ASA Northwest Tour photo |
Pacific Coast Motorsports |
Skerlong qualifies 3rd for Edmonton opener
Posted at 7:28 pm by Scott Whitmore
I pieced the following together from a bunch of press releases I received:
"EDMONTON, Alberta — Four for four.
Atlantic Championship driver Carl Skerlong of Mukilteo, Wash., kept his streak of strong qualifying runs alive Thursday with a lap of 1 minute, 6.302 seconds, good enough for third-place starting spot in the first race of a Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda doubleheader at the Rexall Edmonton Indy.
Skerlong has started from a fourth-or-better position for all four Atlantic races this season. He heads into Friday’s race looking for his third straight podium finish and his first career series victory.
“Being back at Edmonton, first of all, is awesome,” Skerlong said. “It’s a great place to race. It’s really an unusual track. To come back after another month-long break and be in the top three is definitely a good feeling.” ... [Read More]
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More Washington 500 info
Posted at 10:08 pm by Scott Whitmore
I have posted a preview of the Northwest Tour's portion of Saturday's Washington 500, the Evergreen State Fair 150. You can read it here (CLICK HERE).
Wait, let's be completely correct here. It is the American Speed Association Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment.
Whew -- that's a mouthful. Or I guess, while I'm typing it, a finger-full.
Anyway.
I'm not sure I'll get to a preview for Evergreen Speedway's Super Stock and Bomber division races. I was unexpectedly called in to my regular part-time job as a copy editor at this here fine paper (and don't you hate it when that happens?), so let me pass some information that I received from Evergreen. ... [Read More]
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Denny Stremple |
Washington 500 previews
Posted at 12:58 pm by Scott Whitmore
This Saturday's race at Evergreen Speedway is billed as the "Greatest day-into-night of racing in the Northwest."
Yep, that means it's time for the Washington 500.
Five hundred laps of action on the big track, the five-eighths mile oval. The NASCAR Camping World Series West will run 150 laps, as will the ASA Northwest Tour and Evergreen's own Super Stocks, and the Bomber division will race for 50 laps.
My preview of the Camping World race, centered on Auburn, Wash., driver Jeff Barkshire is here: (CLICK HERE).
The official NASCAR Camping World Series West preview is posted as a .pdf file here: (CLICK HERE). ... [Read More]
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Little of this, little of that
Posted at 11:22 pm by Scott Whitmore
We had a quiet weekend, didn't we?
Took care of some yardwork, got to spend some time relaxing in the pool (don't jump to conclusions ... we have a kiddie wading pool for our granddaughter), ate too much and enjoyed the sunshine.
Well, enough of that. Time to get back to "work."
In the next day or so I'll be posting my preview of this weekend's Washington 500 at Evergreen Speedway, so be on the lookout for that. ... [Read More]
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Courtesy Pacific Coast Motorsports |
Take a lap with Carl Skerlong
Posted at 12:18 pm by Scott Whitmore
Carl Skerlong, from Mukilteo, Wash., races in the Atlantic Championship series. This Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, Skerlong will compete in a doubleheader in Edmonton.
Skerlong is currently fifth -- and is the top American driver -- in the Atlantic standings.
The following is taken from a press release I received today from Pacific Coast Motorsports, Skerlong's team. ... [Read More]
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Sam Bisset, Fire-Down Graphics |
Your chance to catch Tayler Malsam in action
Posted at 9:56 am by Scott Whitmore
Friday, July 18 is your chance to watch ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Tayler Malsam in action, live on SPEED channel.
The 19-year-old Malsam, originally from Sammamish, Wash., but now living in Mill Creek, Wash., will be competing in the ARCA RE/MAX Kentucky 150 from Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.
Qualifying will be broadcast at 1:30 p.m. with the race televised live at 5 p.m. and replayed on tape at 10:30 p.m. -- all on SPEED channel.
