street and Georgetown Road (site of the Speedway) thinking, 'Man, what would it be like to be 150 yards inside of that fence running 200 miles an hour?'"
Stewart would discover that by competing in five Indianapolis 500s and nine Brickyard 400s.
"I got to do that (in the Indy 500). Then I got to come here in a stock car then win for the first time," Stewart said of his 2005 victory. "That was such a weight off our shoulders. Today, we're just happy now. That's probably what helped us today, not being wound up, being able to be calm and relaxed because it wasn't untouchable any more.
"It was race the race those last 10 laps. It wasn't like my whole life depended on whether I pass the car in front of me or not."
Kevin Harvick got around Stewart to take over the lead with 18 laps to go. Stewart was so relaxed he could be heard over the team's radio saying, "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty" as he reeled in Harvick's Chevrolet.
With 15 to go, Stewart drove right up to the back of Harvick's bumper and began to pressure the 2003 Brickyard winner.
With 10 laps to go, Stewart drove under Harvick to take the lead in Turn 1 but Harvick got next to him in Turn 2 and drove him up the race track.
"When it came to racing Kevin, he's the same guy I drive a Busch car for, it was easier to put it in perspective, calm down and do what I needed to do which was race the race," Stewart said. "Kevin got really smart and changed how he was driving turn 2 and got to where I wasn't getting as big a run as I was before. I had to do something different.
"We got underneath him I squeezed him a little bit, not on purpose and ran him into the short chute. It was almost like a countermove when he got back underneath me. It was a drag-race down the backstretch. Whoever got into Turn 3 was probably going to win the race."
It was Stewart that made it into Turn 3. Once Stewart was in the lead, he drove away from the field to score a decisive victory. Harvick's Chevrolet dropped off and finished seventh.
"It was good racing until I got the left front fender caved in," Harvick said. "He (Stewart) didn't quite give us enough room."
Stewart's Chevrolet finished 2.982-seconds ahead of 2000 Indy 500 winner and NASCAR rookie Juan Montoya's Dodge Charger.
"I don't think anybody had anything for Tony today," Montoya said.
Four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon's Chevrolet was third followed by teammate Kyle Busch.
Pole-winner Reed Sorenson finished fifth in a Dodge. Sorensen is Montoya's teammate and gave team owner Chip Ganassi two drivers in the top five.
The race was a yellow-flag affair for the first half of the 160-lap race but it became apparent early that Stewart had the dominant car. He started 14th but was up to fifth by the eighth lap. He was third by lap 14 and first four laps later when he was the first off pit road during a yellow-flag pit stop.
The crashes would take about such contenders as last year's winner. Jimmie Johnson, who was involved in an eight-car pileup on lap 47 and then later the damage to the fender caused tire rub and he crashed on lap 62. But unlike last year, Johnson was never a factor in this race.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. appeared to be in prime contention to get both his first victory of the season and his first win in the Brickyard but his engine blew up on lap 136. Earnhardt led twice for 33 laps.
Stewart, who led seven times for a race-high 65 laps, would trade leads throughout the race and was in front when the green flag waved with 20 laps to go chased by Harvick, Gordon and Montoya.
Once again, the NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was hours of mindless boredom culminated with a dramatic finish.
And for the sixth time in the 14-year history of this race, the winner was a driver from the state of Indiana. But unlike four-time winner Gordon, who was born in California but spent his formative years in the state, Stewart is a home-grown native Hoosier who still lives in his hometown.
"Tony knows a lot better than I do because he was born and raised and raced his whole life around Indiana," Gordon said. "I came here as a kid, did a little bit of quarter-midget racing, then moved here when I was 15.
"I know Tony wanted that Indy 500 win; now he's got two Brickyard 400s. I know it means the world to him."
Forget Disney World, this is the place where Stewart's dreams come true and he gets to share it with the fans that mean the most to him.
"It just adds to this place being a special place," Stewart said. "My best friends are here. My family is here. People that I don't get to see very often are all at one place at one time together to watch me do what I do best, to do what I'm passionate about.
"When you're passionate about something, you wanted your family to be around it, you want you friends to be part of it. That's what makes it so special."
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Lesa France Kennedy's husband killed in plane crash
Lesa France Kennedy's husband killed in plane crash
By KATHY KELLY
STAFF WRITER
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online
SANFORD -- Dr. Bruce Kennedy, husband of International Speedway Corp. President Lesa France Kennedy, was killed this morning when the twin-engine Cessna he was piloting crashed into a Sanford neighborhood, setting two houses on fire, NASCAR officials confirmed today.
At least four other persons were killed, including two children, and three others were injured, fire officials said. Two homes were destroyed.
Seminole County authorities late today identitified the three people killed on the ground as Janice Joseph Woodard, 24, and Joseph Woodard III, 6 mo., of 256 Willowbay Ridge Court., and Gabrielle Dechat, 4, of 254 Willowbay Ridge Court.
NASCAR officials said Kennedy was piloting the six-passenger Cessna 310R when it went down about 8:50 a.m. shortly after takeoff from Daytona International Airport. A NASCAR public relations spokesman confirmed Kennedy and co-pilot Michael Klemm, 56, of Daytona Beach, senior captain with NASCAR Aviation, were killed.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the plane crash that occurred this morning in Sanford, Florida," ISC Executive Vice President and COO John Saunders said. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Bruce Kennedy, and others that have been lost or injured in this tragic accident.”
The plane crashed into one house and the resulting fire set the house next door ablaze. The crash occurred on Willowbay Ridge Court at a subdivision called The Preserve at Lake Monroe, south of U.S. 17-92 and east of Interstate 4. Located near the Central Florida Zoo and the Orlando Sanford International Airport, the subdivision is comprised of new two-story single family homes.
Lou-Ann Cappola, a schoolteacher who lives about a block away from the crash site, said residents of the subdivision are accustomed to noise from a nearby railyard. So she didn't think twice of it.
"I thought the trains were banging and making noise," she said. "I was on the porch and looked up and saw smoke - black, black smoke. At that point, all the sirens were coming."
