Dick Trickle Will Be Our Guest on The Goat Rodeo
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Two nicer racers were never paired than when Dick Trickle drove for Junie Donlavey.
Forum Activity for @dave-fulton
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Bill France Senior's Reminder to Bill France Jr. Still Valid
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The 2 Bills (France) - 1956 on the beach at Daytona
Bill France Senior's Reminder to Bill France Jr. Still Valid
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Sometimes, as the POTUS did today, the Rules are suspended.
Bill France Senior's Reminder to Bill France Jr. Still Valid
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In June 1998, the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) National Convention was held for the first and to date only time in Richmond, Virginia.
1998 was the 50th Anniversary of NASCAR and the 50th Anniversary of NASCAR racing at Richmond International Raceway. Red Byron won the first-ever NASCAR race in the Commonwealth of Virginia on May 16, 1948 - a NASCAR Modified event on the old 1/2-mile dirt Richmond track.
In 1998 I was the Media Relations Director of Richmond International Raceway and I was approached by the host committee, chaired by the Richmond paper's Sports Editor, inquiring as to whether I might be able to arrange for NASCAR President Bill France, Jr. to deliver the keynote address to a group that had only heard from stick & ball sports execs over the years.
Bill, Jr. (whose father, Bill Sr. used to race open wheel cars at an earlier Richmond Fairgrounds dirt track in the 1930s) graciously agreed to become the first stock car racing personality to address this prestigious group of the top sports editors from all over the country.
One statement made by Mr. France to the convention attendees has long remained in my logbook of referred to quotes. Here's what Bill, Jr. said 14 years ago and to which I am afraid the 3rd generation of Family France has failed to adhere. What do you think?
As reported in the Orlando Sentinel:
France talk - NASCAR president Bill France told the Associated Press Sports Editors convention in Richmond, Va., the sport has to be careful not to abuse its current boom and soaring popularity.
"If we grow too fast, I don't think we are smart enough to handle it," France said. "My father (NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.) used to have a saying, `Too much of almost anything is bad.' "
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
Doc Mattioli to be Honored at NASCAR Hall of Fame
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NASCAR Hall of Fame to display Mattioli contributions
BY Rebecca Kivak (SPECIAL TO TIMES-SHAMROCK)
Published: January 31, 2012
MOUNT POCONO - NASCAR fans from all over can learn about Dr. Joseph "Doc" Mattioli's contributions to the sport as part of an exhibit in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, according to the hall's executive director.
Winston Kelley, head of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., paid his respects to the Pocono Raceway founder on Monday. Mattioli died Thursday at 86 after a lengthy illness.
Kelley said photographs of Mattioli, a member of the hall's nominating committee and voting panel, will be added to the "Honoring Our Legacy" exhibit, which spotlights those individuals who helped build the sport.
In the 1960s, Mattioli built Pocono Raceway on the site of a former spinach farm in the Poconos. Situated between the metropolitan areas of New York and Philadelphia, the track hosted its first NASCAR race in 1974, providing a major boost for the sport outside of its Southern roots.
With the legacy Mattioli leaves behind, Kelley said he thinks the raceway owner could one day be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
"I think that's definitely a possibility," he said.
"The family has agreed to provide us with Doc photographs so we can put them in our 'Honoring Our Legacy' theater so we can remember him now, and then hopefully his time will come," Kelley said.
The exhibit is located on the fourth floor of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.
The 150,000-square foot building opened in May 2010.
Since its inception, the Hall of Fame has inducted three classes of NASCAR legends, five each year. Members of the 2012 class, inducted earlier this month, are Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Richie Evans, Dale Inman and Glen Wood.
Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/sports/nascar-hall-of-fame-to-display-mattioli-contributions-1.1265027#ixzz1m0nyeIz3
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
More Buying/Selling Points Before Daytona Guarantees Additional "500" Slots for "New" Team
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All this buying, selling, awarding, claiming and using NASCAR points earned by other teams and owners has gotten beyond my being able to understand. NASCAR must now have an entire staff and a couple of attorneys devoted to processing claims for owner points distribution.
This is just the latest one I've seen.