Malsam began racing sprint cars with Rudeen Racing from Monroe, Wash., just three years ago. He was signed to a driver development contract late last year by Cunningham Motorsports.
Cunningham is based in Statham, Ga., and has two cars in the ARCA RE/MAX series: Malsam's No. 4 and the No. 45 driven by Michael Phelps. ... [Read More]
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NASCAR photo |
Sneak peek at Jeff Burton's 2009 ride
Posted at 12:10 pm by Scott Whitmore
During one of the extended caution periods for wreck clean-up at Evergreen Speedway last Saturday, track announcer Terry Buell and guest announcer Scott Ellsworth spent some time catching the crowd up on the lastest NASCAR news.
Because it was N C Machinery Night -- N C being the authorized Caterpillar dealer for Western and Central Washington and Alaska -- one item they touched on was the movement of Cat sponsorship from Dave Blaney to Jeff Burton at Richard Childress Racing.
One of the two -- Buell or Ellsworth -- said they wondered what Burton's car would look like. Well, here you go, straight from NASCAR. ... [Read More]
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Getty Images for NASCAR |
What we learned: Back home
Posted at 11:11 pm by Scott Whitmore
I did it.
My Grand Slam of Prognostication has been completed.
The victory of Kyle Busch in Saturday’s LifeLock 400 at Chicagoland was the final piece of the puzzle as NASCAR’s Sprint Cup was the only series left that I needed to pick a winner for.
I’m as surprised as the rest of you, believe me. I fully expected to go without picking a Cup winner ... or to go much deeper into the season before getting one right.
But one thing I found out is that my Mini Slam of Prognostication — picking the winners at Evergreen Speedway — which I thought I had completed, is in fact not yet done. Somehow, I thought I had picked a Super Figure Eight winner, but while fact checking for the recaps below I found out I had not.
Busch’s seventh Cup win of the season also helped me to jump up to No. 33 — just 12 points behind the leader — in the NASCAR Media Race to the Chase game. ... [Read More]
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Courtesy NHRA |
NHRA drag racing returning to Pacific Raceways
Posted at 11:24 am by Scott Whitmore
The racers of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) go fast.
Seriously fast.
Not the elegantly smooth, faster-than-it-looks speed of an IndyCar race, where 225 mph is the top end.
The time and speed records for a quarter-mile of asphalt are 4.428 seconds and 336.15 mph, set in 2006 and 2005 respectively by five-time champion Tony Schumacher in an 8,000 horsepower, nitromethane-burning Top Fuel dragster with a supercharged, 500 cubic-inch motor.
And loud?
When the light turns green, the roar of two drag racers jumping off the line is so loud you won’t be able to hear yourself screaming.
It’s something every racing fan should experience at least once and your chance is here.
Featuring top names like Schumacher and father-and-daughter racers John and Ashley Force, the Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals returns July 18-20 to Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash. ... [Read More]
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Courtesy Thomas Vick/Evergreen Speedway |
Zaretzke gets 1st win of year at Evergreen Speedway
Posted at 1:56 am by Scott Whitmore
Maybe Evergreen Speedway had the wrong sponsor for Saturday night’s racing program on the three-eighths mile oval.
On NC Machinery Night at the Monroe, Wash., track, defending Super Stock division champion John Zaretzke recorded his first main win of the year and 2007 Mini-Stock division rookie of the year Kris Harriss survived two shootouts to get his first win of the season.
Frank Cowgill won a time-shortened Bomber division main, Nick Gunderson came in first in the Super Figure Eight main and Bill Wade won the Stinger Eight main.
The evening’s sponsor easily could have been Sky Valley Towing for the sheer number of wrecks that had to be towed off the track.
