Budweiser Oval Nationals To Hit Perris Auto Speedway

The much awaited Budweiser Oval Nationals are finally here. This fantastic annual event will be taking place this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the famous Perris Auto Speedway. The event will be presented by Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply, with points from the event contributing towards other car series.

The 13th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals will be blowing auto racing enthusiasts away this weekend (Oct 30 – Nov 1) as drivers compete for points each night for the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Car series (based in Southern California) and the USAC National Sprint Car Series (based in Midwest). Joining these drivers will be sixteen of the top twenty USAC National Sprint Car point’s leaders. No doubt, with this excellent pool of talent participating in the event, the level of racing will prove to be spell-binding. Other entrants include a number of past champions, such as Rodney Argo, Tony Jones, Rip Williams, Rickie Gaunt, Bud Kaeding, Dave Darland and Cory Kruseman – this is definitely not going to be one to miss!

Things will get underway on Wednesday night (Oct 29) with a practice session for drivers competing in the Oval Nationals. Spectators are welcome and entrance is free. From Thursday on, fans will have the opportunity to get up close and personal by being able to spend time in the pits until around 12:30 pm. While here, they can watch the crews at work, meet drivers, teams and perhaps even purchase team shirts. The racing action that will take place on Thursday and Friday is a build up to the finale to be held on Saturday. Thursday and Friday’s racing will include heat races, qualifying, preliminary and A main events. While people often think of the main event as being the most dramatic, you certainly cannot rule out the two nights of preliminary racing and qualifying where drivers will be doing their utmost to ensure that they get the most points heading into the big event on Saturday night.

So to put it simply: the driving will be superb, the action will be exciting and the atmosphere will be electrifying. This unbeatable combination will be further enhanced by free candy and pumpkin coloring contests which have been organized for the children, as well as Halloween costume competitions for children and adults. So make sure you don’t miss out on this great event. The gates will open at 4:00 pm on Thursday and Friday.

Blue Sky Looking Ahead to 2009 Panasonic World Solar Challenge

Every two years a number of ‘special’ cars are shipped to Australia where they participate in a race known as the Panasonic World Solar Challenge. The race sees these cars cross the Australian continent with only one source of fuel – the sun.

Building a car that is capable of completing the 3,000 km journey from Darwin to Adelaide in dry, hot, dusty conditions powered only by solar power, can prove to be quite a challenge. Special teams need to be assembled to accomplish the task and Toronto team Blue Sky Solar Racing is constantly striving to attract world class engineers, environmentalists and scientists to help them to accomplish this goal. In the 2007 challenge, the team managed to come first amongst fellow Canadians and it was fifth overall in its class. Now Blue Sky Solar Racing is looking ahead to the 2009 race with plenty of ambition. Not only do they want to improve on their previous performance, but according to Andreas Marouchos, their singular mission is “to demonstrate the viability of alternative energy technology and the practical benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to solving problems.”

A constant supply of new blood is supplied in the form of the University of Toronto as a number of team members involved in the design of the vehicles are often first or second year engineering students. The team also uses the Dassault SystSmes Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools. These include the ENOVIA SmarTeam data management technology and the CATIA virtual 3D design software. In order to speed up the design for the 2009 car, the team plans to use ENOVIA SmarTeam to work on complete assemblies in context. This will save time because it means they will be able to look at the bigger picture without having to focus so intently on the individual parts. Being able to look at the bigger picture also means that ways of reducing vehicle weight and so increase speed will also be easier to spot.

The final result is a great team working on a great concept car at a fantastic pace. The students that get involved with the program will get invaluable hands-on experience in automotive design and the software used in the design process as well as the opportunity to work alongside some really experienced industry experts. All this goes a long way toward finding more efficient ways to design new car parts. Heads will definitely turn when the Blue Sky Solar Racing team takes part in the 2009 Panasonic World Solar Challenge.

Edwards Wins Race But Johnson Still In Championship Lead

It seems that there is little hope now that anyone will be able to catch Jimmie Johnson in the run for the Sprint Cup Championship. Even though Carl Edwards won Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he’s still so far behind Johnson that is seems doubtful that he’ll ever catch up.

For a while during the race things were looking up for Edwards. Johnson started from pole but ended up 30th on the grid at one point after he was flagged for speeding on the pit road. After some tenacious racing, Jimmie Johnson slowly managed to climb his way back up the grid but as the laps began to wind down he was still stuck outside the Top Ten. It seemed as though he’d never make it past that point, which would have meant a significant drop in points for him and possibly given other contenders for the Sprint Cup a chance. Meanwhile Edwards had been working hard to make his way to first place and to stay there. The Pep Boys Auto 500 victory trophy was clearly in his sights and, knowing that Johnson had suffered such a major setback earlier on in the race, he thought his chances at catching up to Johnson in the Sprint Cup Championship were carved in stone.

