Monday, October 30, 2006

Tragic News For Bill Davis Racing/NASCAR Community

I'm quoting from the Bill Davis Racing statement, regarding Steve Spahr, 48, Jackman for the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Team, who passed away suddenly Friday evening.

"Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with Steve's family," said Bill Davis, owner of Bill Davis Racing. "Steve was an important part of the Bill Davis Racing family for many, many years. He was a quiet mentor to his peers and was both respected and well-liked by everyone on our race team and many others in the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage. He will be missed and remembered fondly by everyone associated with our team." Steve worked both at the shop and at the track performing a wide range of tasks from engine tuning to suspension work in the shop and in the past had served as jackman for the #22 team. Most recently, Spahr was the jackman for the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Racing team. A long-time employee of Bill Davis Racing, Spahr had recently been hospitalized with a tear of the aorta and had undergone surgery in the Greensboro, N.C. area. Steve was recovering at home with his family when he passed away suddenly Friday evening.

I am sure that I speak on behalf of all "The Wal-Nutz" (Michael Waltrip's Fan Club Members)when I say that Steve's family will be in our thoughts and prayers, as well, as they go through this extremely difficult time.

Harvick Wins The Sam's Town 250 ! ! !

Kevin "Happy" Harvick won his eighth Busch Series race of the season at Memphis on Saturday. Has Kevin been "on it", as Michael Waltrip would say, or what ??? He's already won the Busch Series Championship, in record time, I might add !!! I would have to say that "Happy" Harvick looked like he was having a GREAT time "spanking them boys" on that track !!! Or was he just teaching a clinic on how to win a Busch Series race for the likes of David Regan and the rest of the younger than the "Young Guns" crowd ??? Either way, this NASCAR fan has really enjoyed watching Kevin "Mr. Reese's Pieces" Harvick come to life in 2006. Sort of like another driver, who shall remain nameless, tried to do in 2005 ! ! !

Juan Pablo Montoya's NASCAR Debut

I have purposefully stayed away from this subject, because I'm really not quite sure how I feel about drivers from other forms of auto racing, coming into OUR NASCAR, especially those from a foreign land. To be honest, I think it has a lot to do with the whole immigration issue in our country today, but that's a subject for another blog, and/or another day. Speaking of the race Montoya said, "It was pretty wild, to be honest. I learned today you have to pace yourself."

As Chip Ganassi surveyed his damages to the #42 Texaco Dodge, he declared it "mission accomplished" for the former Formula One star and didn't seem to mind the crushed fenders.

Montoya qualified ninth and spent the first 148 laps of the race running in the Top-10, until Jason Keller tagged him from behind, but all in all he finished the race in 11th position - - not too bad for the first NASCAR race.

General Motors NASCAR Roundup

General Motors is taking advantage of the introduction of NASCAR's new Car of Tomorrow in 2007 by expanding it's marketing program. Hmmmmm ??? Why am I not surprised ???

GM's Chevrolet Division will field it's COT as an Impala SS, while continuing to use the current Monte Carlo SS in the rest of the Nextel Cup races. This announcement was made Friday at "Hot-lanta" Motor Speedway. NASCAR's plan is to phase in the bigger, bulkier and maybe safer and LESS EXPENSIVE Car of Tomorrow over the next three years, starting with 16 races in 2007, with the first race at Bristol Motor Speedway in March.

Dodge reportedly is also jumping into the frey, retaining the current Charger for the bulk of the schedule. In my humble opinion, that is a joke because MY favorite driver currently drives a Charger and I would not give Bill Davis a dollar for it !!! Okay, that said, where was I ??? Oh, Dodge will also be using a brand new "Avenger" model for it's COT, but Dodge officials said Friday that they cannot comment on any model until it is in production and the "Avenger" is currently just a concept car. May I ask a question Gentlemen ??? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ??? The next NASCAR Season rolls around every year in February, I think even the public, in general, is aware of that fact. And you ask me why I think TOYOTA will kick some serious butt in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series ??? DUH !!! Like the Boy Scouts - - - they will be prepared !!!

Jack Roush Is Still Whinning ? ? ?