For complete results — which are unofficial at this point — (CLICK HERE). I'll post my Evergreen Speedway notebook later Sunday. ... [Read More]
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Getty Images for NASCAR |
Fearless predictions: Back Home
Posted at 10:47 am
Let me start with an apology -- I gave you a bad start time for the "Crashes" episode of History Channel's Modern Marvels, featuring the Atlantic Championship race team of Mukilteo's Carl Skerlong. I used the wrong Web site, and told you it would be on a 6 p.m. Thursday ... in fact it was on at 9 p.m. and then repeated at 1 a.m. Friday.
I've checked and have not found when it will repeat. All I can say beyond "sorry" is keep checking those local listings if you're interested in seeing this episode. ... [Read More]
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Racing on The History Channel
Posted at 1:58 pm by Scott Whitmore
Pacific Coast Motorsports, located in Oxnard, Calif., will be featured on Thursday's episode of The History Channel’s hit show “Modern Marvels” at 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. Friday.
Mukilteo, Wash., racer Carl Skerlong is a member of PCM's Atlantic Championship team, which will be in the episode, entitled "Crashes."
“Crashes” takes an in-depth look at the safety innovations in open-wheel racing. Filmed at the Champ Car finale at the 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the episode prominently features the Pacific Coast Motorsports teams and partners, and includes interviews with PCM team wwner Tyler Tadevic, PCM IndyCar driver Mario Dominguez and PCM Atlantic driver Frankie Muniz, Skerlong's teammate and former TV star of "Malcom in the Middle." ... [Read More]
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Associated Press |
Meet Greg Biffle on July 19
Posted at 9:15 pm by Scott Whitmore
Grabbed the following from www.bifflemotorsports.com:
Meet Greg Biffle at Sunset Speedway, Banks, Oreg. July 19th
Greg Biffle will be at Sunset Speedway on July 19th again this year. Come out to meet Greg, get an autograph and watch him race a Dirt Late Model. VIP and advanced tickets are being sold now, order them online or at Biffle Motorsports in Vancouver. You can also purchase a standard ticket at the gate. Don't miss out, it was great last year and will be even better this year. Purchase your merchandise at the track or at Biffle Motorsports. ... [Read More]
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Associated Press |
Courtesy Thomas Vick/Evergreen Speedway |
Good reads and NASCAR goodies
Posted at 2:00 pm by Scott Whitmore
Tony Stewart will be released from his contract by Joe Gibbs Racing (CLICK HERE). I can't say this is surprising ... with Joey Logano in the stable, JGR will have three young, exciting racers under contract. Although Logano may take some time to adjust to Cup and the CoT, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch will keep JGR in the elite ranks even without Smoke.
Back in April, I sat down with former Evergreen Speedway promoter Mickey Beadle as he was leaving, then with new promoter Lex Johnson. Recently I had the chance to talk to Lex and Danni Johnson at the midway point of the season to see how their first year at Evergreen was going. Read about it here: (CLICK HERE). ... [Read More]
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Associated Press |
What we learned: Happy Fourth
Posted at 12:41 pm by Scott Whitmore
Yowza. Did you see the end of that Cup race at Daytona?
In the overhead views of the final laps, everywhere I looked there were cars banging and bumping … those Cup drivers must have thought they were back at their local short tracks.
You know I’m against finishing a race under yellow: had NASCAR’s ruled allowed for a finish under green I’m not sure Kyle Busch or Carl Edwards would have won given the way the February race went.
And I know you're tired of hearing me say it (or should that be 'reading me type it'?), but seeing that close racing really reminded me of what I get to see most Saturday nights out at Evergreen Speedway. ... [Read More]
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Courtesy Fire-Down Productions |
Skagit Speedway rained out
Posted at 9:35 pm by Scott Whitmore
I received the following Saturday night from Skagit:
"Skagit Speedway rained out on Saturday, July 5.
The Les Schwab Mid Season Championships and Fireworks Extravaganza have been rescheduled for Saturday, July 12.