Minnetto said a boy, believed to be about 10 years old, was among the injured, with about 80 percent to 90 percent of his body burned. Joe Brown, spokesman for Orlando Regional Medical Center, confirmed that two adults and child had been taken to that facility. He said he could release no names or conditions of the patients.
Seminole County property records identify the owners of the home at 354 Willowbay Ridge St. as Peter and Milagros Dechat. They purchased the home, which has a market value of $291,447, in July 2005, according to records. Owners of the house next door at 356 Willowbay Ridge Court are listed as Joe Woodard Jr. and Janice K. Joseph.
Eric Domnitz, a food sales worker who lives just down the street from the crash, said the blaze was two times bigger than one of the houses. He hurried with a fire extinguisher to a horrific scene.
“It’s in my head. The woman was just melting. It looked like her skin was just melting off,” he said. “The guy, he was melting. He looked like wax.”
Jeremy Blake, a Willowbay Ridge Court resident, said he felt lucky his house was not hit.
"My house is parallel to their house," he said, referring to one of the homes destroyed. "The plane came over Lake Monroe and veered right. It hit the trees, and went the other way, like a Z, and then hit those houses."
Leigh Morrison, who also lives a couple of houses away, said the house was fully engulfed by flames when she stepped outside.
"There was only one firetruck when I came out," she said. "The flames were already shooting out of the roof by 25 or 30 feet." Another neighbor who did not wish to be named, heard the crash.
"It was very loud, but I didn't realize it was a crash at first," the neighbor said. "I knew the family very well. I live four houses away. Once a year, before New Year's, we'd have a block party. They are very nice people."
The twin-engine plane was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach, said Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration. Competitor Liaison is based in Daytona Beach and lists William C. France, the late chairman of NASCAR, as its registered agent in online records from the Department of State Division of Corporations. James C. France also is listed as an officer of the company. FAA records show Dr. Kennedy has a commercial pilot certification.
The plane was traveling from Daytona Beach to Lakeland when the pilot declared smoke in the cockpit. The plane tried to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when it crashed about a mile or two north of the airport, Bergen said. A message left with an airport spokeswoman was not immediately returned.
Kathy Douglas, who lives in the neighborhood, heard a loud boom and thought it was train cars "coming together" on a nearby railroad track. After reaching the crash site, she saw the 10-year-boy and his father flown away by a rescue helicopter. The mother, who was taken by ambulance to the hospital, was crying "my baby, my baby," Douglas said.
At a news briefing, authorities confirmed that two people died in the plane. Three people in the home that sustained the direct hit were injured, including a mother, father and 10-year-old boy who sustained burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body.
Ryan Cooper, a Lake Mary firefighter who was off duty and without protective equipment, was treated for smoke inhalation. The firefighter was the first to arrive on the scene, entered the home and rescued the boy. The crash call came about 8:30 a.m. A witness saw the plane teetering as it was coming across Lake Monroe. It hit the rear of one of two houses on Willowbay Ridge Street. The resulting fire spread quickly because of the aviation fuel aboard. The two homes and the plane were completely destroyed.
National Transportation Safety Board Spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said an investigator has been sent to the scene. "You're looking at the maintenance history of the aircraft, the flight history of the pilot and weather conditions," Lopatkiewicz said of some of the information the investigator will collect. A preliminary report will be available within a couple of weeks while a complete investigation could take up to a year, Lopatkiewicz said.
Kennedy's death came just five weeks after the June 4 death of Lesa France Kennedy's father, Bill France Jr. She serves as president of the International Speedway Corp.
The couple was married May 7, 1988 at Seabreeze United Church. They have one son, Ben, now about 15.
By KATHY KELLY
STAFF WRITER
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online
SANFORD -- Dr. Bruce Kennedy, husband of International Speedway Corp. President Lesa France Kennedy, was killed this morning when the twin-engine Cessna he was piloting crashed into a Sanford neighborhood, setting two houses on fire, NASCAR officials confirmed today.
At least four other persons were killed, including two children, and three others were injured, fire officials said. Two homes were destroyed.
Seminole County authorities late today identitified the three people killed on the ground as Janice Joseph Woodard, 24, and Joseph Woodard III, 6 mo., of 256 Willowbay Ridge Court., and Gabrielle Dechat, 4, of 254 Willowbay Ridge Court.
NASCAR officials said Kennedy was piloting the six-passenger Cessna 310R when it went down about 8:50 a.m. shortly after takeoff from Daytona International Airport. A NASCAR public relations spokesman confirmed Kennedy and co-pilot Michael Klemm, 56, of Daytona Beach, senior captain with NASCAR Aviation, were killed.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the plane crash that occurred this morning in Sanford, Florida," ISC Executive Vice President and COO John Saunders said. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Bruce Kennedy, and others that have been lost or injured in this tragic accident.”
The plane crashed into one house and the resulting fire set the house next door ablaze. The crash occurred on Willowbay Ridge Court at a subdivision called The Preserve at Lake Monroe, south of U.S. 17-92 and east of Interstate 4. Located near the Central Florida Zoo and the Orlando Sanford International Airport, the subdivision is comprised of new two-story single family homes.
Lou-Ann Cappola, a schoolteacher who lives about a block away from the crash site, said residents of the subdivision are accustomed to noise from a nearby railyard. So she didn't think twice of it.
"I thought the trains were banging and making noise," she said. "I was on the porch and looked up and saw smoke - black, black smoke. At that point, all the sirens were coming."
Minnetto said a boy, believed to be about 10 years old, was among the injured, with about 80 percent to 90 percent of his body burned. Joe Brown, spokesman for Orlando Regional Medical Center, confirmed that two adults and child had been taken to that facility. He said he could release no names or conditions of the patients.
Seminole County property records identify the owners of the home at 354 Willowbay Ridge St. as Peter and Milagros Dechat. They purchased the home, which has a market value of $291,447, in July 2005, according to records. Owners of the house next door at 356 Willowbay Ridge Court are listed as Joe Woodard Jr. and Janice K. Joseph.
Eric Domnitz, a food sales worker who lives just down the street from the crash, said the blaze was two times bigger than one of the houses. He hurried with a fire extinguisher to a horrific scene.
