The Green Flag Begins In Florida

After living here for so many years, I've noticed one certain thing about motorsports , and the state of Florida. Just about every series in North America, opens their respective series here...just think about it.

• The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for the Grand AM Rolex Series started this past January in Daytona Beach...
• The Daytona 500, for NASCAR starts a few weeks later in the same place
• The AMA Superbikes started there in Daytona as well, during bike week
• The 12 Hours of Sebring Starts Tomorow, in Sebring, FL for the American Le Mans Series, with the SCCA Speed World Challenge & Star Mazda Series
  

and a few weeks after that?

The Indy Racing League / Champ Car World Series Opens their season in Homestead, followed by a race in the streets of St. Petersburg a week later. I know its obviously because of weather reasons..I mean, there's no way the IRL can start at Indianapolis in March, as much as Tony George may love that idea..but usually at this time of year the only thing running at Indy is a snow plow. same goes for every other series and track out there north of Daytona.

and knowing that alone makes me kinda happy, at least for a brief time before spring comes for the rest of the country, the ice thaws, and racing resumes in other parts of the country & Canada, that I can see the best racing here in the sunshine state, and speaking of which - I will not be posting anything here tomorrow, because I will actually be attending the 12 Hours of Sebring for the very first time ever in my life. I had a chance to go to an ALMS event in Miami back in 2002, but circumstances held me back from going. and I refuse to be denied. Also heading down to Homestead for the IRL season opener as well, in 2 weeks time. Peace Out, everybody

Photo Credit :
http://picasaweb.google.com/qqqracing/Motorsport

Newman Gets The Gold.....

To be honest I thought Tony Stewart was going to win Sunday's Daytona 500, but boy, was I wrong...Here's the tale of the tape:


Tony lead on the last lap, went down low on the inside, after blocking Newman for several laps, Kyle Busch didn't draft Tony, and Kurt Busch bump drafted with teammate Newman, to take the win. As sad as I am for Toyota, coming so close, but to end up falling short of recieving their firt ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points victory ,but they do have a podium finish at least.....

but I'm happy for Roger Penske, Newman's Car owner, and a man that has won the Indianapolis 500 a record 14 times as a car owner (the last driver was Sam Hornish, Jr. who also ironically started in this 500), who has made a little bit of history here , by having first victory, as well as a 1-2 finish at the Daytona 500. So at least a litte bit of history was made during the golden anniversary, after all. Could this be the start of another record attempt at another 500? Anything's possible in motorsports






Photos: Courtesy of Reuters.Com

The Great American Race Turns 50

That's Right, as today the country celebrates Lincoln's & Washington's birthdays on this Presidents Day weekend, the Daytona 500 will celebrate its very own birthday, turning 50. All throughout the month of February, there have been many stories leading up to the golden anniversary of the great american race. The biggest one is of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who is with a new team - Hendricks Motorsports, and is winner of the Budwiser Shootout, and the first race of the Gatorade Duels at Daytona. he has been right near the front of the pack, but Toyota is not too far behind him. Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin, drivers for Joe Gibbs Racing, powered by Toyota, have also been towards the front. Tony has won Saturday's NASCAR's Nationwide Series (formerly the NASCAR Busch Series) Camping World 300 at Daytona. His teammate, Hamlin, has won the second race of Thursday's Gatorade Duels at Daytona, along with finishing a close second behind Stewart, at the 300.

Toyota, being their second year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Formerly Nextel Cup) is doing much better than I even expected. Finishing higher up in the field, and actually even winning. I believe, to the hatred of many Fans that hate imports runnint in what's called "An American Sport" (ironically, a driver once used a jaguar to race in NASCAR, in the early beginnings) will have a very good chance of winning the 500. If they can accomplish this, they will be the first ever foreign born manufacturer to ever win the Daytona 500, and possibly even a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Dale Jarrett, Multiple winner of the 500, and driver of the #44 UPS Toyota, by Miachel Waltrip Racing, will be retiring this year and fans, including this one, will be sad to see him go. David Reutimann will take over for him, at this year's Food City 500 at Bristol, Tennessee

The other big issue...The Car of Tomorrow. will it be safe for Daytona - a track, and a race, notorious for "the big one", and close, tight 3 and 4 wide restrictor plate racing. we'll find out later today. Stay tuned for more info from The Hot Lap.