I see Mr. Roush is still whinning, but then I guess he wasn't the one who admitted on national television that he does, in fact, whine. Now Jack says that he needs to increase the amount of research and development he does, away from the track, in order to make his full-fleet of NASCAR teams more competitive, which what he's really saying is that he has to spend more of those all mighty dollars, that he hates to part with so much !!!

I have a plan for you Mr. Roush !!! Why don't you cut back on the number of teams you are currently running, to four teams, which is what NASCAR asked you to do in the first place. That would certainly save you some of that money, you refuse to part with. What do you think, Jack ??? Sound like a plan to you ???

A. J. Allemindinger Jumps To NASCAR ? ? ?

Well, looky here, NASCAR fans, we have yet another defector from open-wheel competition, headed to the "sheet metal" of NASCAR.

A. J. failed to qualify on Friday, due to the "Rain-Out", I guess he'll have to wait now until 2007 to run with the boys at Team Red Bull, but don't you dare worry yourselves now, cause I happen to know that my pal Brian Vickers will be over there, to hold down the fort until A.J. can come make his splashing debut. I just want to know, who opened the flood gates to all these drivers ??? Did NASCAR send out an "invite" that we, the fans, were not made aware of, or something ???

Kudos To The Man ! ! !

Tony "Smoke" Stewart wins the Bass Pro Shops 500 race in "Hot-lanta" Motor Speedway yesterday. But that's not all !!! Tony also won the IROC Championship for 2006 !!! How cool is that ??? I don't think there could be too many more Championships that this guy hasn't won, but if you run out of room for all your trophies, Tony, let me know, I have lots of room over here to display them all !!! Way to go "Smoke" !!!

Race Birthdays For The Week (Oct. 29th thru Nov. 4th)

10/29 Teresa Earnhardt, Billy Woodriff, Steadman Marlin, Joseph "Papa Joe" Hendrick, Bob Dotter, Roseanne Adamczyk, Nicole Belber & Sandy 'the dog' Adamczyk

10/30 Linda Rudd & Tony Bennenhausen, Jr.

10/31 Kip Childress

11/1 Jayski, Eric Vance, Larry Flynt, Doug Ingerson & Marissa Garrow

11/2 Larry Pearson & Judy Allison

11/3 Derrike Cope, Tony Gibson & Greg Sacks

11/4 Charley Pressley

Happy Birthday To All ! ! (Obviously, some of these are "In Memory Of")

That's all for now. Have a Great Week. Enjoy the races this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway !!! I'll see you all there (from my recliner, of course).

GO MIKEY GO ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Later !!!

The Wal-NutzManiac

Friday, October 27, 2006

NASCAR News From The Wal-NutzManiac

My Kudos For The Week

Bobby Labonte - - Bobby finished third in Sunday's Subway 500 Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway to record his fourth Top-10 finish in the last five races. Way to go Bobby !!!

Tony Stewart - - "Smoke" finished fourth in the Subway 500, no surprise there !!!

Casey Mears - - Casey finished sixth on Sunday !!! After some "bump-drafting" between him and Ryan Newman. I'm surprised at Ryan Newman, I thought he had more class than that on the race track. So much for "Professional" race car drivers.

Jeff Green - - Jeff finished eighth at Martinsville !!!

Kyle Petty - - Kyle finished 10th Sunday, putting both Petty Enterprises drivers in the Top-10 for the first time since the fall of 1999!!! Way to go, Guys !!!

In case you are wondering, I like to give my kudos the the non-chase drivers, who are out there on the race track busting it - - - week end and week out with little or no recognition for doing so. No television coverage, not even an "oh by the way", that's why I choose to acknowledge these guys !!! Someone else can provide you with the "Atta Boys" for the chasers.

NASCAR-themed Playground Built in Greensboro

The slides, swings and seesaws are for children. But on Thursday, when about a hundred volunteers - - including NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley - - built a playground in the Stonegate Crossing community in six hours, it was grown-ups who were playing. Sort of.

There was a "huge-pile-of-mulch" game that most of the volunteers took a turn at. Or Yeley's favorite, mixing and pouring cement.