“It’s in my head. The woman was just melting. It looked like her skin was just melting off,” he said. “The guy, he was melting. He looked like wax.”
Jeremy Blake, a Willowbay Ridge Court resident, said he felt lucky his house was not hit.
"My house is parallel to their house," he said, referring to one of the homes destroyed. "The plane came over Lake Monroe and veered right. It hit the trees, and went the other way, like a Z, and then hit those houses."
Leigh Morrison, who also lives a couple of houses away, said the house was fully engulfed by flames when she stepped outside.
"There was only one firetruck when I came out," she said. "The flames were already shooting out of the roof by 25 or 30 feet." Another neighbor who did not wish to be named, heard the crash.
"It was very loud, but I didn't realize it was a crash at first," the neighbor said. "I knew the family very well. I live four houses away. Once a year, before New Year's, we'd have a block party. They are very nice people."
The twin-engine plane was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach, said Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration. Competitor Liaison is based in Daytona Beach and lists William C. France, the late chairman of NASCAR, as its registered agent in online records from the Department of State Division of Corporations. James C. France also is listed as an officer of the company. FAA records show Dr. Kennedy has a commercial pilot certification.
The plane was traveling from Daytona Beach to Lakeland when the pilot declared smoke in the cockpit. The plane tried to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when it crashed about a mile or two north of the airport, Bergen said. A message left with an airport spokeswoman was not immediately returned.
Kathy Douglas, who lives in the neighborhood, heard a loud boom and thought it was train cars "coming together" on a nearby railroad track. After reaching the crash site, she saw the 10-year-boy and his father flown away by a rescue helicopter. The mother, who was taken by ambulance to the hospital, was crying "my baby, my baby," Douglas said.
At a news briefing, authorities confirmed that two people died in the plane. Three people in the home that sustained the direct hit were injured, including a mother, father and 10-year-old boy who sustained burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body.
Ryan Cooper, a Lake Mary firefighter who was off duty and without protective equipment, was treated for smoke inhalation. The firefighter was the first to arrive on the scene, entered the home and rescued the boy. The crash call came about 8:30 a.m. A witness saw the plane teetering as it was coming across Lake Monroe. It hit the rear of one of two houses on Willowbay Ridge Street. The resulting fire spread quickly because of the aviation fuel aboard. The two homes and the plane were completely destroyed.
National Transportation Safety Board Spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said an investigator has been sent to the scene. "You're looking at the maintenance history of the aircraft, the flight history of the pilot and weather conditions," Lopatkiewicz said of some of the information the investigator will collect. A preliminary report will be available within a couple of weeks while a complete investigation could take up to a year, Lopatkiewicz said.
Kennedy's death came just five weeks after the June 4 death of Lesa France Kennedy's father, Bill France Jr. She serves as president of the International Speedway Corp.
The couple was married May 7, 1988 at Seabreeze United Church. They have one son, Ben, now about 15.
5 dead after small plane hits Fla. homes
By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer
6 minutes ago
SANFORD, Fla. - A small plane carrying the husband of a NASCAR executive crashed into two houses while trying to make an emergency landing Tuesday, killing five people and starting fires that seriously burned three others, authorities said.
NASCAR confirmed that Dr. Bruce Kennedy, a Daytona Beach plastic surgeon and husband of International Speedway Corporation President Lesa France Kennedy, and NASCAR Aviation pilot Michael Klemm were among the dead.
The identities of the other victims on the ground were not immediately released.
Authorities said an adult and two children died in the homes that caught fire when the airplane crashed in the suburban Orlando neighborhood Tuesday morning.
6 minutes ago
SANFORD, Fla. - A small plane carrying the husband of a NASCAR executive crashed into two houses while trying to make an emergency landing Tuesday, killing five people and starting fires that seriously burned three others, authorities said.
NASCAR confirmed that Dr. Bruce Kennedy, a Daytona Beach plastic surgeon and husband of International Speedway Corporation President Lesa France Kennedy, and NASCAR Aviation pilot Michael Klemm were among the dead.
The identities of the other victims on the ground were not immediately released.
Authorities said an adult and two children died in the homes that caught fire when the airplane crashed in the suburban Orlando neighborhood Tuesday morning.
Photo of Florida Plane Crash - NASCAR
ROBERTO GONZALEZ, ORLANDO SENTINEL, July 10, 2007
Firefighters work on the blaze that gutted two homes in a Sanford neighborhood after a twin-engine plane struck the houses, killing 5 people.
Sources: Lesa France Kennedy's husband killed in plane crash
Sources: Lesa France Kennedy's husband killed in plane crash
By KATHY KELLY
STAFF WRITER
SANFORD -- Dr. Bruce Kennedy, husband of International Speedway Corp. President Lesa France Kennedy, was killed this morning when the plane he was piloting crashed into a Sanford neighborhood, setting two houses on fire, according to informed sources close to Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR.
At least four other persons were killed, including two children, Sanford Fire Chief Gerard Ransom confirmed about noon. The identities of the dead were not released and NASCAR did not immediately provide any details but at least four informed sources confirmed the identity of the Daytona Beach plastic surgeon to The News-Journal.
A NASCAR spokesman in Charlotte, N.C., said the public relations staff in Daytona Beach was "in the information gathering stage" and that he knew no details at this point. Kennedy was piloting the Cessna 310 when it went down about 8:50 a.m. shortly after takeoff from Daytona International Airport. At a briefing shortly before 11 a.m., the Seminole County Sheriff's office said the pilot and co-pilot were both killed in the crash.
The plane crashed into one house and the resulting fire ignited another house next door. The crash occurred on Willowbay Ridge Court at a subdivision called The Preserve at Lake Monroe, south of U.S. 17-92 and east of Interstate 4. Located near the Central Florida Zoo and the Orlando Sanford International Airport, the subdivision is comprised of new two-story single family homes.
Crash site:
354 Willowbay Ridge Ct.
Sanford, FL 32771
"It was an extremely intense fire," said Matt Minnetto, a fire investigator with Sanford Fire Department. Lou-Ann Cappola, a schoolteacher who lives about a block away from the crash site, said residents of the subdivision are accustomed to noise from a nearby railyard. So she didn't think twice of it.