The magic started to happen with just 13 laps to go when debris on the track brought out a caution. Crew Chief Chad Knaus made the decision to bring Johnson in for a quick four-tire stop, causing him to restart the race in 11th place. There were just eight laps left and it seemed impossible for Johnson to finish in the top five. But surely enough, Johnson picked his way up the grid, one car at a time, until he finally made it over the finish line in second place. The dramatic finish widened Johnson’s points lead to 183. With just three races left in the championship, it is almost certain now that Johnson will be winning the Sprint Cup Championship for the third time in a row. Edwards has improved his chances in the overall standings with his victory on Sunday helping him to jump forward to second place. The last few racing events in the series will no doubt be real nail-biters.

Gumbo Nationals 2008

Racing fans living in Mississippi will want to start preparing themselves for the 2008 Gumbo Nationals. This great annual event has something for everyone and will keep even the most hard-core auto racing fans entertained. The race will take place at Greenville Speedway on the ¼ mile Gumbo clay oval track.

The two-night racing event will see more than 400 laps take place in five different racing divisions as drivers compete for the $40,000 that will be awarded as prize money. Racing drivers from as many as ten different states have already entered themselves in the Greenville race. The main races to take place during the course of the weekend are the United Sprint Car Series Outlaw Thunder Tour, which is sponsored by 750 horsepower 1300 pound O’Reilly Auto Parts, complete with winged sprint outlaw cars and the three-wheelin’ 750 horsepower Super Late Models. Friday night will see the drivers competing for a top spot on the grid with time trial qualifiers and head-to-head qualifiers. Then all will return on Saturday to compete not only in the 40-Lap main event finales (both divisions), but also in the B-Mains and the Dash races. The top prize for the event is $4,400, while the drivers racing in the “Halloween Havoc” Super Late Model Showdown will stand the chance of winning $4,000.

But that’s not all. The Greenville Speedway will also be playing host to the Rislone USCS Modified Series during the course of the weekend, with a full program of action prepared for modified fans. Competitors in this series will also run qualifying races and time trials on Friday and come back on Saturday night for the grand finale. The top prize for the Rislone USCS Modifieds is $2,500. The Gumbo Nationals Championship races are expected to have an excellent response with massive turn-outs. Already pre-entries have been received for both the Street Stock and Mini Stock divisions and competitors for these divisions will be competing for $1,000. The Gumbo Nationals will be taking place from October 31 – November 1 and are not to be missed. Those that really enjoy making the most of the event will be happy to know that there is also a special practice session scheduled for October 30. So book now and get ready for a great weekend of racing action!

NASCAR Supports Minority Dreams

NASCAR has long been the realm of aggressive male drivers who just ‘fit’ in the auto racing industry. But what if you don’t ‘fit’, but you still love the sport of auto racing? What if you don’t have great sponsorship or famous parents? NASCAR has been supporting the dreams of minority drivers for some time now – and their efforts are paying off.

Long blonde hair surrounding a pretty face is usually accompanied by minimal clothing and a buxom body in the racing fraternity. But Kristin Bumbera is no average car-hood pin-up. No, she’s nothing like that. Her long blonde locks hang over the back of a well-sponsored racing suit and, instead of adorning the hoods of cars, she gets behind the steering wheel and grinds up the tarmac with the best of them. The 21-year-old Late Model driver from Sealy, Texas, has already claimed two victories and 11 top-five finishes during the course of 2008 when she took part in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Now she is hoping to pursue her dreams and take her career even further by joining 24 other hopefuls this weekend in NASCAR’s sixth Drive for Diversity class. All 25 drivers will be individually tested and evaluated at the South Boston Speedway in preparation for the class. Only 14 spots are available in the Drive for Diversity class, each of which will earn a fully funded ride for 2009.

Thus far the candidates for the class include 16 women and nine men. Ages range from 17-29 and all of them are excited at the prospect of winning the grand prize. The program will place ten of the winners in the Whelen Series, while four others will be driving in the Camping World Series. This is the next step in the career of all these drivers and is one they possibly wouldn’t be able to take without the assistance of NASCAR. Unlike a number of her competitors, Bumbera will be trying for a second year in the program after a very successful first year. She looks forward to the day when a female driver makes a real mark in NASCAR instead of just becoming another ‘female pioneer’. She faces stiff competition from a number of other really good young drivers who are equally eager to make their mark on the NASCAR world. No doubt the final results of the class will see some great new blood injected into the industry.

