NHRA NEWS: GIRL POWER ON DISPLAY AS NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES HEADS TO AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS

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GIRL POWER ON DISPLAY AS NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES HEADS TO AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — While much hype has been given to a certain female stock car racer for posting a top 10 finish at the Daytona 500, it has been business as usual in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Two female racers – Courtney Force and Erica Enders-Stevens – have posted back-to-back victories to open the 2013 season in the world’s fastest motorsport.

It is the first time in NHRA history that two women have opened a season with consecutive victories.

Force, 24, powered her 8,000-horsepower Funny Car to break all of her male competitor’s hearts – including Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca and Ron Capps – and win at the season-opening Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., on Valentine’s Day weekend.

Last weekend in Phoenix, Enders-Stevens, 29, rallied to take the Pro Stock victory over tough as nails veteran driver Mike Edwards in the final round. Enders-Stevens used a reaction time advantage to beat event top qualifier Edwards in the 200 mph factory hot rod category. Read Full Article →

TV TIMES for Feb 26

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Jimmie Johnson was the surprise winner of the Daytona 500 to everyone but himself

By Lou Modestino

The Daytona 500 became another coup for Jimmie Johnson, his second 500 win. “We had a great fast car and our game plan worked very well. So now everyone can buy a Chevy!” he exclaimed sporting a wide grin in victory lane. JJ also wished all fans who were injured by flying debris at the finish of Saturday’s Nationwide event “a speedy recovery.” Sunday’s win for JJ was his 61st Sprint Cup victory.

Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus was all smiles too when he said, “The Daytona 500 is a great thing for us. Being able to do this race today pleases me. Not bad for a guy from Rockford Speedway (Illinois)!” Meanwhile Fox color analyst Darrell Waltrip seemed surprised at JJ’s performance. “He had limited practice at Daytona. You just can’t ever count out the strategy of Chad Knaus.” And Hollywood Hotel announcer Chris Myers quipped, “The Hendrick Team is tops!” Read Full Article →

NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH for February 23 to 25

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By Lou Modestino

People’s United Bank will usher in the summer stock car racing season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT for the second year in a row. The 171 year-old, New England-based financial institution will present the People’s United Bank Memorial Day Special to begin the 2013 Friday night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series schedule on Friday, May 24 at 7:00pm. The headline Bond Auto Parts Modified division will run twin 25-lap features as part of a full card of racing that also includes a holiday fireworks show.

Veteran New York state drivers Leon Gonyo and Ron Proctor each scored in last year’s People’s United Bank Memorial Day Special twin Modified features. Proctor’s victory was the first of a three-win campaign that led to his second-straight Devil’s Bowl Speedway and NASCAR Vermont State Championships. Proctor will return in search of a three-peat, but is expected to be challenged by the likes of Brandon, VT’s Vince Quenneville, Jr., Hunter Bates of Middlebury, VT, Alex Bell of Cambridge, NY, and 2012 Rookie of the Year Joey Roberts of Georgia, VT. Read Full Article →

ECS Snocross News: Valcourt, QC Event Recap

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ECS Snocross

Asselin claims Triple Crown final in Valcourt for East Coast Snocross series,
Presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction
 Wallenstein, Pilotte notch Pro Lite wins

VALCOURT, Quebec (Feb. 18, 2013) — Quebec native Donovan Asselin stole the headlines with a dominant performance last Friday afternoon, winning the high-stakes final round of the inaugural Triple Crown series for Pro and Pro Lite riders in Super Competition Motorsport (SCM) and East Coast Snocross (ECS).

Asselin’s victory was part of Day 1 in the 31st annual Grand Prix Ski-doo de Valcourt, presented by FOX. Finishing second in the Triple Crown Pro final was Corin Todd (Bailey/Hulten Polaris), while Lincoln Lemieux (Lemieux Racing/Ski-doo) filled out the podium in third. Asselin led from start to finish on a very well-prepared Ski-doo.

Read Full Article →

TV TIMES for February 23 to 25

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Sprint Cup drivers trying to adjust to the G6 cars

By Lou Modestino

Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited didn’t really answer any questions about the new G6 car. As a matter of fact, we may not know what the verdict is until after the Thursday Duels and Sunday’s 500. In the meantime, Kevin Harvick seemed to have it all down pat, for now at least, when he held off Greg Biffle coming down to the end of the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway.