We thank all our fans for braving through the bad weather" ... [Read More]
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Getty Images for NASCAR |
Fearless predictions: Happy 4th
Posted at 7:51 pm by Scott Whitmore
Okay, so last week I told you I was taking part in NASCAR's "Race to the Chase" Media contest.
I picked Matt Kenseth to win in New Hampshire, and he ended up 18th. That put me in the lower half of the field of 116 media types. Specifically, I'm at No. 76.
But the thing to remember is this: we were only allowed to pick a driver once, so there are big blocs of ties as everyone who picked the same driver got the same number of points. (Note: There were even two who must be Tony Raines or Marcos Ambrose fans because they ended up with 0 points after those two drivers didn't make the field.)
Things should start to clear up in the next couple of weeks, though. ... [Read More]
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Courtesy Debra Bailey Trail |
Busy weekend, NASCAR goodies
Posted at 10:57 am by Scott Whitmore
Lots of news and updates in the local and national/international racing sections.
Check 'em out and pick where you're going to spend the holiday weekend ... on the couch watching the Cupsters duel at Daytona, or in the stands watching your friends and neighbors racing on the dirt or asphalt.
On Saturday, Evergreen Speedway will be hosting Supermoto racers in a qualifer for the X-Games ... those races are slated to be televised by ESPN2 at a later date.
Skagit Speedway is holding its Midseason Championship on Saturday (CLICK HERE) complete with fireworks.
Thanks to Debra Bailey Trail for today's photo, which shows Evergreen Speedway bomber division driver Nikki Bristol living the dream while sitting in a showcar replica of Vancouver, Wash., native Greg Biffle's Sprint Cup Ford Fusion. ... [Read More]
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Courtesy www.kevinhamlin.com |
Kevin Hamlin not affected by shutdown of No. 40 team
Posted at 4:53 pm by By Scott Whitmore
Snohomish driver Kevin Hamlin was not affected by Tuesday’s announcement that Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates Racing would be shutting down Dario Franchitti’s No. 40 NASCAR Sprint Cup program for the remainder of the season (CLICK HERE).
Hamlin, a developmental driver with CGFSR, was at home when the news broke. Hamlin said he called the shop and was informed his job was not in jeopardy, “at least not yet.”
Although he won the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar series title in 2007, in his first NASCAR season Franchitti has struggled, ranking 41st in the driver standings with a 22nd at Martinsville as his best finish.
Ganassi let driver David Stremme go at the end of the 2007 season, in part due to a lack of sponsorship. He had hoped — in vain — that Franchitti, who is married to the actress Ashley Judd, would attract more sponsors. ... [Read More]
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Associated Press |
What we learned: East Coast
Posted at 9:43 pm by Scott Whitmore
Sorry it took so long to get this posted ... someday maybe I'll tell you a sea story about today.
Anyway, how about that race? Wasn't it great seeing the leaders go side-by-side for lap after lap.
No, not Sunday's snoozer of a Cup race. I'm talking about the super stock feature race at Evergreen Speedway on Saturday night. Seriously, it may be the CoT, it may be the tires, but there is several times more action on our local short track in Monroe, Wash., than NASCAR's top series this season.
It doesn't say much when the Juan Pablo Montoya-Kyle Busch dustup and Jamie McMurray running through a pitting Dale Earnhardt Jr. are the highlights.
My opinion? Montoya's frustration at all things NASCAR boiled over on Sunday. He may gain some fans for taking a cheap shot at "Bad Boy" Busch, but unless there was something that Busch was doing worse than the replays shown on TNT, Montoya over-reacted -- big-time. ... [Read More]
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Courtesy Thomas Vick/Evergreen Speedway |
Midseason Championship night at Evergreen Speedway
Posted at 1:22 pm by Scott Whitmore
What a great night of racing at Evergreen Speedway!
Jason Fraser and Naima Lang going side-by-side for lap after lap in the super stocks, Kris Harriss squeaking by Dale Creager at the finish line for a third-place trophy in the mini-stocks, and Mark Weedin and John Carlson maintaining their dominance in the mini-stocks and super figure eights, respectively.
