tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49732263274444106132011-08-21T07:58:25.822-04:00Travis Barrett has been a New England auto racing writer for more than a decade. He covers the sport on the local, regional and national levels.TBarrettnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-83686232520775198412008-04-21T17:51:00.003-04:002008-04-21T17:53:58.134-04:00

Call it spring cleaning or growing up, but our little Green-White-Checker is turning in its first-floor studio apartment and heading into a one-story house with an actual dining room.Crazy, I know.But the same Green-White-Checker you've come to know and love (or at least tolerate) has moved. You can now find GWC at http://greenwhitechecker.typepad.comDon't forget to add it to your favorites list.

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-9616391903806222462008-04-21T11:26:00.003-04:002008-04-21T11:30:23.830-04:00

George Fernald Jr. to the rescue.The man who probably best embodies the spirit of Unity Raceway has agreed to lease the track from owner Ralph Nason, it was announced on Monday. Fernald, who has competed at the track in various divisions, is probably best-known these days for his long-distance ramp jumping.Last fall, Fernald jumped his car through a vacant mobile home on the Unity Raceway

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-18027140608931470182008-04-20T23:08:00.004-04:002008-04-20T23:15:42.085-04:00

Alexander wins 2nd half of day's doubleheader(From ACT press release) Joey Polewarczyk Jr. blistered the American-Canadian Tour field at Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, taking his 2nd career victory at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 100. The Hudson, N.H., driver took the lead from pole-sitter Larry Gelinas after starting 3rd and dominated the balance of the event to take the win in just over 46

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-2791509487165630472008-04-20T08:34:00.006-04:002008-04-20T08:54:21.016-04:00

Andy Santerre Motorsports made it a clean sweep in the American Revolution 150 at Greenville-Pickens Speedway late Saturday night.Driving the No. 44 that Santerre himself piloted to 4 series championships, Peyton Sellers survived overtime to win the NASCAR Camping World East Series opener, his 1st career series victory. Following Sellers to the line was rookie teammate Austin Dillon. The 2 ASM

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-92028631216666838972008-04-19T23:10:00.003-04:002008-04-19T23:32:19.610-04:00

Final thoughts from one of the strangest days of my writing career, one capped off with a delicious Black Fly Stout at Gritty McDuff's...* Though I wrote earlier that the crowd was disappointingly thin at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, it should be pointed out that it was very much an "L.A." kind of audience. The place looked like a graveyard during the final practices for the PASS North Series

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-20050990951518626492008-04-19T19:24:00.007-04:002008-04-19T19:45:52.783-04:00

Rowe beats Rowe for Cabin Fever 150 victory at Beech RidgeThere was a hug in victory lane, as Ben Rowe threw his arm around his father's shoulder at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. On this day, at least for one of Maine's all-time most successful racing families, the old adage held true.If you're going to lose, lose to blood."Absolutely," said 4-time and defending series champion Ben Rowe. "If I

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-4720917198658392452008-04-19T18:44:00.000-04:002008-04-19T18:45:11.081-04:00

Mike Rowe held off a hard charge from son Ben Rowe to win his 2nd consecutive PASS North Series race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.Mike Rowe, who won the PASS 300 here last September, expertly used a pair of restarts inside the final 30 laps on Saturday afternoon to win the Cabin Fever 150. Ben tried to pass him off the race's final turn, and the dead heat at the start-finish line went to Mike

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-78621772658235549082008-04-19T16:38:00.004-04:002008-04-19T16:47:28.615-04:00

Looks like somebody forgot to tell the fans that the opener was today.Attendance is pretty light on both sides of the oval here at Beech Ridge, with late-arrving fans in the grandstands and even later-arriving Sportsman division cars.And, in case you were wondering...* It's been just 75 minutes and we're already into our feature lineup. It doesn't get any better than that, especially as the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-46092263233933187072008-04-19T07:18:00.006-04:002008-04-19T07:27:53.936-04:00

A chance meeting on Maine's coast got Clark and his family back to the track As strange as it sounds, if his father hadn't walked away from racing, Cassius Clark never would have found his way into it.During the several-year span that Billy Clark and his family spent their summers in Boothbay, Cassius befriended Matthew Chapman. Matthew's father was Ed Chapman, and because their sons were

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-53062139222506407192008-04-17T17:19:00.004-04:002008-04-17T17:31:11.688-04:00

There's no truth to the rumor that I've been asked to drive a 3rd team car for Stanton Barrett Motorsports in Mexico City this weekend.In keeping with the politically correct way of publicly discussing deals for NASCAR rides, I will only say this:"Stanton and I talked about it, but only in a joking kind of way. I was like, 'Hey, wouldn't it be cool if I drove for you sometime — like maybe at that

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-32645305482260255912008-04-17T08:02:00.004-04:002008-04-17T08:13:59.708-04:00

Unity Raceway was closed down and put up for lease.Bobby MacArthur -- a legend in his own mind if nowhere else -- proudly jumped on GWC and proclaimed that he was going to be the track's savior. MacArthur said that he and Steve Perry had put together a deal to lease the facility from owner Ralph Nason.Only one small problem. It's not true."Not that I know of," Perry said on Wednesday. "We have

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-44888270614750300142008-04-16T15:27:00.004-04:002008-04-16T15:37:23.250-04:00

Word out of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is that all systems are "go" for this weekend's PASS North Series season opener.The Cabin Fever 150 is slated to begin with heat races on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.An official at the track said on Wednesday that the track itself is dry, the parking lots are in good shape and the sprawling pit area is mostly dried out. Weather forecasts for this week are