The playground was built by volunteer from Home Depot stores, Joe Gibbs Racing, Greensboro's Habitat for Humanity, the Children's Home Society and KaBOOM!, a national non-profit group that builds playgrounds.

But the bad news was that the kids couldn't play on the NASCAR-themed equipment until Saturday, to give the cement time to harden.

I love to hear about something good happening, for a change !!!

Kenny Wallace Signed A NASCAR Nextel Cup Deal

Kenny signs a two year deal with Furniture Row Racing, commencing in 2007. Here are Wallace's comments regarding the deal" "It really makes me feel good to have a Nextel Cup team that is this dedicated, and has the funds to go the long haul. I really want th thank everyone at Furniture Row Racing, and the 300 Furniture Row stores throughout the U.S. for choosing me as the driver for the next two years. With a new era of Nextel Cup entering in 2007, where there will be no less than 50 cars every week trying to qualify, I am really excited to help build this new team. It will not be easy!!! But this is the biggest form of racing in the world, I don't expect it to be easy. I am ready to go."

Apparently his Crew Chief Joe Garone feels the same way, as he explains the strategy for continuing the Cup program with Wallace: "Kenny's experience will help build the team, and enhance our level of competition in the next couple of years. We're very excited and honored to have him involved with our program."

Nemechek Visits U.S. Troops

Joe Nemechek not only raced 500 miles at Lowe's Motor Speedway last Saturday, he followed that with a 2,100-mile, round-trip visit to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Sunday.

The MB2 Motorsports driver, sponsored by the U.S. Army, visited with troops at the military base there. Ashton Lewis, Jr., driver of the Team Marines car in the Busch Series, also made the trip.

The six-hour tour included authgraph and photo sessions at different points of the base, including one for non-military personnel in the downtown area.

"Every time I visit our troops it's a special feeling," Nemechek said. "These people are making a sacrifice to protect our freedom and the freedom for future generations. It's difficult not to get overwhelmed by what you see and what you hear. It was an honor to make the visit." Way to go Front Row Joe !!!

Nextel Cup Going To Unleaded Fuel In 2007

NASCAR will make the transition to unleaded fuel one year earlier than previously announced as it plans to have all three series run almost the entire 2007 season on unleaded fuel. The lone exception, involving the Nextel Cup Series, will be the season-opening Daytona 500.

Crew Chiefs said at Martinsville Speedway they were informed of the decision this week, and the NASCAR officials confirmed the move.

Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams have tested the unleaded fuel at several events this year. Teams have reported few problems with the Sunoco fuel.

"We run a lot of unleaded in a lot of our grass-roots programs," Toyota Racing Development Senior Vice President Lee White said. "We have a lot of experience with it. We have been running it in our truck engines for about half of the season off and on. To be honest with you, a lot of the durability work on the new Cup motor has been done with unleaded fuel already, so we're not really concerned with it."

As an avid fan of Michael Waltrip, this was certainly music to my ears !!! I am extremely excited about the beginning of the 2007 NASCAR Season - - - -and seeing the Toyota Camry on the race track ! ! ! Is it February 2007 yet ? ? ?

Racing Birthdays Of The Week (Oct. 22nd to Oct. 28th)

10/22 Ed Dybalski, Milan Garrett & Rick Benjamin

10/23 Humpy Wheeler

10/24 Dave Blaney, Patrick Lawler, Jim France, Brian Vickers, Tracy Leslie & Jeff Price

10/25 Ward Burton, Jon Wood, Taylor Lane Stricklin

10/26 Jim Pardue

10/27 Robin Miller, Dick Trickle, Tommy Baldwin, Jr. & Richard Brickhouse

10/28 Joe Ruttman & Debrah Renshaw

Happy Birthday to one and all ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

That's it for now. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy the races @ Atlanta Motor Speedway. Don't forget to tighten them seat belts on your recliners one more time. We could be in for a WILD ride, as The Chase for the Nextel Cup continues !!!

The Wal-NutsManiac

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

My Kudos For The Week ! ! !