You can read more about Saturday's action at Evergreen below.
For complete Evergreen Speedway Midseason Championship results, (CLICK HERE).
My Evergreen Speedway notebook is here (CLICK HERE). ... [Read More]
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Thomas Vick/Evergreen Speedway |
Fearless predictions: East Coast
Posted at 4:19 pm by Scott Whitmore
The Silly Season takes another turn today, as Greg Biffle signed a 3-year extension with Roush-Fenway (CLICK HERE) and the news became official: Casey Mears will not be back at Hendrick in 2009 (CLICK HERE).
Where, oh where, will Tony Stewart land?
By the way, don't forget a showcar replica of Biffle's No. 16 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion will be at Evergreen Speedway from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, thanks to Jackson Hewitt Tax Service regional manager (and bomber division driver) Nikki Bristol. ... [Read More]
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Archives:
Schedules:
2008 Evergreen Speedway
2008 Skagit Speedway
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck
2008 Indy Racing League
2008 NHRA
2008 Formula One
Local racing:
• Northwest Tour returns to Evergreen Speedway Jul. 23
• Barkshire looking foward to Washington 500 Jul. 22
• NASCAR Camping World West preview: Washington 500 Jul. 22
• Kim Lang wins Evergreen Speedway Mini-Stock main Jul. 21
• Crockett ends Northwest Speedweek with victory in Elma Jul. 20
• Lewis becomes first to repeat as Montana 200 winner Jul. 20
• Montana 200 opening night a thriller Jul. 19
• Lasoski wins Evergreen State Sprint Challenge opener Jul. 19
• ASCS Northwest points for Speed Week, series updated Jul. 18
• Crockett wins third straight race of Northwest Speed Week in Banks Jul. 18
• Crockett wins Speed Week night 3 after bump with ‘The Dude’ Jul. 17
• Crockett wins second night of Speed Week at Cottage Grove Jul. 16
• Allard wins NW Speed Week opener in Medford Jul. 14
• NHRA's top guns heading to Pacific Raceways Jul. 14
• Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals Fact Sheet Jul. 14
National and international:
• Tracy back on track for IRL's Edmonton race Jul. 24
• IndyCar notes: Patrick not apologetic about confrontation Jul. 24
• Motorsport boss Mosley wins suit against tabloid Jul. 24
• NASCAR squeezes horsepower down on Toyota motors Jul. 23
• Auto racing schedule for July 25-27 Jul. 23
• Ferrari searching for answers after German GP Jul. 23
• ALMS fueler transferred to Indy burn center Jul. 23
• Jeremy McGrath catching fire as off-road racer Jul. 23
• NASCAR's Hornish hoping for bounce back at Brickyard Jul. 23
• Auto racing notes: Busch continues to reap wins, honors Jul. 23
• New owner Tadevic playing with IndyCar's big boys Jul. 23
• NASCAR's Newman, Stewart play coy on potential partnership Jul. 22
• NASCAR news and notes: Sprint Cup & Nationwide Series Jul. 22
• Vettel fastest in F1 testing in Spain Jul. 22
• NASCAR's Kevin Harvick wins Maine late-model race Jul. 21
• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series update - O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis Jul. 21
• NHRA Countdown newsletter Jul. 21
• NASCAR's driver-go-round should heat up Jul. 21
• NASCAR denies DEI appeal on No. 1 Cup car infractions Jul. 21
• NASCAR Sprint Cup leaders Jul. 21
• Hamilton wins German GP Jul. 20
• Bartone wins Funny Car for 1st time at NHRA Nationals Jul. 20
• NASCAR's Harvick delayed running in Maine late-model race Jul. 20
• Italy's Rossi wins MotoGP's US Grand Prix Jul. 20
• ALMS Fueler injured at Mid-Ohio Jul. 20
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