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-38359461393610476942008-04-16T10:57:00.003-04:002008-04-16T11:05:23.188-04:00

Who needs a schedule? My internal clock tells me when it's racing season.Let the 7-month Monster-and-CLIF-fueled grind begin...This week, for no apparent reason, I've stayed up late, gotten up way too early, thought about races, rules and tracks in the middle of the night. The blog's being updated more than once every 2 1/2 weeks. I've finally forced myself to look at schedules, plot out a course

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-73032482872689324512008-04-15T12:29:00.005-04:002008-04-15T12:37:12.494-04:00

For the 1st time since yours truly made an appearance on the program, Mainely Motorsports is fixing to be must-see TV this week.In this corner, Mainely Motorsports owner and weekly anchor Steve Perry -- as pro-Super Late Model a guy as you'll find in these parts. In the opposite corner, Oxford Plains Speedway owner Bill Ryan -- public enemy numero uno in some circles and as pro-Late Model a guy

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-48713132380278294392008-04-11T17:38:00.002-04:002008-04-11T17:41:59.125-04:00

I was 12 or 13 years old, I forget which, the first time I went to a stock car race.I didn’t come from a racing family. In fact, I didn’t even know anybody who raced cars. It wasn’t part of the lexicon of my universe, and to say that race car drivers were some kind of mythic warriors that existed on another plane somewhere wouldn’t even be fair — I didn’t even really know there was such a

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-22315934742043965232008-04-09T09:06:00.002-04:002008-04-09T09:10:15.289-04:00

Ralph Nason Jr., the general manager of Unity Raceway, insists that while the plans for now are to keep the track closed this season, it won't be that way for good. In fact, he vowed that it will come back better than ever in 2009."It's not the end," he said Tuesday night. "We're going to take another 11 months and try to fine tune things."Read the complete story in today's Kennebec Journal.

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-84403835665746744292008-04-08T19:18:00.004-04:002008-04-08T19:50:09.325-04:00

People's responses to the announcement today that Unity Raceway would be closing its doors in 2008 ranged from matter-of-fact to disappointment. Here's a sampling of the reactions from the central Maine racing community:"I just feel bad. Anytime a track closes, you feel bad. That's a piece of history changing, just like in NASCAR when they got rid of The Rock and all the short tracks. That's

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-21418477210027703612008-04-08T12:42:00.003-04:002008-04-08T12:45:48.057-04:00

Here's the official statement, issued just a few minutes ago, from Unity Raceway regarding it's decision to put racing on hold for the 2008 season:"The 2008 racing season at Unity Raceway has been suspended. The many current issues that have a direct impact on racing and on the track itself were considered and let to this difficult business decision.The track is available for rent, lease or

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-18031201971642220472008-04-08T10:02:00.005-04:002008-04-08T10:13:59.672-04:00

On Monday, Unity Raceway staffers received news that they would not be needed for the 2008 season. Track owner Ralph Nason confirmed Tuesday morning that his family was ceasing operations at the 60-year-old track for 2008. Nason also said that, while the track is closed for now, he has already received "3 or 4 phone calls from people" who are interested in leasing the facility.Next winter, Nason

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-26672424962332938212008-04-04T16:34:00.006-04:002008-04-04T17:23:29.854-04:00

I feel like I've been a broken record...Friday's have kind of become like the "News 'n Notes" portion of the program here. During the off-season, the end of the week seems to be a good time to compile a little list of news, press release-type stuff and different observations on racing from here to Daytona Beach. It just seems to work — if not for you hardy readers, than for me. It's also

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-54353283284040345152008-04-03T16:27:00.004-04:002008-04-03T16:37:00.906-04:00

Stop the presses. The name's been changed again. This is getting more ridiculous than a Dale Earnhardt Jr. number change.Well, maybe not.On the heels of some fantastic investigating reporting by yours truly (ahem!) comes more news about Wiscasset Raceway's 250-lap event for the Super Late Model crowd this summer. The race, formerly loosely sponsored by DNK Select Used Cars and Trucks, has traded

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-24450564672027698802008-04-03T07:12:00.003-04:002008-04-03T07:18:07.774-04:00

Sometime in the last 10 days or so, Wiscasset Raceway dropped DNK as the sponsor of its marquee event later this summer. Instead of the DNK 250, the Super Late Model race promising to pay $30,000 to the winner on Aug. 17, the race is being called the Center of Speed 250. But, it's not expected to stay that way long.Wiscasset's sales and promotions director John Crawford said the lack of a sponsor

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-36131780973625604592008-04-01T16:22:00.006-04:002008-04-01T18:09:25.438-04:00

Wow. Maybe they can just use LegalZoom.com to settle this. In fact, given the short term of the relationship, the American-Canadian Tour probably doesn't even need a divorce proceeding.They can probably just get an anullment for the disaster that tied them to RT Raceparts.It took just over 2 months for ACT to do an about-face and realize what I realized the first time I talked to Rob Tower of RT

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-27011923481959262642008-03-28T08:17:00.004-04:002008-03-28T08:47:01.444-04:00

I don't care what they say about seating capacity, television markets or aerodynamic downforce. Martinsville Speedway is my favorite stop on the NASCAR slate. I remember thinking the 1st time I rolled in there that it easily could have been Wiscasset Raceway, with much bigger grandstands. Rolling hills for parking, short-short-short track where you can see everything in front of you and, of

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-40288689730460076522008-03-25T17:38:00.003-04:002008-03-25T17:50:56.063-04:00