Michael Curtis Waltrip - - - For his second place finish in the Dollar General 300, Busch Series Race last week at Charlotte. Way to go Mikey and your entire crew!!!

Kasey Kahne - - - Kasey beat Jimmie Johnson by 1.624 seconds, in the Bank of America 500. This is Kahne's series-high sixth victory of the season. I guess Lowe's Motor Speedway is "Kasey's House" now, eh?

Darrell Waltrip - - - Darrell was inducted into the North Carolina Motorsports Hall of Fame on Wednesday night, Ocotober 11, 2006. Darrell said, :I have to tell you, that was pretty neat! I can't imagine there being to many more Halls of Fame that Darrell hasn't been inducted into !!! Congratulations DW !!!

Kevin "Happy" Harvick - - - For winning the Busch Series Championship four weeks early !!! Now Mrs. Kevin "Happy" Harvick can really go shopping, right DeLana ??? Congratulations to Kevin, he has just set a new record for NASCAR, since this has never been done before. Personally I'm pulling for him winning both Championships in the same year. GO KEVIN !!!

I'm Shocked ! ! !

Kurt Busch's qualifying time was disallowed because the right-rear shock on the "Blue Duce" Dodge from Penske's Racing stable did not conform with the NASCAR rules, according to Jim Hunter, NASCAR's Vice-President of Corporate Communications. Busch qualified third fastest, but started 42nd when the Green Flag fell, Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

What is Jeffey Pooh Whinning about NOW ? ? ?

I personally think that Mr. Jeffey needs to get a life and quit the whinning, we have all had more than ENOUGH whine !!! I find it rather humorous that when bump-drafting is to his advantage, he loves bump-drafting, but when it works against him then he cries fowl. Gordon now calls for NASCAR to reduce bump-drafting. Gordon is again ADAMANT about halting the practice of bump-drafting. Here's a quote from Mr. Gordon for you to consider. "If NASCAR doesn't stop bump-drafting, then those things are going to continue to happen. They are not doing anything about bump-drafting. Because the track had more grip, the cars were more under control, they thought, well, OK, it's OK to do it." Okay, so which is it Jeffey, do you want bump-drafting reduced or halted?? My suggestion to Jeffey is this - - - YOU get a grip, Dude !!!

Does Anyone Remember Jerry Nadeau ? ? ?

Jerry Nadeau made 177 starts in NASCAR's Premier Series, capturing one win, nine Top-Five finishes and 19 Top-Ten finishes. He drove for some of NASCAR's top teams, including Petty Enterprises and Hendrick Motorsports. Before his NASCAR Cup Series career begain in 1997, he excelled in other racing series. This driver from Danbury, Conn., began racing go-karts at age 4 and finished second in a kart race on ice at St. Petersburg, Russia in 1992. He was the World Karting Association Gold Cup Champion for three years (1988 to 1990) and he captured the World Karting Association Grand National Title in 1991.

Jerry will be instructing in the Endurance Karting's Race School to be held at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Nadeau and the other talented instructors will teach lucky students both in the classroom and on the track in an exciting learning environment. The school will be held November 11th and 12th. Way to go, Jerry. We miss you and wish you the very best !!!

Racing Birthdays For This Week (Oct. 15th thru Oct. 21st)

10-15 Roland Wlodyka, Red Farmer & Chris Economaki

10-16 Mark Petty, Mae Beaty & Tim Packman

10-17 Chocolate Myers, Doug Randolph & Tim Kendall

10-18 Bart Creasman, Edward Adamczyk, Sr. & Billy Myers

10-19 Brian Rose, Tom Wilsey, Mark Dyer & Lisa Price

10-20 Fred Wanke, Wally McCarty & Clifford Allison

10-21 Pete Wright & David Gebhardt

Happy Birthday To Each And Every One Of You ! ! !

That's all I have for now. Have a Great Week and Enjoy the Races in Martinsville this weekend. Pull them belts tight one more time cause we are off for another wild ride in NASCAR as The Chase continues !!! Good Luck to all of your favorite "Chasers" ! ! !


The Wal-NutzManiac