Forum Activity for @dave-fulton

It's Day 2 of Multi-Car 2013 Model Test - JPM "Happily Surprised" with New Lightweight Vehicle

Current NASCAR

and, more coverage of the the two-day test of 2013 models:

New Sprint Cup Cars Hit The Track At Texas Motor Speedway
Info Manager | , RacinToday.com Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Juan Pablo Montoya tested a camouflaged 2013 Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway on Tuesday.

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup cars took to the track again on Tuesday and Wednesday and they continue to get good reviews from the drivers.

This weeks tests are being held at Texas Motor Speedway. Doing the driving are Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Paul Menard and Juan Pablo Montoya, who tested Goodyear Eagles on the next generation cars that debut next season.

In addition to new looks, the 2013 cars will feature different specifications as weight will be removed and shifted.

Moving into 2013 weve worked hand in hand with Goodyear and their engineers to get a plan together to build tires specifically for this new race car and optimize the grip, said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. We have built this car with the mindset that we are going after more of a mechanical grip and reduce some of the aero dependencies of the car for 2013. This test at Texas is actually our very first test with multiple cars with the new aero package.

Future tests at Phoenix International Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 23-24 and Nov. 6-7, respectively.

The 1.5-mile track at Texas provided the first 1.5-mile proving ground for the new Chevrolet SS, Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry models.

I think its definitely headed in the right direction, 100 percent, Biffle said. Theyve taken weight out of the car, which I think was definitely the right move. Basically what were working on is getting more mechanical grip and having the car not be so aero dependent.

NASCAR has worked with Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota to develop the next generation of race cars that will make their debut during Speedweeks 2013 at Daytona International Speedway. The new race cars are designed to mirror their production counterparts in appearance.

Its going to look really, really cool, Montoya said. Im excited. If youre a fan and you like a certain car, youre really going to fall in love with it watching a race. And you can really relate to it more than before.

It's Day 2 of Multi-Car 2013 Model Test - JPM "Happily Surprised" with New Lightweight Vehicle

Current NASCAR

Oct 9, 10:52 PM EDT

NASCAR 1st multicar test with '13 cars, new aero

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- NASCAR is having its first multicar test with the 2013 Sprint Cup models and new aero package.

The two-day test at Texas started Tuesday, with 100 pounds removed off the right side and 60 pounds off the left side of the cars. It is also part of a test with Goodyear tires built specifically for the new cars to optimize grip.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, says the cars were built to get more mechanical grip and reduce the aero dependency.

Juan Pablo Montoya was "happily surprised" with the reduced downforce. He says the car slid around a little bit, but wasn't unpredictable and didn't do anything strange.

The new Cup cars for Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota look more like their passenger car counterparts.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

October 9, 1983 - The King Ruined My Surprise Birthday Party at CMS

Stock Car Racing History

I've got 5 Wrangler pit crew shirts and I let LaVerne Zachary have one to display. Texas Jeans on the King's car, but Wrangler apparel on the King's crew. Can't judge a book by its cover!

Thanks for the birthday wishes, Dennis.

October 9, 1983 - The King Ruined My Surprise Birthday Party at CMS

Stock Car Racing History

Thanks, Chase and all. My girls called this morning. One said she was doing what they suggest on the television news... calling her elderly parent to check in!

October 9, 1983 - The King Ruined My Surprise Birthday Party at CMS

Stock Car Racing History

I have found out in the past year listening to our Tuesday night Racing Through History "Goat Rodeo" broadcasts, that our broadcast team member Hugh Overcash, who worked at Charlotte with Jay Howard Events, is good friends with Larry Heffner and his wife, and, in fact, Larry got Hugh his first job at the speedway.

October 9, 1983 - The King Ruined My Surprise Birthday Party at CMS

Stock Car Racing History

I guess Junior wanted to save that motor, unlike the infamous one DW clutched for him in The Winston at CMS.

October 9, 1983 - The King Ruined My Surprise Birthday Party at CMS

Stock Car Racing History

On October 9, 1983, Richard Petty scored a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway that has become a significant part of racing history and legend.

In so doing, he spoiled the only surprise birthday party ever thrown for me.