Feb 9, 7:23 PM EST
Landon Cassill gets seat with new team
By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Landon Cassill has a job for the Daytona 500 for the first time in his career.
Cassill said Thursday he's been hired to drive for a team that purchased assets and last year's points from the now defunct Red Bull Racing team. Cassill will drive the No. 83 Toyota, he said, and the points Brian Vickers earned in that car last year guarantee Cassill a spot in the first five races of the season.
Cassill said he has a deal with the new team to drive all year.
"It's my first time going into a NASCAR season with a signed deal knowing I'm going to be in the car every week," Cassill said. "It's my first time attempting the Daytona 500 - wait, I am locked into the Daytona 500. That's a pretty big dream came true."
Doug Richert will be the crew chief for the No. 83 team, which is being fielded by investors who had previously backed TRG Motorsports. Cassill said the owners will announce the team name and sponsorship in the coming days.
Cassill has been working the NASCAR garages since he was 17, and five years later, his search for something steady has finally ended. He's made 33 starts in the second-tier Nationwide Series since 2007, and has made 48 Sprint Cup Series starts over the last two seasons. His best finish was 12th at Michigan last season while driving for Phoenix Racing.
Cassill was originally planning to drive a start-and-park car for Front Row Motorsports when the opportunity with this new team was offered to him. Front Row had given him a clause to leave the team if he found a full-time ride.
The opportunity was created when this new team was able to complete a transaction with energy drink company Red Bull, which pulled out of NASCAR after five seasons. The team fielded two cars last year, Kasey Kahne ended the year 14th in the standings, and Brian Vickers was 25th.
The new team now owns the points for both entries, and could field a second car alongside Cassill in the Feb. 26 season-opening Daytona 500.
Former TRG general manager Harry McMullen will have the same role with the new team. The team is working out of Randy Moss Motorsports shop in Statesville, N.C., and will get its engines from Triad.
"I've got a lot of faith in this deal. These guys want to get to the race track, want to do it right, pay their bills and they really want to have a good reputation," Cassill said. "They want to race and they want to do it right. They got away from that (at TRG) and have moved on and created a pretty neat opportunity."
TRG Motorsports ran three seasons in NASCAR, but was forced to start-and-park at times. TRG shut down its Sprint Cup team this winter, and owner Kevin Buckler is not involved in this new team.
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
Martinsville Teams with "Lt. Dan" to Assist Wounded Warrior
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Martinsville Speedway, Gary Sinise to help SWVA wounded warrior
By: Chris Whitley | Richmond Times Dispatch
Published: February 09, 2012
MARTINSVILLE, VA --
NASCAR, Hollywood, and the U.S. Armed Forces team up to help a Southwest Virginia wounded warrior.
Actor Gary Sinise, star of CSI: New York star, and "Lieutenant Dan" from the movie Forrest Gump, came to Martinsville Thursday, to announce a special partnership to help Patrick County Marine Corporal Joshua Kerns.
Sinise and the Martinsville Speedway announced that the actor's foundation will work with the speedway, and the Tunnels to Towers foundation, to build a new home for Cpl. Kerns.
While Kerns was serving in Afghanistan, an IED explosion caused him to lose his legs below the knees, and right arm below his elbow.
"I was living my dream and doing what I wanted to do. It was great, and I still love the Marine Corps," Kerns said.
The project will make it so Cpl. Kerns can more easily get around in his new home.
"Theses homes that we are building have smart technology in them. They are adaptive homes, built around the wounded warrior and their needs," Sinise said.
To raise money for the project, Sinise's "Lt. Dan Band" will play a special concert during the Spring NASCAR race weekend in Martinsville.
The concert is set for March 31st at Martinsville High School
You can buy tickets online through www.piedmontarts.org
updated by @dave-fulton: 04/02/17 05:38:02AM
NASCAR Heels for Spring
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Ya gotta be in style if you're gonna go NASCAR!
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
Your Daytona 500 Pre-Race Entertainment
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Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
By Nekesa Mumbi Moody
Associated Press
Posted: Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
LOS ANGELES - Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.
Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told KABC-TV that Houston died in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton. Her body remained in the hotel and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/11/3004852/whitney-houston-superstar-of-records.html#storylink=cpy