In an effort to generate interest from Late Model teams for last year's TD Banknorth 250, Oxford Plains Speedway management offered free entries and a chance to win free tires in the winter of 2006 to teams that signed up early for the 250.Wiscasset Raceway is entering teams into a drawing for free tires this season in its own marquee Late Model event. Dave Lind Racing of Norfolk, Mass., an

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-9508431113863599412008-03-24T10:02:00.003-04:002008-03-24T10:05:08.278-04:00

Take the case of Corey Williams, for instance.In good equipment, Williams has the ability to make Super Late Model racing under the PASS banner his personal playground. He dominated the South Series last year, and with his win in the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway over the weekend, he's the early favorite to win the first-ever PASS National Championship in 2008.But the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-53191529156285305192008-03-21T09:34:00.004-04:002008-03-21T09:52:18.959-04:00

The first race of the year worth keeping an eye on at the regional level hits the pavement tomorrow. There are 35 entries -- from across the country -- for the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory (N.C.) otor Speedway. It's not only the PASS South Series opener, but it's also the first of the 4 races slated for the first PASS National Championship.OK, so the F1 World Championship it's not, but given the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-88456235901616034592008-03-14T18:06:00.004-04:002008-03-14T18:25:55.810-04:00

Well, Dale Jarrett might be retiring to the motorhome lot a little bit early tonight, now that qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series' Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway has been rained out.But Jarrett, who is making his final career Cup start on Sunday, didn't always like to head home early.Every once in a while we get a much-needed glimpse at the personality of the people who make the NASCAR

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-42854550297707956192008-03-13T19:05:00.006-04:002008-03-14T14:59:34.323-04:00

From the "Don't You Wish You Lived Somewhere Else" file comes this little tidbit from the NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach:"By the end of the month, (a dozen short tracks will be up and running as) NASCAR’s national program for short tracks gets off to a roaring start."Yep, that's right, while we sit here in the northeast wondering if we'll see enough snow melt and the grounds dry enough to

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-13749477566315676782008-03-13T18:05:00.004-04:002008-03-13T18:58:53.239-04:00

Veteran Portland Press Herald motorsports scribe Steve Solloway once pulled me aside -- OK, it was more than once, but who's counting, anyway? -- and told me the story of Kevin Lepage picking coins out of a motorhome seat cushion, trying to pay for food for he and his wife as he chased a NASCAR opportunity with everything he had back in the day.Lepage is still chasing as furiously as ever -- and

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-64871782956696003442008-03-12T17:20:00.005-04:002008-03-14T15:00:19.782-04:00

For the most part, PASS has made all the right moves this off-season.Responding to criticism that it had stretched too far from its northern New England roots, the PASS North Series centered its 2008 schedule around Wiscasset Raceway and the DNK 250 there this summer. Helping fill the void left in Super Late Model racing down south after NASCAR stepped out, the PASS South Series has stepped up

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-29354305940447261112008-03-10T10:45:00.004-04:002008-03-10T10:52:50.200-04:00

Top 4 stories from Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway:1st gear -- Toyota's first Cup Series win: This hardly qualifies as a surprise, given the Toyota camp's alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing this season and the way the JGR cars had performed over the first 3 weeks of the season. Still, Kyle Busch's victory at Atlanta did give the Japanese manufacturer its first Sprint Cup

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-53409900093658130022008-03-07T16:48:00.002-05:002008-03-07T16:48:55.498-05:00

A couple of thoughts on traction control devices in the American-Canadian Tour world.(Not) suprisingly these days, if you mention either ACT or PASS somewhere, you’re going to get hate mail. I’m a firm believer that if I wrote that PASS is donating all of its proceeds this year to children’s cancer research, some Late Model fan somewhere would suggest they’re only doing it to hide the fact that

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-3798992616014127512008-03-07T16:26:00.004-05:002008-03-07T16:47:56.993-05:00

I understand what NASCAR is doing, but I'm not sure I'm on board.Mainstream America sports fan (yeah, he's an actual person) doesn't like the word "cheating." He stands for heads-up competition, for level playing fields, for, at the very least, the appearance of all things being equal. NASCAR has fought hard to remove the word “cheating” from the stock-car racing lexicon.NASCAR should be

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-50557803176362865012008-03-03T17:00:00.004-05:002008-03-03T17:13:51.397-05:00

Rick Ramstrom was a noticeable absentee from the media seminar I was part of on Saturday morning at Speedway Expo. Of course, judging from the way he worked the room later that afternoon, I'm not sure the father of PASS North Series driver Derek Ramstrom needed a briefing on how to get the media to pay attention to his race team."You're a good-looking guy," Rick says to me.Wowsers. Flattery will

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-3269042118328751662008-03-01T09:25:00.004-05:002008-03-01T09:33:07.141-05:00

Any talk of Bruton Smith and the swapping of race dates, naturally, gets New England race fans worried.Not so fast, kiddos -- New Hampshire Motor Speedway remains out of this week's conversation. While Smith was talking about swapping a couple of NASCAR Cup Series weekends on the schedule involving a facility he owns, he wasn't talking about taking one of NHMS's races and moving out to his Las

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-83078230106139120142008-02-29T22:39:00.004-05:002008-02-29T22:53:56.362-05:00

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- During my recent appearance on the television show, Mainely Motorsports, Steve Perry jokingly asked me what he needed to do to make No. 1 on a yearly top-10 list of mine.He may be well on his way to doing it already.Perry acknowledged on Friday night that he is, indeed, running what used to be called Richmond Raceway. Running into Perry at the Speedway EXPO, he told me that