"I thought the trains were banging and making noise," she said. "I was on the porch and looked up and saw smoke - black, black smoke. At that point, all the sirens were coming."
Minnetto said a boy, believed to be about 10 years old, was among the injured, with about 80 percent to 90 percent of his body burned. Joe Brown, spokesman for Orlando Regional Medical Center, confirmed that two adults and child had been taken to that facility. He said he could release no names or conditions of the patients.
The twin-engine plane 310 was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach, said Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration. Competitor Liaison is based in Daytona Beach and lists William C. France, the late chairman of NASCAR, as its registered agent in online records from the Department of State Division of Corporations. James C. France also is listed as an officer of the company.
The plane was traveling from Daytona Beach to Lakeland when the pilot declared smoke in the cockpit. The plane tried to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when it crashed about a mile or two north of the airport, Bergen said. A message left with an airport spokeswoman was not immediately returned.
Kathy Douglas, who lives in the neighborhood, heard a loud boom and thought it was train cars 'coming together' on a nearby railroad track. After reaching the crash site, she saw the 10-year-boy and his father flown away by a rescue helicopter. The mother, who was taken by ambulance to the hospital, was crying 'my baby, my baby,' Douglas said.
At a news briefing, authorities confirmed that two people died in the plane. Three people in the home that sustained the direct hit were injured, including a mother, father and 10-year-old boy who sustained burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body.
A Lake Mary firefighter who was off duty and without protective equipment was treated for smoke inhalation. The firefighter was the first to arrive on the scene, entered the home and rescued the boy.The crash call came about 8:30 a.m. A witness saw the plane teetering as it was coming across Lake Monroe. It hit the rear of one of two houses on Willowbay Ridge Street. The resulting fire spread quickly because of the aviation fuel aboard. The two homes and the plane were completely destroyed.
National Transportation Safety Board Spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said an investigator has been sent to the scene. "You're looking at the maintenance history of the aircraft, the flight history of the pilot and weather conditions," Lopatkiewicz said of some the information the investigator will collect. A preliminary report will be available within a couple weeks while a complete investigation could take up to a year, Lopatkiewicz said.
Kennedy's death came just five weeks after the June 4 death of Lesa France Kennedy's father, Bill France Jr. She serves as president of the family-run International Speedway Corp.
The couple was married May 7, 1988 at Seabreeze United Church. They have one son, Ben, now about 15. FAA records confirm Dr. Kennedy received his commercial pilot certification on May 24.
source...http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/breakingnews/crash071007.htm
By KATHY KELLY
STAFF WRITER
SANFORD -- Dr. Bruce Kennedy, husband of International Speedway Corp. President Lesa France Kennedy, was killed this morning when the plane he was piloting crashed into a Sanford neighborhood, setting two houses on fire, according to informed sources close to Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR.
At least four other persons were killed, including two children, Sanford Fire Chief Gerard Ransom confirmed about noon. The identities of the dead were not released and NASCAR did not immediately provide any details but at least four informed sources confirmed the identity of the Daytona Beach plastic surgeon to The News-Journal.
A NASCAR spokesman in Charlotte, N.C., said the public relations staff in Daytona Beach was "in the information gathering stage" and that he knew no details at this point. Kennedy was piloting the Cessna 310 when it went down about 8:50 a.m. shortly after takeoff from Daytona International Airport. At a briefing shortly before 11 a.m., the Seminole County Sheriff's office said the pilot and co-pilot were both killed in the crash.
The plane crashed into one house and the resulting fire ignited another house next door. The crash occurred on Willowbay Ridge Court at a subdivision called The Preserve at Lake Monroe, south of U.S. 17-92 and east of Interstate 4. Located near the Central Florida Zoo and the Orlando Sanford International Airport, the subdivision is comprised of new two-story single family homes.
Crash site:
354 Willowbay Ridge Ct.
Sanford, FL 32771
"It was an extremely intense fire," said Matt Minnetto, a fire investigator with Sanford Fire Department. Lou-Ann Cappola, a schoolteacher who lives about a block away from the crash site, said residents of the subdivision are accustomed to noise from a nearby railyard. So she didn't think twice of it.
"I thought the trains were banging and making noise," she said. "I was on the porch and looked up and saw smoke - black, black smoke. At that point, all the sirens were coming."
Minnetto said a boy, believed to be about 10 years old, was among the injured, with about 80 percent to 90 percent of his body burned. Joe Brown, spokesman for Orlando Regional Medical Center, confirmed that two adults and child had been taken to that facility. He said he could release no names or conditions of the patients.
The twin-engine plane 310 was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach, said Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration. Competitor Liaison is based in Daytona Beach and lists William C. France, the late chairman of NASCAR, as its registered agent in online records from the Department of State Division of Corporations. James C. France also is listed as an officer of the company.
The plane was traveling from Daytona Beach to Lakeland when the pilot declared smoke in the cockpit. The plane tried to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when it crashed about a mile or two north of the airport, Bergen said. A message left with an airport spokeswoman was not immediately returned.
Kathy Douglas, who lives in the neighborhood, heard a loud boom and thought it was train cars 'coming together' on a nearby railroad track. After reaching the crash site, she saw the 10-year-boy and his father flown away by a rescue helicopter. The mother, who was taken by ambulance to the hospital, was crying 'my baby, my baby,' Douglas said.
At a news briefing, authorities confirmed that two people died in the plane. Three people in the home that sustained the direct hit were injured, including a mother, father and 10-year-old boy who sustained burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body.
A Lake Mary firefighter who was off duty and without protective equipment was treated for smoke inhalation. The firefighter was the first to arrive on the scene, entered the home and rescued the boy.The crash call came about 8:30 a.m. A witness saw the plane teetering as it was coming across Lake Monroe. It hit the rear of one of two houses on Willowbay Ridge Street. The resulting fire spread quickly because of the aviation fuel aboard. The two homes and the plane were completely destroyed.
