It's all about the $$$

Thank you to those who responded to my recent poll. Times are tough for fans and race teams, which in turn will impact the local tracks' bottomline. I'm glad to see most people will still be able to make it to the track this summer. I too will be cutting back on trips to Stafford and Thompson this year. I live about 20 minutes southwest of Hartford. That's 135 miles round trip to and from Thompson. I'll still make a few of the Thompson Thursday Night Thunders and the Mod 150's. We will just have to keep an eye on the gas prices. Traditionally, prices tend to peak around Memorial Day weekend. 

You're saving gas money this weekend as NASCAR's All-Star Weekend is underway. This is huge for all NASCAR fans. It's the one time a year when the purist and the modern fan get to enjoy racing for what it is. Racing! Take my Dad for example. He hates the green, white, checkered finishes. In that regard, my old man is very much a purist. That's okay, he took me to my first race, so we can over look the little things, I guess. I like the shootouts. It takes team mates, brothers, father-sons out of the equation. Every man for himself. No points. Four segments of flat out peddle to the metal, stand on it racing. 

So race fans of all ages and mindsets, sit back and enjoy this weekend for what it is and what it was meant to be; a bunch of guys screaming around the track for $$$! 

Pain at the Pump...and at the Track

With gas prices on the rise, many of our beloved weekend warriors have struggled making it to the local tracks over the last few years. Today, it may seem nearly impossible to get those late models fueled and on the track. Oil prices continue to sky rocket and with the summer driving season about to officially begin this weekend, there may be very little relief in sight.

I'd like to hear from you. Tell me and the rest of local racing community how rising costs and this weak economy will affect your trip to the local tracks. You don't have to be a car owner to gripe on this blog! I want to hear from owners, crew members and fans a like. 

Back to the Super Speedway!

Things on the Sprint Cup circuit are about to heat up as the series heads to Talladega. It couldn't come at a better time either. The big boys were off this week while the Nationwide Series headed south to Mexico. I watched for a little while, but got bored. Road courses are tough to watch, especially once the field spreads out. The most exciting part of the broadcast was the power hit the track took, knocking ESPN off the air. Other than that, I got got a good nap in!

Talladega will put some spark back into the engine. This is on the edge of your seat racing. The track has banks as steep as Bristol, but is 3.5 times longer in distance!

Hendrick finally has it's first win of the season with Johnson's victory in Phoenix and I think they get number two this Sunday. I like Dale Jr. in this one. He's been solid all year long and is due to pull one out.

NASCAR Asleep at the Wheel

So, who wants to shoot up some heroin, jump in a 3200 lbs race car and drive at a 180 mph? Anyone? Hello? What, no takers? I didn't think so. You have to be a complete idiot to even think of attempting such a moronic stunt. Right? Well, that's exactly what Aaron Fike did on more than one occasion while competing in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series. Fike admits to his race day habit in the latest edition of ESPN the Magazine.

Keep in mind NASCAR did not catch Fike through drug testing. In fact, apparently no one in the sport was aware of his habit until he was arrested last year in Ohio on heroin possession charges. NASCAR has since suspended Fike indefinitely under their "zero tolerance" policy. Zero tolerance? Huh? What exactly does NASCAR consider "zero tolerance? In my opinion, zero tolerance means taking a PROACTIVE approach to the situation. That means every driver, crew member and official receives more than one random drug test through out the course of the season. Here's what NASCAR, in a nutshell, considers zero tolerance: NASCAR's substance-abuse policy includes the right to test any driver at any time, but officials only do so if they believe a competitor might have a problem. "The responsibility here rests across the board -- with the drivers and competitors, owners, teams and NASCAR," said Kerry Tharp, NASCAR's director of communication. "We test an individual when we have reasonable suspicion. A positive test results in severe consequences and is a career-changing moment for that person. (Thanks to http://www.jayski.com/) Reasonable suspicion? Well, I don't know about you, but it doesn't appear the whole "reasonable suspicion" approach worked in Fike's case. What will it take for NASCAR to instate a REASONABLE policy that includes random drug testing? This is a very reactive organization. It took losing Dale Earnhardt to make the various safety changes on the tracks and in the cars. Will it take something similar in this case? Bottom line, NASCAR is afraid to drug test. They are afraid a big name will return a positive result and they don't want that embarrassment. Instead, they would rather risk the lives of the competitors to save a little face.