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-50372005747847297402008-02-27T23:10:00.002-05:002008-02-27T23:13:59.178-05:00

Former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion Peyton Sellers is going to fill the vacant seat at Andy Santerre Motorsports this season.ASM announced on Wednesday that Casella Waste Systems would sponsor Sellers in the No. 44 Chevrolets that Sean Caisse drove in each of the last 2 seasons, the same cars Santerre drove to 4 straight Camping World East Series titles.Curious that the press

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-55780003034923503812008-02-27T23:00:00.003-05:002008-02-27T23:03:07.196-05:00

When The Godfather beckons with an assignment, you can't simply ignore it. When you're the consigliere for the Connecticut Motorsports Media Mafia, you have to go where The Godfather tells you.It's kind of a part of the gig. A big part.So, Thursday night, I'm heading to Hartford. Seems the big guy's got an extra ticket for the Bruce Springsteen show at that place where they used to play National

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-29468693615919978102008-02-18T19:59:00.003-05:002008-02-20T10:39:57.726-05:00

A few final thoughts while I surf some 35,000 feet above the ground and ponder just how long it took buttoned-up Roger Penske to ditch that gaudy Daytona 500 championship jacket they tossed on him at Monday's champion's breakfast inside The Daytona Experience...- How ironic was it to see the Dodges of Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch and Reed Sorenson team up for top-5 finishes in the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-28247686866794214512008-02-17T21:47:00.001-05:002008-02-17T21:49:14.340-05:00

"Fifteen years ago I was sitting in the grandstands in the Seagrave Tower. ... It was awesome. Listening to my dad on the radio spotting for me, all the other things -- all the other emotions, all the hard work, all the people that gave me a shot racing quarter midgets, midgets, sprint cars, Silver Crown cars. I have to thank everybody, including the fans."- Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman, driver

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-36961272084876264402008-02-17T21:13:00.006-05:002008-02-17T21:18:06.880-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH: The day's most dominant driver cost 2 cars a shot at victory.Kyle Busch had the fastest car all day long, and he was poised to lead the Toyota charge to victory lane in the Daytona 500 when he lined up second on a restart with 3 laps remaining behind Jeff Burton. But Busch got too good of a restart and ended up diving below the yellow out-of-bounds line at the bottom of the race

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-18124248387583121722008-02-17T20:08:00.006-05:002008-02-17T21:19:07.541-05:00

Newman wins 50th running of the Daytona 500DAYTONA BEACH -- Shame on everyone who forgot about Dodge.With a dramatic last-lap charge, Ryan Newman silenced two weeks' worth of talk about Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs racing over the last two weeks at Daytona International Speedway. Using a strong push from Penske Racing teammate Kurt Busch, Newman stunned a sellout crowd of more than 200,000

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-40838112945786283932008-02-17T11:17:00.003-05:002008-02-17T11:19:16.000-05:00

I would be remiss if I didn't pass this along.This story by David Poole in the Charlotte Observer is the best to come out of speedweeks. No doubt about it, this racing game is about a whole lot more than winning and losing.

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-14818516625845207672008-02-17T10:42:00.003-05:002008-02-17T10:46:07.689-05:00

Welcome to race day, and this version is brought to you by Monster energy drink and stale CLIF bars. It's just the way I roll...Claustrophobia strikes deep here at Daytona, where it's almost impossible to move around, -- even as much as 6 hours before the race. Funny thing, though, as you walk along the expansive fan zones here both inside and outside of the track in what looks like a marketing

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-8980918209577326332008-02-16T16:33:00.008-05:002008-02-17T14:30:50.507-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- Kyle Busch just wants to pass off the advice he's been given so many times during his colorful NASCAR career, and in the process he just might spark some more interest in stock-car racing's top levels.Busch certainly had some choice words for Martin Truex Jr. after the Camping World 300 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Saturday. Seems Truex voiced his displeasure with the way

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-39934477326909469432008-02-16T15:55:00.001-05:002008-02-16T15:58:32.665-05:00

ESPN is turning its NASCAR Nationwide Series coverage into nothing more than a daily promotion of its new show about Dale Earnhardt Jr., "Shifting Gears," a 5-part epic detailing Earnhardt's move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports.The final few questions asked of Earnhardt after he finished 3rd in the Camping World 300 at Daytona all had to do with what Earnhardt thought of the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-15462661933588496172008-02-16T12:13:00.002-05:002008-02-16T12:16:54.325-05:00

First, my lungs tried to leap out of my chest. Then the bagel I ate for breakfast threatened to retrace its steps up my throat. Then I got dizzy, nearly fell over and stumbled off to a patch of shade.All from standing 10 feet away from a small group of Sprint Cup Series cars blistering their way by at a buck-90.Yeah, it's that fast. And utterly amazing that these guys are willing to put

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-29599728975727299172008-02-15T23:05:00.002-05:002008-02-15T23:08:56.192-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- In 20 years of coming to Daytona International Speedway, both as a crew member and a driver, Todd Bodine's seen a little bit of everything at the famed beachside track."I've finished second, finished third third, crashed hard, burned a couple times," Bodine said.Those sentiments could have summed up the entire Chevy Silverado 250 for the Craftsman Truck Series on Friday night, a

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-75223480384161765822008-02-15T19:33:00.004-05:002008-02-15T19:47:12.921-05:00