National Transportation Safety Board Spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said an investigator has been sent to the scene. "You're looking at the maintenance history of the aircraft, the flight history of the pilot and weather conditions," Lopatkiewicz said of some the information the investigator will collect. A preliminary report will be available within a couple weeks while a complete investigation could take up to a year, Lopatkiewicz said.
Kennedy's death came just five weeks after the June 4 death of Lesa France Kennedy's father, Bill France Jr. She serves as president of the family-run International Speedway Corp.
The couple was married May 7, 1988 at Seabreeze United Church. They have one son, Ben, now about 15. FAA records confirm Dr. Kennedy received his commercial pilot certification on May 24.
source...http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/breakingnews/crash071007.htm
breaking news..... Florida Plane Crash update
now the Orlando newspaper is reporting "Husband of NASCAR official Lesa France Kennedy was 1 of 5 killed in Sanford plane crash".... in the headlines but no new details
Breaking news...Florida Plane Crash involving NASCAR
Lesa France Kennedy and Dr. Bruce Kennedy with Brian France (left)...from the Daytona News-Journal Corporation
breaking news on Florida Plane Crash from Orlando Sentinel
April Hunt | Sentinel Staff Writer
11:42 AM EDT, July 10, 2007
The husband of NASCAR official Lesa France Kennedy was one of two people tied to NASCAR killed this morning when a small plane struggling to land at Orlando-Sanford International Airport crashed into a home and burst into flames.
Three family members in that Sanford home suffered critical burns in the fireball after the crash that killed Dr. Bruce Kennedy and a passenger. A 4-year-old girl who was also in the home is listed as missing.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal is reporting that Dr. Bruce Kennedy was the pilot of the twin-engine Cessna 310 that took off at 8:23 a..m. from Daytona Beach International Airport with one passenger on board.
Kennedy, a plastic surgeon, is married to France Kennedy, who is president of International Speedway Corp., and also vice president and assistant treasurer of NASCAR. The co-pilot was not identified, though NASCAR officials told the Orlando Sentinel that there was no driver on board.
The plane was bound for Lakeland when Kennedy declared an emergency with smoke in the cockpit just after 8:30 a.m., said Federal Aviation Authority spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.
"They were directing it to Sanford (International Airport) when a mile to two miles north-northwest of the airport, it crashed into a house," Bergen said.
Four people were in the home at the time, including two adults, a 10-year-old boy and the 4-year-old girl.
A firefighter who lived in the neighborhood rushed into the house and pulled the father and boy from the flames.
Ryan Cooper, a firefighter/paramedic with Lake Mary Fire Department, has his bunker gear at home and put it on to run in to the burning house. Without his breathing apparatus, he was unable to go deep into the smoke-filled house to see if he could find the younger girl.
Instead, he ran into the second home that was aflame but did not find anyone inside. Cooper, who is married with two kids, rushed back outside and began treating the 10-year-old boy for his burns.
The boy, his father and another adult were taken by helicopter to Orlando Regional Medical Center with critical burns. The 4-year-old has not yet been found.
The boy appears to be the most seriously injured, with 3rd-degree burns over 80 pecent to 90 percent of his body, said Matt Matt Minnetto, a Sanford Fire Investigator at the scene.
"(He's) a pretty tough kid," Minnetto said of the boy, who gave firefighters a thumbs up as he was taken away in the ambulance.
Cooper suffered heat exhaustion from the rescue effort. He and another person suffering from chest pains were taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital, where both were in stable condition:
A teen-age neighbor appears to have seen the injured family shortly after the crash.
Melinda Arroyo said her sister woke her up shortly before 9 a.m., saying that a woman was outside screaming. As the 15-year-old ran outside, she said she heard popping noises and explosions, then heard a woman screaming for help.
"She was yelling, 'My baby! My baby is upstairs,'" Arroyo said.
A man wearing only underwear and blackened by fire was walking nearby in a daze, also looking for help for his family. A young boy sat in front of the home, his legs and arms also apparently burned.
By 10 a.m., firefighters had put out the fires at 354 and 356 Willowbay Ridge Street, in the relatively new subdivision near the Central Florida Zoo. Investigators are now trying to determine what led to the crash that left the plane in several pieces throughout the neighborhood.
Neighbors reported hearing a wooshing sound and the crash explosion as they were readying for their days.
"I've never seen so many flames, never in all my life," said Marcela Rodriguez, who was eating breakfast at a friend's home when the plane crashed two houses away.
Rodriguez said she ran out and was unable to see anyone because of the heat and flames. Heather Stahley, who also lives in the neighborhood, said she was upstairs with her two children when she heard the "boom, boom, boom" of the crash.
"Then I saw the two homes engulfed in flames and black smoke," she said. "I just couldn't believe it was happening."
Christian Schwarz said he and his wife were eating breakfast when they heard the first boom and thought it was just a garbage truck. Moments later his young son, who played with the boy in the house that was hit, ran in and said the neighbor's house was on fire.
"It was a huge fire ball," he said. "It pretty much gutted those houses."
Despite the plane's relatively small size, smoke from the crash could be seen as far away as Interstate 4.
The 310 is a common twin-engine plane that has been in use since after World War II. It is often used as an air taxi and for private use. It seats six people, including the pilot.
Bergen said the plane is registered to Competition Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach. The company is registered as CL Bureau Inc. with the state's division of corporations. Lesa France Kennedy is listed as the firm's vice president.
Sarah Langbein, Sandra Pedicini, Robert Perez and Walter Pacheco contributed to this report.
11:42 AM EDT, July 10, 2007
The husband of NASCAR official Lesa France Kennedy was one of two people tied to NASCAR killed this morning when a small plane struggling to land at Orlando-Sanford International Airport crashed into a home and burst into flames.
Three family members in that Sanford home suffered critical burns in the fireball after the crash that killed Dr. Bruce Kennedy and a passenger. A 4-year-old girl who was also in the home is listed as missing.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal is reporting that Dr. Bruce Kennedy was the pilot of the twin-engine Cessna 310 that took off at 8:23 a..m. from Daytona Beach International Airport with one passenger on board.
