Forum Activity for @dave-fulton

Pemberton to Baldwin for Blaney

General

Missed this announcement earlier in the week. Hope it bodes well for Dave Blaney.

Baldwin Hires Pemberton
Info Manager | , RacinToday.com Monday, 6 February 2012

Tommy Baldwin Racing hired Ryan Pemberton to lead the No. 36 Sprint Cup team as crew chief for Dave Blaney.

Pemberton spent the last three years as screw chief for the No. 83 car at now-defunct Red Bull Racing. He has been a crew chief since 1997.

The No. 36 teams 2012 schedule is still being finalized as the team seeks funding for all 36 events.

Pemberton comes from a family of racers. The Saratoga, N.Y., native started out sweeping floors at Roush Fenway Racing and worked his way up to a NSCS crew chief in 1997. During his career as a NSCS crew chief, he compiled two wins, 21 top-fives, 92 top-10s and 15 poles.

Im thrilled to join Tommy Baldwin Racing, Pemberton said. TBR has shown a lot of growth in a short time, and Im looking forward to the challenge of stepping up the program this year. Tommy, Dave and I all come from families of racing and have similar backgrounds, so I think it will be a good fit.

This season will mark TBRs fourth season of competition. TBR began as a part-time, one-car NSCS team in 2009 and developed into a top-35 team by 2011. In 2012, TBR plans to compete with two NSCS teams and a part-time NASCAR Nationwide Series team. The team would like to increase the number of races in both the NSCS and NNS schedules, provided more sponsorship can be found.

Hiring Ryan is another stepping stone for TBR, Tommy Baldwin commented. Ryan brings experience and a wealth of knowledge from all the years he has been in the sport. He has been successful with every team he has worked for, and we are excited to have him be a part of our program.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

JUDY ALLISON

Administrative

Thinking of Judy & Bobby.

Heat Races VS Time Trials

General

Feb 14, 9:41 AM EST

IndyCar to use heat races for Iowa qualifying

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The IndyCar Series will use heat races for qualifying at Iowa Speedway this year.

First-year race director Beaux Barfield tells The Associated Press the heat races are a trial for something the series could implement at certain ovals in 2013.

The IndyCar Series currently uses single-car qualifying on ovals, and three rounds of qualifications on road and street courses.

Qualifying for the June 22 race at Iowa will consist of three 30-lap heats, and the field in each heat will be set by practice times. One heat will determine the top 10 starting spots, the other two heats will determine odd-numbered starting positions 11 to 31 and even-numbered starting positions for 12 to 32.

The series will revert to single-car qualifying for the season finale at Auto Club Speedway in California.

Heat Races VS Time Trials

General

You make the perfect case for restricting the number of classes to a maximum of 3.

Heat Races VS Time Trials

General

At Southside, South Boston and Langley they started the heats on the Money/Point system. Drivers with most points/most money won started at rear of heat race. For the life of me, though, I can't remember if a "visitor" or track newcomer started in the rear or at the front of their heat race. Getting too old to remember. Bet Ray Lamm can tell us... he was at all of those shows.

Heat Races VS Time Trials

General

The best weekly short track shows I ever saw anywhere were when former star driver and car builder Emanuel Zervakis promoted Richmond's Southside Speedway in the 1970s under NASCAR Sanction. Every Friday night we had the likes of Sonny Hutchins, Ray Hendrick, Al Grinnan, Ted Hairfield, Runt Harris, Jimmy Hensley, Paul Radford, Joe Thurman, Eddie Royster, etc, etc... the absolute cream of the crop of NASCAR Late Model Sportsman.

No time trials. Only 3 divisions of cars... Hobby, Limited Sportsman, Late Model Sportsman.

2 heat races in each series and a feature.

1st heat started at 8:30 pm... you could set your watch by it.

Last feature checkered flag fell by 10:30 pm. You could set your watch by it.

2 solid hours of non-stop racing, one show behind the other.

The only thing in short supply were seats, because the place was jammed full of fans every Friday night.

Unfortunately what the drivers may want may not be what produces a good show for the fans and sells tickets.

Our member Butch Zervakis can tell you a lot of other things the track did to be successful. By ending racing by 10:30, the stories and pictures always made the next morning's paper.

Drivers and car owners need to put themselves in the place of the fans. The fans want to see good cars race to the front, not start there because of time trials.

Heat Races VS Time Trials

General

It is my VERY STRONG opinion that the advent of time trials and elimination of heat races has lead to many a boring night at the local short track and a decline in the fan base.

Here's Where the Super Bowl Beat the Daytona 500

General

Not sure who started it some years back, but having the NASCAR pit crews line up as they do for the National Anthem adds a lot of class and respect.

Here's Where the Super Bowl Beat the Daytona 500

General

For a number of years at Richmond we used a very talented officer of the Henrico County Poliice for the National Anthem.

I also used to enjoy the barbershop quartet used at Watkins Glen and Dover.

Here's Where the Super Bowl Beat the Daytona 500

General

NB,

I remember Drewry Mason well.

By the way, Kenneth Campbell at Richmond used to book the Statler Brothers on various tours. In addition to his racetrack duties in the early days, he also booked and toured with Roller Derby on the east coast and with Lawrence Welk.