I admit it, I'm starting to feel the wear and tear of 8 straight days on the road, with 3 more to follow. Readers must be noticing, too -- considering one among you (and you know who you are!) actually suggested I stay at Daytona and cover the 500 because I was so disappointed by the fan turnout at New Smyrna Speedway this week.Let's clarify one thing here. I'll take short-track racing over the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-18131007863790953202008-02-15T17:29:00.004-05:002008-02-15T17:36:29.938-05:00

Kevin Lepage's hopes of running an entire NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule took a hit on Friday at Daytona International Speedway.Driving the unsponsored No. 61 Ford for Doug Taylor's Specialty Racing, Lepage was bounced from a starting position in tomorrow's Camping World 300 when Jason Keller turned a lap of 50.337 seconds (178.795 mph). Lepage was one of 23 drivers without a guaranteed

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-85239735161972370212008-02-15T16:01:00.003-05:002008-02-15T16:07:46.129-05:00

Versatile driver says he's having plenty of fun in racingDAYTONA BEACH -- There's been a lot talk lately about "real" racing being back at Daytona International Speedway this week with the Daytona 500 debut of NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow. But stock car drivers can seldom be criticized for being too worldly.It makes Robby Gordon a fine choice for putting restrictor-plate racing into perspective."Oh,

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-23088434246803590962008-02-15T09:52:00.005-05:002008-02-15T14:05:21.360-05:00

The whole thing's been a flat-out disappointment.It really has, despite my eager anticipation of a couple of weeks ago.The World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway has left lots to be desired.There are some great things about the event, namely that it takes place just a few miles down Tomoka Farms Road from Daytona International Speedway. Race teams have come from all

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-90514455779556056612008-02-14T22:10:00.002-05:002008-02-14T22:12:28.812-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- Let's be perfectly clear here: Toyota still has not won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.Sure, Denny Hamlin's win in the 2nd of the two Gatorade Duels on Thursday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway announced to everybody that the Toyota-Joe Gibbs Racing marriage would be a strong and prosperous one. But winning a 60-lap "sprint" at Daytona and winning an actual 400- or

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-74786299904733973852008-02-14T20:12:00.004-05:002008-02-14T22:09:28.786-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- The story out of last weekend's Daytona 500 qualifying was the feel-good resurgence of Michael Waltrip Racing, with team owner Michael Waltrip putting his own No. 55 on the outside pole and 2nd-year driver David Reutimann virtually locking up a starting spot with the 4th-fastest lap of the day.Under race conditions in Thursday's Gatorade Duels at Daytona International Speedway,

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-7208679016152319322008-02-14T18:48:00.003-05:002008-02-14T18:53:36.664-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- There was a little brotherly love at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, just in time for Valentine's Day.More to the point, it arrived just in time for Gatorade Duel at Daytona. Guided by brother Mike Wallace, Kenny Wallace finished 8th in the first of the 2 150-mile qualifying races at the track, races won by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin, respectively. Wallace's

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-67499031501756496092008-02-14T17:34:00.008-05:002008-02-15T14:04:08.572-05:00

(This entry has been modified by the blog administrator.)NASCAR may be willing to let drivers be a little bit more themselves this year, but that doesn't mean the PR reps have all bought in.During a televised post-race interview on Thursday, after which A.J. Allmendinger failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 in the first of 2 Gatorade Duels, the driver of the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota was distraught

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-81463578237297093472008-02-14T10:07:00.001-05:002008-02-14T10:12:52.941-05:00

More than 270 people showed up for the 4th annual Andy Santerre Sno-Run, a charity snowmobile ride last weekend out of Caribou which helped raise $40,000 for the victims of sexual assault in Aroostook County. There were 130 sledders for the 100-mile ride during the day and then a much larger gathering for the dinner and charity auction that night. Joining Santerre, a 4-time champion of what is

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-50743430489516345622008-02-14T09:35:00.004-05:002008-02-14T09:42:44.029-05:00

How do you make a central Maine outdoors writer feel right at home in February? How about knocking that thermostat down about 40 degrees or so -- that ought to do the trick.It did.I could see my breath as I hoofed it from the Michael Scott Sebring of The Godfather to the infield media center here at Daytona International Speedway, where temperatures in the mid-30s hover over central Florida. I

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-70035763915394991012008-02-13T21:53:00.004-05:002008-02-13T22:02:57.794-05:00

Looks like I brought a little Unity Raceway with me to central Florida.I mean, the Gary Mitchell Memorial at Unity is a lot like the Daytona 500. Well, maybe not. But they're both marquee events at their respective facilities, More to the point, whenever I head to either one, it rains.Repeatedly.Sprint Cup Series practice was hit up by rain, and the practice sessions for the Nationwide Series and

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-7880140905137181162008-02-13T15:07:00.002-05:002008-02-13T15:19:56.566-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- Somewhere along the way, Kevin Lepage transformed himself from hungry young racer into a realistic veteran with a love of racing.When exactly that happened Lepage isn't sure. But he does feel like joining with car owner Doug Taylor for a full season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this year has given him a new lease on life -- his racing life, that is."There's things you've got

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-81369107041612087852008-02-13T10:50:00.004-05:002008-02-13T14:51:42.255-05:00

It's a sleepy summer day here at Daytona International Speedway. Except it's not summer, and -- sports writers aside -- things aren't all that sleepy here, either.There was a large military presence at the gate to the infield tunnel this morning. By large, of course, I mean a man who stood over 6 feet tall and looked like he worked out a little here and there. And by military presence, I mean

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-26478670875437574142008-02-12T19:02:00.000-05:002008-02-12T19:17:38.718-05:00