Kennedy, a plastic surgeon, is married to France Kennedy, who is president of International Speedway Corp., and also vice president and assistant treasurer of NASCAR. The co-pilot was not identified, though NASCAR officials told the Orlando Sentinel that there was no driver on board.
The plane was bound for Lakeland when Kennedy declared an emergency with smoke in the cockpit just after 8:30 a.m., said Federal Aviation Authority spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.
"They were directing it to Sanford (International Airport) when a mile to two miles north-northwest of the airport, it crashed into a house," Bergen said.
Four people were in the home at the time, including two adults, a 10-year-old boy and the 4-year-old girl.
A firefighter who lived in the neighborhood rushed into the house and pulled the father and boy from the flames.
Ryan Cooper, a firefighter/paramedic with Lake Mary Fire Department, has his bunker gear at home and put it on to run in to the burning house. Without his breathing apparatus, he was unable to go deep into the smoke-filled house to see if he could find the younger girl.
Instead, he ran into the second home that was aflame but did not find anyone inside. Cooper, who is married with two kids, rushed back outside and began treating the 10-year-old boy for his burns.
The boy, his father and another adult were taken by helicopter to Orlando Regional Medical Center with critical burns. The 4-year-old has not yet been found.
The boy appears to be the most seriously injured, with 3rd-degree burns over 80 pecent to 90 percent of his body, said Matt Matt Minnetto, a Sanford Fire Investigator at the scene.
"(He's) a pretty tough kid," Minnetto said of the boy, who gave firefighters a thumbs up as he was taken away in the ambulance.
Cooper suffered heat exhaustion from the rescue effort. He and another person suffering from chest pains were taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital, where both were in stable condition:
A teen-age neighbor appears to have seen the injured family shortly after the crash.
Melinda Arroyo said her sister woke her up shortly before 9 a.m., saying that a woman was outside screaming. As the 15-year-old ran outside, she said she heard popping noises and explosions, then heard a woman screaming for help.
"She was yelling, 'My baby! My baby is upstairs,'" Arroyo said.
A man wearing only underwear and blackened by fire was walking nearby in a daze, also looking for help for his family. A young boy sat in front of the home, his legs and arms also apparently burned.
By 10 a.m., firefighters had put out the fires at 354 and 356 Willowbay Ridge Street, in the relatively new subdivision near the Central Florida Zoo. Investigators are now trying to determine what led to the crash that left the plane in several pieces throughout the neighborhood.
Neighbors reported hearing a wooshing sound and the crash explosion as they were readying for their days.
"I've never seen so many flames, never in all my life," said Marcela Rodriguez, who was eating breakfast at a friend's home when the plane crashed two houses away.
Rodriguez said she ran out and was unable to see anyone because of the heat and flames. Heather Stahley, who also lives in the neighborhood, said she was upstairs with her two children when she heard the "boom, boom, boom" of the crash.
"Then I saw the two homes engulfed in flames and black smoke," she said. "I just couldn't believe it was happening."
Christian Schwarz said he and his wife were eating breakfast when they heard the first boom and thought it was just a garbage truck. Moments later his young son, who played with the boy in the house that was hit, ran in and said the neighbor's house was on fire.
"It was a huge fire ball," he said. "It pretty much gutted those houses."
Despite the plane's relatively small size, smoke from the crash could be seen as far away as Interstate 4.
The 310 is a common twin-engine plane that has been in use since after World War II. It is often used as an air taxi and for private use. It seats six people, including the pilot.
Bergen said the plane is registered to Competition Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach. The company is registered as CL Bureau Inc. with the state's division of corporations. Lesa France Kennedy is listed as the firm's vice president.
Sarah Langbein, Sandra Pedicini, Robert Perez and Walter Pacheco contributed to this report.
Florida Plane Crash.... tied to NASCAR? ...breaking news
SANFORD, Fla. - A small plane trying to make an emergency landing crashed into a suburban Orlando neighborhood Tuesday, killing both people aboard and starting two house fires that seriously burned two adults and a 10-year-old boy, authorities said.
The plane was registered to a company linked to NASCAR's late chairman. The identities of the dead were not immediately released. A NASCAR spokesman in Charlotte, N.C., said the public relations staff was "in the information gathering stage" but he had no further details.
Both homes were largely gutted by the flames, and smoke could be seen rising from the neighborhood where the plane went down around 8:40 a.m.
Matt Minnetto, a fire investigator with Sanford Fire Department, said two people aboard the plane were confirmed dead in the crash and the plane itself was scattered in several pieces. At least three people were injured in one of the homes, including a boy about 10 years old who had burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body, Minnetto said.
The other home was believed to have been empty, but there were questions about whether another member of the injured family, a toddler, might be missing, Minnetto said. He said authorities hadn't yet determined if the other child was at the home at the time.
The twin engine Cessna 310 was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach, said Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Competitor Liaison is registered under the name of William C. France, the late chairman of NASCAR, according to online records from the Department of State Division of Corporations show. James C. France is listed as an officer of the company.
The plane was traveling from Daytona Beach to Lakeland when the pilot declared smoke in the cockpit. The pilot was attempting to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when the plane crashed about a mile or two north of the airport, Bergen said.
A message left with an airport spokeswoman was not immediately returned.
The plane was registered to a company linked to NASCAR's late chairman. The identities of the dead were not immediately released. A NASCAR spokesman in Charlotte, N.C., said the public relations staff was "in the information gathering stage" but he had no further details.
Both homes were largely gutted by the flames, and smoke could be seen rising from the neighborhood where the plane went down around 8:40 a.m.
Matt Minnetto, a fire investigator with Sanford Fire Department, said two people aboard the plane were confirmed dead in the crash and the plane itself was scattered in several pieces. At least three people were injured in one of the homes, including a boy about 10 years old who had burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body, Minnetto said.
The other home was believed to have been empty, but there were questions about whether another member of the injured family, a toddler, might be missing, Minnetto said. He said authorities hadn't yet determined if the other child was at the home at the time.
The twin engine Cessna 310 was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach, said Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Competitor Liaison is registered under the name of William C. France, the late chairman of NASCAR, according to online records from the Department of State Division of Corporations show. James C. France is listed as an officer of the company.