Folks like our RR member, TMC have chronicled what happened surrounding the King at Charlotte that Sunday afternoon much better than I could ever hope to recap it. Here is a link to his Bench Racing from the Volunteer State post with the complete story, including many photos:

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-9-this-day-in-petty-history.html

It was determined that day that Richard's winning car had a motor exceeding the permissible displacement, as well as the wrong tires mounted on one side of the car when it arrived in Victory Lane. The resulting fallout including points and money penalties led Richard away from Petty Enterprises and over to Mike Curb's operation, where he'd score his 200th victory the following season.

The following day, Oct. 10, was my 35th birthday, and unbeknownst to me, a surprise birthday party had been arranged for me immediately following the race in the Wrangler V.I.P. suite we maintained at Charlotte. The affair had been arranged by our caterer, Jane Hogan, who'd been married to Larry Hogan, onetime a part owner of the Rockingham track.

Jane always had wonderful food and was also the official caterer for all UNOCAL/Union Oil Co. functions.

Jane also always had great hostesses she provided in my V.I.P. suites. They were invariably nice, pretty and polite. One who I always remember was the wife of Larry Hefner, at the time the jack man on Hal Needham's Skoal Bandit #33 driven by Harry Gant. You read today about all the athletes on pit road. Well, we had athletes back in day, too. Before his stint on the Gant crew, Larry, a Charlotte native, from 1972-1975 had played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers - a not too shabby resume.

We really did have the surprise birthday party and celebrated and many of the guests had left before NASCAR announced there were problems with the #43. Long after all the guests had left, I holed up in the press box, located immediately adjacent to NASCAR Control at the time. Bill France, Jr. and Richard Petty were in there together for ages. Then they'd go down to the garage. Then they'd come back to NASCAR Control.

It was many hours past dark when Bill France, Jr. came to the Charlotte press box and announced the ruling. I no longer remember what Richard had to say.

Anyhow, I guess if I had to have my surprise party upstaged, who better to do it than The King!

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

NASCAR Hall of Famer Bud Moore on Racing Through History

Stock Car Racing History

Jeff, please tell Bud that Joyce & I said hello.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Bud Moore on Racing Through History

Stock Car Racing History

My racing hero.

OMG... They're Going TOPLESS at County Line Raceway ... Sinners All... Call Rev. Stagger

Local and Regional Short Track Racing

From Elm City, NC comes this news:

Inaugural Roger Matthews Memorial 125 Benefiting Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

County Line Raceway is pleased to announce that the October 27th race will be the Inaugural Roger Matthews Memorial 125 benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We will be featuring the Topless Late Models running 49 door banging laps in memory of famed Late Model driver Roger Matthews!

All 5 classes will be running this event, giving the fans tons of hot racing action.

We would like to fill the grandstands with pink!! Each person through the gate with a pink shirt, $1 from your admission will go to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation! We will also have a balloon sale & release for survivors and in memory of a friend or loved one. These pink and white balloons will be $1 each and we will have an area set up with markers for you to write a message on the balloon for the release. This will be a simultaneous action at intermission and we ask that everyone participate to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Bring the kids out in their best Halloween costumes! We will have a costume contest that our points leaders will judge! Prizes will be awarded for the winner in each of the following groups: 7 & under, 8-12.

Last but not least, we will be offering lap sponsorship for the Topless Late Model race. These laps are $10 each and can be in memory of, support of or recognition of anyone you know who has or is suffering from breast cancer. This money will go directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to further their mission of awareness of breast cancer. If you are interested in sponsoring a lap. Please let us know. You may respond here or send us a private message. Your lap will be honored as each lap will be called out the night of the race. Please list the lap you want to sponsor and any information you want stated when your lap is mentioned.

We are also coordinating a cornhole tournament October 27th. It will be held in the spectator parking lot before the gates open. We are in the process of working out the details and will update asap!

Come on guys & gals, lets get those laps sponsored!!! Fight Like A Girl against Breast Cancer with County Line Raceway!

The late Roger Matthews at Wilson County Speedway in 1975 - Tim Hamm photo

Note: Roger, of the Rocky Mount, NC area, was a former winner of the famed Southern Late Model 200 at Wilson.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:09:31PM