NASCAR continued with its "behind-closed-doors" policy on Tuesday.Saying that it was redefining the meaning of probation in the sport, officials announced that both Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch have been placed on probation for the 1st 6 races of the 2008 season -- in response to their antics during and following Budweiser Shootout practice last Friday night. But, of course, NASCAR wouldn't say

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-92686599450158762008-02-12T18:55:00.001-05:002008-02-12T19:00:04.553-05:00

Mother Nature washed out night No. 5 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. Heavy rains and tornado warnings -- yeah, I said "tornado" -- for Volusia County ended practice early at the track and helped to call off the entire night of scheduled racing. With an every-night slate, there is no makeup date for races that get rained out.Daytona International Speedway

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-149267803003104532008-02-11T21:10:00.000-05:002008-02-11T21:14:38.396-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- Just 2 years ago, Tony Stewart said that the bump drafting at Daytona International Speedway had gotten so out of hand that drivers were putting themselves on the verge of serious injury. On Friday night, Stewart got into the back of Kurt Busch during practice for the Budweiser Shootout -- prompting a game of bumper tag on pit road and rumors of a physical confrontation in the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-53935151826438808002008-02-11T02:07:00.000-05:002008-02-11T03:00:38.348-05:00

Time trials, straight-up starts and single-file restarts have nothing on New Smyrna Speedway. How about leader infallibility? Yeah, despite the hundreds of things that need Band-Aids in short track racing in our home region, that's certainly a new one to northerners.Jeff Choquette was dominating night No. 3 of Super Late Model competition at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing when he

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-24365627661714155462008-02-10T17:44:00.000-05:002008-02-10T17:59:38.138-05:00

Notable quotes from Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, where Jimmie Johnson won the pole:"I don't think so. I think we're one of them."Jimmie Johnson, after winning the Daytona 500 pole, on whether he's the favorite to win next week"I know it's there, but I don't see it. ... Everybody's still speaking to me."Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, on whether he feels an resentment in

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-10327464224505422762008-02-10T17:25:00.000-05:002008-02-10T17:38:02.537-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- Needing to be among the 3 fastest qualifiers in the group of 17 drivers not guaranteed starting spots in next weekend's Daytona International Speedway to earn a slot on the Daytona 500 starting grid, Boris Said came up just short on Sunday.But, unlike his last trip to Daytona, when he was on the pole before rain washed out his qualifying time prior to the Pepsi 400 here last July

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-38460366375219127402008-02-10T17:15:00.000-05:002008-02-10T17:39:55.084-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- Remember the old advertising slogan, "Oh, what a feeling -- TOYOTA!"Race teams certainly did on Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, where 3 of the top 5 qualifiers for next week's Daytona 500 were driving Toyota Camrys. Michael Waltrip led the charge by joining pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson on the front row, while teammate David Reutimann turned the fourth-quickest

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-51909575511431726792008-02-10T00:17:00.000-05:002008-02-10T00:39:41.910-05:00

So when Michael Waltrip hit pit road with a bunch of other cars early in the 2nd segment of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, he sped right past his pit.Who could blame him, really? I mean, for the last year, the guy's been used to running 2 laps and then making a hard left turn to load the car on the hauler to head home.Ba-dum, cha!*****So the way NASCAR chose to address

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-10692107833093197822008-02-09T23:02:00.000-05:002008-02-10T00:07:10.568-05:00

Notable quotes from Saturday night's Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway:"He's one of the best restrictor plate drivers there's ever been. He learned a lot from his dad, and I'm not sure he's not better than his dad, in all honesty, now."Tony Stewart, on finishing 2nd to Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Saturday"I thought I had the Kevin Harvick winning move, I just didn't have the car to get it

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-44250789483338184362008-02-09T22:43:00.000-05:002008-02-09T22:49:54.545-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH -- The more things change, the more they stay the same.New cars, new color schemes and one of the most celebrated driver changes in NASCAR history produced the same old results Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. Following up on the dominance of Hendrick Motorsports last season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. found his new digs quite to his liking, passing Tony Stewart as the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-72468411974500541512008-02-09T13:55:00.000-05:002008-02-09T17:50:29.612-05:00

Steve Tapley has seen thousands of short-track races over the years from some of the best spots in the house.When you're a spotter on a race team, you get that kind of privilege. When you're good at what you do, you get to Daytona International Speedway. Saturday afternoon, Tapley was on top of the massive tower atop the fronstretch grandstands, spotting for Fadden Racing and its 19-year-old

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-31256277229162119462008-02-09T11:33:00.000-05:002008-02-09T11:43:23.822-05:00

Don't believe the schedule. Drivers are still testing at Daytona International Speedway. Only days after NASCAR chief Brian France pledged to allow drivers to loosen up and be themselves a little bit more, final practice for tonight's Bud Shootout may have put France's words to the test sooner than anyone imagined."Are we supposed to walk the line and see where we step over it and where are we

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-57806225787880176672008-02-09T01:12:00.000-05:002008-02-09T01:41:47.750-05:00

Does Kenny Wallace really need an energy drink? I mean, if anything, this is the guy who should take whatever is running through his veins, bottle that and sell it to guys like me who are up all night in front of a computer.Despite that, Wallace has signed with Armando Fitz to run the full NASCAR Nationwide Series this season with sponsorship from Shark Energy Drink, the second-largest energy

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-24332805023050731562008-02-09T00:54:00.000-05:002008-02-09T01:09:58.107-05:00

Kind of like it used to be here at Daytona International Speedway, once you get by Dale you're going to make some magic happen.This time around Dale is not the late Dale Earnhardt. Dale is Dale Ross, one of the seasonal employees of the track who wards over the infield gate at the speedway. Roll up in rental car with identification from north of the Mason-Dixon line, and, well -- let's just say