The plane was traveling from Daytona Beach to Lakeland when the pilot declared smoke in the cockpit. The pilot was attempting to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when the plane crashed about a mile or two north of the airport, Bergen said.
A message left with an airport spokeswoman was not immediately returned.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Coca-Cola to replace Pepsi in exclusive deal at 10 auto racetracks
Coca-Cola to replace Pepsi in exclusive deal at 10 auto racetracks
By HARRY R. WEBER, AP Business Writer
July 9, 2007
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Coca-Cola Co. will take over exclusive soft drink and water marketing and pouring rights at 10 racetracks served by rival Pepsi by 2012 under a multimillion dollar deal announced Monday with International Speedway Corp.
The 10-year deal makes Coca-Cola's brands the official soft drink, official sparkling beverage and official water for 10 of the 13 tracks owned or operated by ISC, including Daytona International Speedway, the venue for one of racing's premier events, the Daytona 500.
Both Atlanta-based Coca-Cola and Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi bid for the agreement. Several factors including price were involved in the selection of Coca-Cola, ISC spokesman Lenny Santiago said.
"Pepsi's decision was to focus on other parts of its sports business, so we both decided to part ways," Santiago said.
The deal with Coke is believed to be worth tens of millions of dollars, though Santiago declined to give an exact value.
Pepsi, which currently serves all 10 tracks, has been the official beverage company at Daytona for nearly 50 years. The Pepsi 400 was run at the track on Saturday. Coca-Cola's deal at the Daytona track starts in January.
"We have enjoyed a wonderful 50-year partnership with Daytona and we wish them the best in the future," Pepsi spokeswoman Nicole Bradley said.
She said Pepsi, a division of PepsiCo Inc., remains committed to racing and will leverage its relationships with other racing figures and at the remaining tracks where it has marketing agreements in place.
Santiago said Pepsi still has marketing agreements in place with ISC tracks in Fontana, Calif., and Martinsville, Va., that allow Pepsi the right to negotiate extensions when those deals come up for renewal.
In addition to Daytona International Speedway, the Coca-Cola partnership with Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ISC beginning next year will include Chicagoland Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Richmond International Speedway.
The relationship will extend to Darlington Raceway in 2009, Talladega Superspeedway and Watkins Glen International in 2011, and Phoenix International Raceway in 2012.
Coca-Cola officials said that under the agreement, its beverages will be served exclusively at the facilities by Americrown, ISC's catering, concessions and merchandising subsidiary, and by other facility concessionaires. Coca-Cola's North America unit plans to create programs featuring ISC properties at the tracks and elsewhere.
By HARRY R. WEBER, AP Business Writer
July 9, 2007
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Coca-Cola Co. will take over exclusive soft drink and water marketing and pouring rights at 10 racetracks served by rival Pepsi by 2012 under a multimillion dollar deal announced Monday with International Speedway Corp.
The 10-year deal makes Coca-Cola's brands the official soft drink, official sparkling beverage and official water for 10 of the 13 tracks owned or operated by ISC, including Daytona International Speedway, the venue for one of racing's premier events, the Daytona 500.
Both Atlanta-based Coca-Cola and Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi bid for the agreement. Several factors including price were involved in the selection of Coca-Cola, ISC spokesman Lenny Santiago said.
"Pepsi's decision was to focus on other parts of its sports business, so we both decided to part ways," Santiago said.
The deal with Coke is believed to be worth tens of millions of dollars, though Santiago declined to give an exact value.
Pepsi, which currently serves all 10 tracks, has been the official beverage company at Daytona for nearly 50 years. The Pepsi 400 was run at the track on Saturday. Coca-Cola's deal at the Daytona track starts in January.
"We have enjoyed a wonderful 50-year partnership with Daytona and we wish them the best in the future," Pepsi spokeswoman Nicole Bradley said.
She said Pepsi, a division of PepsiCo Inc., remains committed to racing and will leverage its relationships with other racing figures and at the remaining tracks where it has marketing agreements in place.
Santiago said Pepsi still has marketing agreements in place with ISC tracks in Fontana, Calif., and Martinsville, Va., that allow Pepsi the right to negotiate extensions when those deals come up for renewal.
In addition to Daytona International Speedway, the Coca-Cola partnership with Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ISC beginning next year will include Chicagoland Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Richmond International Speedway.
The relationship will extend to Darlington Raceway in 2009, Talladega Superspeedway and Watkins Glen International in 2011, and Phoenix International Raceway in 2012.
Coca-Cola officials said that under the agreement, its beverages will be served exclusively at the facilities by Americrown, ISC's catering, concessions and merchandising subsidiary, and by other facility concessionaires. Coca-Cola's North America unit plans to create programs featuring ISC properties at the tracks and elsewhere.
Aaron Fike, Heroin....and Kings Island??
Over the weekend, apparently Aaron Fike of the truck series was arrested and according to Sports Illustrated it had to do with a substance believed to be heroin, syringes, and spoons...ouch.
Fike drives the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series. He is eighth in points with 1487, 566 behind series leader Mike Skinner.
If you don't know, Kings Island is an amusement park located in Mason, Ohio and has a really cool kids area with Hanna-Barbara and Nickelodeon sections. The landmark replica of the Eiffel Tower right by the fountains is a pretty cool natural high...
hopefully this "substance" isn't what it seems to be...
Fike drives the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series. He is eighth in points with 1487, 566 behind series leader Mike Skinner.
If you don't know, Kings Island is an amusement park located in Mason, Ohio and has a really cool kids area with Hanna-Barbara and Nickelodeon sections. The landmark replica of the Eiffel Tower right by the fountains is a pretty cool natural high...
hopefully this "substance" isn't what it seems to be...
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Pepsi 400 Tony Stewart Fumes Jamie Mac Blazes
Last night's Nextel Cup race down in Daytona...
Jamie McMurray never gave up and pressed to the very end .... and it paid off as he reached the finish line just ahead of Kyle Busch.