Harvick had this to say in victory lane: “I was nervous about the 20 and 14. Rather than talking about being a Lame Duck at RCR, my guys want to win all of the time.” Harvick will leave the RCR Team at the end of the season. In the process, Harvick gave RCR it’s 8th win in the Sprint Unlimited event. Let’s see if he can carry it over into Thursday’s Duels or better still into Sunday’s 500. By the way, Kevin had to be pushed to victory lane because something happened to the car when he was doing those victory donuts! Read Full Article →

NHMS Unveils Wheel and Deal

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New Hampshire Motor Speedway unveiled the Toyota Wheel and Deal Pre-Race Show, an interactive game which will give away $250,000 in prizes to fans before the New Hampshire 300.

NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH for Feb 16 to 18

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By Lou Modestino

Legion Speedway in Wentworth, NH announced a 22 event schedule for 2013. Like a lot of north country tracks over the years, and especially in this recession, things have not been good for the central NH track. Ticket prices will be the same as 2012. The track will go with a Sunday twilight series program.

Sportsman Modifieds along with the 600 cc Mini Sprints, Street Stocks and Outlaw Mini Stocks will be usual weekly card. There will be periodic visits by the Sprint Cars of New England, Granite State Mini Sprints and the Outlaw Dirt Midgets. Legion Speedway’s season will get underway on Sunday, April 28 with a practice session with free admission and ends with the Wingless Sprint Weekend on September 22.

During the season the gates open on Sunday at 2 p.m., hot laps at 4:30 p.m. and the green flag waves at 5 p.m. Admission is a reasonable $10, Juniors and Seniors are $8 and kids 11 and under are free with an accompanying paid admission. A family Pack is $25 with free parking. Read Full Article →

CRAZY HORSE RACING: Taylor Martin Ready To Tackle Late Models

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New Hampshire Teen Testing The Late Model Waters In 2013

SOUTH PARIS, Maine – Taylor Martin raised eyebrows last season in a Legends ride at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but in 2013 the 15-year-old driver from Windham, N.H., will break out a new Late Model in hopes of making her debut in that division.

Martin purchased a Crazy Horse Racing Late Model from Austin Theriault Racing and will test the car during open practice sessions in the spring with an eye on being race-ready later in the season.

“I am so excited for this year. I am ready for it,” said Martin, who became the first and youngest woman ever to finish on the podium in an event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last summer. “I’m really, really excited about being able to move up into these cars. Read Full Article →

ECS Snocross News: Lake George, NY Event Recap

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Todd, Poirier split Pro finals in Lake George for East Coast Snocross series,
Presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction
Pilotte earns second straight sweep in Pro Lite

LAKE GEORGE, NY (Feb. 11, 2013) – Veteran snowmobile racers Corin Todd and Danny Poirier each claimed a Pro final over the weekend, as East Coast Snocross (ECS) completed Round 5 on the 2012-13 schedule in the famed resort town of Lake George.

Todd (Bailey/Hulten Polaris), of Otego, NY, earned his third win of the season in Saturday’s 18-lap battle. Lincoln Lemieux (Lemieux Racing/Ski-doo) grabbed the holeshot, yet Todd blasted his way past to lead lap two and held on to the finish. Poirier slotted into third at the start, moved past Lemieux on lap 11 to take second and crossed the line nine seconds behind his teammate. Lemieux settled for third after a strong effort. Read Full Article →

TV TIMES for Feb 8 to 10

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By Lou Modestino

NASCAR fans are going to get their first 2013 racing fix when the flag officially drops on FOX Sports’ 2013 Speedweeks coverage with the newly named SPRINT UNLIMITED AT DAYTONA. It will be live and in prime time on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by live coverage of DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING, Sunday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET.

There’s a prevailing feeling that the 2013 NASCAR season is going to pivotal year for the Daytona based sanction. The person doing the steering at the helm of NASCAR is Brian France. To date Brian has reversed all of the changes that he made, over the years. It’s now back to square one and pretty much what we had before the shopping bag of changes took place. We have to give Brian some credit for making those changes that the fans complained about the most. In the process, France had to reverse just about everything he thought would grow his product. Read Full Article →