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-76796643826710873242008-02-09T00:37:00.000-05:002008-02-09T00:54:36.494-05:00

This is on the list of the top 5 things you expect to hear when you're in an airplane, some 35,000 feet above solid ground..."Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain. It appears we are experiencing some difficulties with ..."This is on the list of the top 5 things you DON'T expect to hear when you're in an airplane, some 35,000 feet above solid ground..."... with the lavatories. It seems they

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-22741217806986462492008-02-06T19:28:00.000-05:002008-02-06T19:39:38.857-05:00

So, if a group of Mainers can head to Florida for Speedweeks, then so can I.Jay Cushman has been fielding cars in New Smyrna's World Series of Asphalt Racing for years now, and he's taking young Maine driver Trevor Sanborn with him this year. 2-time PASS North Series champion Johnny Clark is there working as a crew chief for Louie Mechalides' Super Late Model effort. Clark's usual crew chief,

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-34075202771700237732008-02-05T17:39:00.000-05:002008-02-05T17:54:30.369-05:00

Uh-oh. I feel a rant coming on...You know what I can't stand? I can't stand hearing someone refer to a NASCAR stock car as "a NASCAR." God, does that ever grind my gears. I mean, it's one thing if my wife says it or Kelly Ripa says it (let's be honest, we'd take it with a grain of salt) but when a self-proclaimed race fan says it...Oh, man, oh, man. Revoke the "official fan" card. For life. Know

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-41335513457410104762008-02-04T13:05:00.000-05:002008-02-04T13:22:32.862-05:00

No. 1Doug White purchases Wiscasset RacewayIt began with conversations that Dave St. Clair didn't think were that serious. Then, in a midweek auto racing story in the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel that followed the late-May Coastal 200, it was reported that while the track was for sale, there were no serious inquiries.That got Doug White on the telephone, and in a matter of a few hours,

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-47804457648103004752008-01-30T18:17:00.000-05:002008-01-30T18:32:36.956-05:00

Most of you have probably seen John Daly's outstanding blog devoted to television coverage of NASCAR, but if you haven't, it's an absolute must-read for those among us who aren't at the track every week watching in person.An entry earlier this week about old Cup Series races being rebroadcast on ESPN Classic got me to thinking about my own biggest pet peeve with auto racing coverage on television

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-81211883672492921582008-01-29T07:36:00.000-05:002008-01-29T08:10:29.804-05:00

I'm 10 days away from making that big lefthand turn toward the beaches of Daytona. Between now and then, I've got to find a way to be motivated enough to write about ice fishing and snowmobiling, and I've got to put in place a plan that keeps my wife from leaving me once and for all while I leave her stranded in the Great White North for almost 2 weeks...* There's still almost 2 1/2 months until

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-78783439850240316852008-01-28T14:58:00.000-05:002008-01-28T15:14:48.783-05:00

No. 2Bahre sells New Hampshire trackAfter years of suggesting that his track was for sale, and further suggesting that son Gary wanted no part of ownership in his absence, Maine native Bob Bahre finally cut a deal for his 1.058-mile facility in Loudon, N.H. For $340 million, O. Bruton Smith and Speedway Motorsports Inc. bought New Hampshire International Speedway in November and promptly renamed

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-75153629636367323052008-01-24T18:06:00.000-05:002008-01-24T18:17:18.775-05:00

OK, so chalk this one up under the heading of "Partnerships I Never Saw Coming."The American-Candian Tour announced this week that Torco Race Fuels is now the official fuel supplier of ACT Late Model racing. That means the roaring brand of fuel better known for its association with those drag racers in the nitromethane crowd will now be powering up the choked-off, barely-breathing, sealed up

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-82270560448739331502008-01-22T17:44:00.000-05:002008-01-22T17:57:10.378-05:00

Funny how this whole thing works sometimes, isn't it.After months of dodging Steve Perry — thanks to some not-so-flattering things I've written about his involvement in PASS Super Late Model racing — I hear he's looking for me. I go into cold sweats, wake up in the middle of the night convinced there's someone knocking, hide out in alleyways and dark closets. It can't be good.And then I get the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-42987843636341012652008-01-22T07:35:00.001-05:002008-01-22T07:52:42.642-05:00

3. It's still the Oxford 250After nearly a full calendar year of announcements, question marks, analysis, mud-slinging and just plain curiosity, the TD Banknorth 250 arrived in late July last summer and looked like, well, the Oxford 250.Oxford Plains Speedway owner Bill Ryan announced in 2006 that the race would undergo a significant change (along with the track itself) as it handed over the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-67145308110102860382008-01-16T10:30:00.000-05:002008-01-16T10:40:56.541-05:00

Oh, in case you missed it, Bruton Smith announced last week that he finalized his deal with Bob and Gary Bahre. For $340 million, he's now the owner of the 1.058-mile facility in Loudon, N.H. -- the track that will host 2 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events this season.Jerry Gappens officially assumed his role of general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the track's new name.Yeah, I reported

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-87506614509225322842008-01-15T08:10:00.000-05:002008-01-15T08:18:08.831-05:00

No. 4Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaves DEI"He changed his number!!" There was once a time when a woman running out of a grocery store, full-on panic sweat rolling while yelling those very words, had NASCAR fans howling. "Oh, yeah, right," they would say to their buddies. "Like THAT would ever happen."But happen it did. And with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s move to Hendrick Motorsports, an era was ushered out. No