Funeral Arrangements for Shane Hammond announced

This is from NEMA's website: www.nemaracing.com

In Memory of Shane HammondIt is with heavy hearts that we write this. We are all struggling to make sense out of the tragedy we experienced with Shane's passing. He will never be forgotten and will always live in all our hearts - he touched many of our lives. For those of you wishing to attend, the following are the arrangements for Shane:Wake: Friday, April 11, 2008 3-7pmProphett Funeral Home98 Bedford St (rte 18)Bridgewater, MA 02324508-697-4332Reception to follow at 7:30:Ted's Place642 Washington St @ corner of WestWhitman, MA 02382781-447-2100In lieu of flowers, Shane's family has asked that contributions be made in Shane's name c/o NEMA. All contributions can be sent to NEMA at 266 Kelly Rd, Middlebury CT 06762.

Tragedy strikes Thompson, again.

It won't be easy for those close to Shane Hammond to come to terms with his death. Even those who never met the young Massachusetts man are probably struggling with the many questions surrounding this racing tragedy, mainly why? Hammond, 27, died Sunday at Thompson Speedway while competing in the Icebreaker's NEMA Midget feature. According to reports, Hammond was entering turn three when the car he was driving collided with that of Chris Leonard of New Hampshire, sending Hammond over the concrete wall and into a billboard above the track. This is second fatality at Thompson in less than a year, and third death in four years.

Over the next few days, many will want to call for safety improvements at Thompson Speedway because of this accident, and there will be some merit to those arguments. But, I think we need to keep a few things in mind as the racing community heals. First, of the three tragedies mentioned, one was probably preventable, and the reason for recent safety changes at the track. It was Tommy Baldwin Jr's accident in 2004 that ended up being the driving force behind the new light project at the speedway. Baldwin lost control of his Whelen Modified when he was forced into the wet grass along the back stretch. Unable to stop or steer the car, he eventually crashed into an infield light post adjacent to the pit road entrance. The point of impact was the driver's side door.

John Blewett III passed away in August of 2007 when he and his brother, Jimmy, got into a wreck between turns one and two. The two cars came to rest at the top of the track, one stacked on the other. Allegedly, a piece of equipment from Jimmy's Modified somehow got into John's cockpit, causing massive head trauma. John later died at Hubbard Hospital in Webster.

I wasn't there this Sunday, so I can only rely on what I'm reading and hearing. But, based on current information, Hammond's death was caused from his car impacting a billboard above the track. It was speed that got him airborne. It was speed and the inherent risk that comes with racing that took the life of Hammond. Safety barriers and softer walls would not have prevented this tragedy from happening. It very well could prevent a future fatality, but not this one. Yes, racing across the board is faster today, faster than ever. And yes, local tracks, for whatever reason, are having a difficult time keeping up. But don't be so quick to point fingers, now is not the time to use Hammond's death as a reason to find fault with the track.

Shane Hammond died while living his dream. Now is the time to support his family and friends as they try to find an answer to the question, why?

Tire Redemption at Texas Motor Speedway???

NASCAR's exclusive tire provider could get a little redemption this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Sprint Cup drivers, namely Tony Stewart, bashed Goodyear after the Atlanta race, claiming the tire giant failed to produce a tread that handled well. Drivers certainly had their hands full a few weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the cars were slipping around the already lighting quick 1.5 mile track. After the race, the likes of Stewart and Jeff Gordon were highly critical of Goodyear. Gordon was quoted as saying he felt like he "...was going to crash on every lap." Stewart, who finished second to Kyle Busch, categorized the tire as "...the most pathetic racing tire that I've ever been on in my professional career,". Stewart's not so professional comments may have had an impact on this weekend's race at Texas. Speedway Motorsports owns both Atlanta and Texas Motor Speedways and the circuits are nearly identical. Both are 1.5 mile ovals with 24 degree banks in the turns, and both are very fast. Goodyear says they will go with the same tire compound that yielded very competitive racing and exciting finishes last year at Texas. I guess the squeaky wheel does get the grease...thanks Tony!!!