McMurray had been penalized earlier in the race for getting down below the yellow yet (as Jeff Gordon put it) drove the wheels off his car to hold in there for the win. Awesome job and glad to see him reach Victory Lane!
Kyle, on the other hand, drove like a wild man all night.
I'm still not too sure what Tony Stewart's rant had to do with him running over Denny Hamlin at the start of the race. Tony hit Denny from behind. It was only 15 laps into the race...
Jamie McMurray never gave up and pressed to the very end .... and it paid off as he reached the finish line just ahead of Kyle Busch.
McMurray had been penalized earlier in the race for getting down below the yellow yet (as Jeff Gordon put it) drove the wheels off his car to hold in there for the win. Awesome job and glad to see him reach Victory Lane!
Kyle, on the other hand, drove like a wild man all night.
I'm still not too sure what Tony Stewart's rant had to do with him running over Denny Hamlin at the start of the race. Tony hit Denny from behind. It was only 15 laps into the race...
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Pepsi 400... Rudy Giuliani
Another little race tidbit.... how nice it must be to be running for president.... apparently it means access, access, access....even at a Nextel Cup race.
Although they sometimes have problems catching the action ON the track...cameras were sure to catch Rudy Giuliani and his wife shaking hands and slapping backs at the track prior to tonight's race.
Is Rudy a racefan? Or a fan of racefans...and their votes?
Hope he enjoys the race!!
Although they sometimes have problems catching the action ON the track...cameras were sure to catch Rudy Giuliani and his wife shaking hands and slapping backs at the track prior to tonight's race.
Is Rudy a racefan? Or a fan of racefans...and their votes?
Hope he enjoys the race!!
Pepsi 400 Tidbit...National Anthem
Tuning in for tonight's Pepsi 400 at Daytona...
just a trivia tidbit - the National Anthem was sung by the winner of America's Got Talent, Bianca Ryan. 12 years old...wow.
Nice job performing before a loud, race-anxious crowd. I love watching the shots as the flyover soars overhead...always cool.
just a trivia tidbit - the National Anthem was sung by the winner of America's Got Talent, Bianca Ryan. 12 years old...wow.
Nice job performing before a loud, race-anxious crowd. I love watching the shots as the flyover soars overhead...always cool.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Mark Martin Links
Mark MartinOfficial site of the driver. Includes fan club information, news, schedule, biography, photographs, and related links.
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www.markmartinfordmercury.com/
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Thursday, June 28, 2007
Johnny Sauter Links
JOHNNY SAUTER .com The Official Site of NASCAR Busch Series Driver Johnny Sauter.
www.johnnysauter.net/
Johnny Sauter News - TopixNews on Johnny Sauter continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.
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NASCAR.COM : drivers: Johnny Sauter Johnny Sauter. SELECT DRIVER, ---------------------, A.J. Allmendinger, Bobby Labonte, Brian Vickers, Clint Bowyer ... Johnny Sauter: In Depth Stats ...
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NASCAR.COM : drivers : Johnny Sauter Johnny Sauter. Previous A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Next ...
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Johnny Sauter - NASCAR - Yahoo! SportsThe latest stats, facts, news and notes on Johnny Sauter.
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Auto Racing Johnny Sauter - CBSSports.com Nextel Cup Home · Results · Standings · Box Score · Schedule · Drivers. Johnny Sauter, Johnny Sauter. Born: 05/01/1978 Hometown: Necedah, Wis. ...
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msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/driver?statsId=378
[PDF] John Sauter, Docket No.I.F.& R.-VIII-95-362C File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
John Sauter, with three counts of violating the ct.1'. Specifically, it was alleged that on or about. May. 2, 1993,. Respondent, a certified private ...
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Johnny Sauter News - TopixNews on Johnny Sauter continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.
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NASCAR.COM : drivers: Johnny Sauter Johnny Sauter. SELECT DRIVER, ---------------------, A.J. Allmendinger, Bobby Labonte, Brian Vickers, Clint Bowyer ... Johnny Sauter: In Depth Stats ...
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Johnny Sauter - NASCAR - Yahoo! SportsThe latest stats, facts, news and notes on Johnny Sauter.
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Auto Racing Johnny Sauter - CBSSports.com Nextel Cup Home · Results · Standings · Box Score · Schedule · Drivers. Johnny Sauter, Johnny Sauter. Born: 05/01/1978 Hometown: Necedah, Wis. ...
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FOX Sports on MSN: Johnny Sauter Johnny Sauter pictures, video, news, stats, fantasy info, scouting, awards, game logs, hometown, college, birth date and more for Johnny Sauter.
msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/driver?statsId=378
[PDF] John Sauter, Docket No.I.F.& R.-VIII-95-362C File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
John Sauter, with three counts of violating the ct.1'. Specifically, it was alleged that on or about. May. 2, 1993,. Respondent, a certified private ...
www.epa.gov/oalj/orders/1995/john-sauter-ifr-080195.pdf - Similar pages
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Brian Vickers Links
Official Site of Brian Vickers® - NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Driver The official website of Brian Vickers. Nextel Cup driver.
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Juan Pablo Montoya Links
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA - OFFICIAL WEBSITE Contains latest news, reviews and interviews and an array of information, wallpapers and screensavers.
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Juan Pablo Montoya News - Topix News on Juan Pablo Montoya continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.
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AskMen.com - Juan Pablo MontoyaJuan Pablo montoya, pics, pictures, biography, video, related news, vital stats, commentary, and cool facts.
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ESPN.com - NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Driver Card Juan Pablo Montoya walks through the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, ... Juan Pablo Montoya, right, and Jamie McMurray wave to fans during the ...
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Juan Pablo Montoya - NASCAR - Yahoo! Sports The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Juan Pablo Montoya.
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Auto Racing Juan Pablo Montoya - CBSSports.com Nextel Cup Home · Results · Standings · Box Score · Schedule · Drivers. Juan Pablo Montoya (R), Juan Pablo Montoya (R) ...
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FOX Sports on MSN: Juan Pablo Montoya Juan Pablo Montoya pictures, video, news, stats, fantasy info, scouting, awards, game logs, hometown, college, birth date and more for Juan Pablo Montoya.
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