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-7831312074979250402008-01-10T20:09:00.000-05:002008-01-10T20:17:52.057-05:00

Talk about living the good life. I mean, does it get any better for a combination outdoors/auto racing writer than this?I can file two stories from the same place and count it as, like, 4 days of work. Wow. Where do I sign up?Former NASCAR driver still revered around these parts, Ricky Craven, is joining with the Moosehead Chamber of Commerce to host the 1st annual Moosehead Lake Togue Ice

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-63569205331086334462008-01-07T10:37:00.000-05:002008-01-07T11:01:01.877-05:00

Apparently I'm doing a well enough job here in northern New England. Confirmed early this morning, The Godfather returned to his balmy Connecticut bungalow satisfied that the Connecticut Motorsports Media Mafia is firmly entrenched here in Maine.Or something like that.It was not an uneventful weekend for The Godfather, although I did learn that in some places, apparently, single digit

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-16575900734573481602008-01-07T10:34:00.001-05:002008-01-07T10:36:52.361-05:00

Failure, as they say, is not an option. At least not in Doug White's mind.The Wiscasset Raceway owner is set to begin his first full season at the facility after purchasing the track last summer. Honored this weekend as the state's Promoter of the Year by the Northeast Motorsports Expo, held at the Augusta Civic Center, White is hoping to spring Wiscasset forward by reaching back into the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-72796153078876066162008-01-07T09:51:00.000-05:002008-01-07T09:58:47.448-05:00

5. Busch involved in scandal at All-Star SpeedwayAt All-Star Speedway in June, we saw the dangerous side of including NASCAR's star power in racing at the local level.Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch drove a car owned by Steve Perry in the All-Star 200 the night before the Cup race in Loudon, and Busch throttled his way through the field. Problem was, he did so twice to win -- the second time

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-57350839596215080072008-01-03T14:22:00.000-05:002008-01-03T19:01:24.878-05:00

Oxford Plains Speedway owner Bill Ryan can tell pretty early in the conversation when a driver is serious about his entry into Maine's annual summer stock-car racing classic."When they're like, 'What's the practice schedule?', I know they're pretty serious about it," Ryan said on Thursday afternoon, moments after confirming that defending Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick has filed an entry for

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-48397567418990266372008-01-02T17:28:00.000-05:002008-01-02T17:43:56.360-05:00

No. 6Car of TomorrowObviously, this story would appear much higher on the list if I were focused solely on the national stock car racing scene. But just because we're giving local interests the nod in this space doesn't mean New Englanders weren't affected by NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow.Two rather uneventful races at New Hampshire International Speedway in 2007 made sure of that. Just ask the

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-62689881192637526832007-12-27T08:55:00.000-05:002007-12-27T09:00:37.518-05:00

No. 7The Clark-Chapman riftsThis was supposed to be the year in which Cassius Clark and his team ended the Ben Rowe-Johnny Clark stranglehold on the PASS North Series championship. Fresh off a 2006 in which Clark drove his Ed Chapman-owned car to more victories than anyone else, the team was by and large the pre-season favorite.But before the engines even fired for the first practice session of

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-41523813243120231232007-12-18T10:21:00.000-05:002007-12-18T10:27:14.309-05:00

PASS South champion Ryan Lawler, a Texas native now living in North Carolina, will be at the 20th annual Northeast Motorsports Expo at the Augusta Civic Center, show director Tim Attaya confirmed. Lawler will join 4-time and current PASS North Series champion Ben Rowe to sign autographs at the event, which will be held Jan. 5-7. Sunoco Race Fuels has put together a special hero card featuring

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-80792774472220711032007-12-17T13:53:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:05:22.816-05:00

No. 8Return of the 'outlaws'It wasn't one race here or there that fed this story, but a series of occurences over the course of a long 2007 season.Patrick Laperle hopping in a car owned by Mike Lux at the TD Banknorth 250. Brad Leighton, a multi-time Busch East Series champion taking a shot at both the TD Banknorth 250 and the PASS 300 at Beech Ridge. Ben and Mike Rowe in the Labor Day Classic

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-75006879513521292242007-12-13T07:25:00.000-05:002007-12-13T07:37:53.091-05:00

New Hampshire Motor Speedway just added another parade lap to its July event.The track and sponsor Lenox Industrial Tools announced on Wednesday that the annual Sprint Cup Series event at the facility will be extended from 300 to 301 laps -- a promotion designed to go "the extra mile" for Lenox customers and New Hampshire Motor Speedway fans.The Lenox 301 is scheduled for Sunday, June 29.Denny

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-515107346715691792007-12-10T09:59:00.000-05:002007-12-10T10:14:47.910-05:00

No. 9 DEI signs with Andy Santerre MotorsportsIt was only a matter of weeks before the 2007 Busch East Series began that Andy Santerre Motorsports took the step it had long wanted to take.During September of 2006, Santerre himself talked openly about his goals as an owner in the Busch East Series -- he wanted to work with Nextel Cup Series teams as an organization where developmental drivers

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4973226327444410613.post-26697104363512320422007-12-03T08:57:00.000-05:002007-12-03T09:04:32.376-05:00

No. 10Ben Rowe's 4th PASS North Series titleBen Rowe avoids controversy like it's some kind of flat tire while leading a race at the white flag, and his success goes largely unnoticed. Simply put, his racing career follows a simple formula: find good rides, win races, win championships.Not surprisingly, it works.The talent pool may not necessarily be all that deep in the PASS North Series from

TBarrettnoreply@blogger.com4