Hamilton Wins Chinese Grand Prix

After an exciting race at the Shanghai International Circuit on the weekend, Lewis Hamilton goes on to the next leg of the Formula One Grand Prix Championship with a few more notches on his belt. Hopes are high that he’ll be able to clench the championship this year – a feat which is made even more special by the fact that it is exactly 50 years since the first British driver ever won the Formula One world title.

Lewis Hamilton is often considered to be the first ‘black’ driver in Formula One. Hence his winning this year’s world title would be yet another great accomplishment for British Formula One. Nevertheless a lot can happen between now and the end of the race and while the 23-year-old driver is currently in the lead, a similar lead in last years world title slipped between his fingers in the final races. While no one can predict what will happen in the last few championship races of the season, what is clear is that Hamilton absolutely dominated the Chinese Grand Prix from start to finish.

After world champion Kimi Raikkonen has slipped a bit too far down the standings, he has pledged to help Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa in his bid to win the world title rather than waste time trying to recover. And that is exactly what he did by easing his pace and letting Massa gain a place during the last few laps of the race. However Hamilton was clearly in top form and it seemed nothing would give Massa the boost needed to overtake him and claim the winner’s trophy. Massa finished second but that doesn’t mean that McLaren driver Hamilton can rest on his laurels. He still needs a further four points to be sure that the world title will not slip through his fingers a second time.

While it may seem that Hamilton just had the better skill that day, it would seem instead that a lot was determined by the tires used by the Ferrari and McLaren teams and this probably affected the handling of the vehicles quite a lot during the race. McLaren chose to use hard tires, while Ferrari opted for softer tires. That seemed to give Hamilton the boost he needed – he launched off the starting grid, led cleanly into the first corner and was 1.1 seconds ahead of competitor cars by the end of the first lap. It took ten laps just for the Ferrari team to gain on him. It was a mistake that Ferrari is unlikely to make again. It is now just a matter of time before the 2008 World Champion is crowned and all eyes are on Hamilton and Massa as they compete for top honors.

Goodguys Southeastern Nationals

Lowe’s Motor Speedway is set to get flooded with a frenzy of colorful and creative cars on October 24-26. They will be gathering at this great raceway to take part in the Goodguys Southeastern Nationals, a fantastic automotive event that simply should not be missed by anybody with a passion for cars.

Thousands of colorful automotive masterpieces will be filling the infield at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in preparation for this great annual event. This will be the 15th installment of the Goodguys car show, which regularly features more than 3000 different cars – a monumental feast for all automobile lovers. The cars vary quite dramatically in make and style and visitors will be able to view things such as pre-1972 hot rods, classics, muscle cars, custom cars, trucks, deuce coupes and hot rod roadsters. The list is virtually endless and so is the action. The entire event has been designed as a family event so that auto enthusiasts can bring their families with them and make the most out of the weekend. According to Marcus Smith, Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s general manager and president, “Thousands of classic hot rods will be here, not only on display, but in action, making this truly a great automotive spectacle.”

Apart from the myriads of cars and fantastic racing action, visitors can also expect to enjoy a swap meet, a car corral, a model and pedal car display and various vendor exhibits. Kids will be able to entertain themselves at the free model building area, while adults can test their skills at the street challenge autocross. On Friday evening fans can also purchase a ride around the 1.5-mile oval with Richard Petty behind the wheel of a NASCAR Sprint Cup car, driving at speeds of 150 miles and more. If this sounds like the sort of opportunity you don’t want to miss out on, you can book your tickets online at the Goodguys website or purchase your ticket on the day. Adults will be expected to pay $17 a day and children between 7-12 years of age will cost $6. Children under the age of six will be admitted for free. The show grounds will be open from 8:00 to 17:00 on Friday and Saturday and 8:00 to 15:00 on Sunday.

Chevrolet Cruze WTCC Racer Unveiled by GM

Being the global corporation that it is, General Motors has been a regular competitor in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) for quite a few years already. Up until now, their competing car was based on the Chevrolet Lacetti (built by Daewoo). But now it seems that is all about to change.

Chevrolet Europe recently gave fans a glimpse of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship contender. The vehicle was premiered at the Paris Motor Show and no doubt turned quite a few heads. The new Chevrolet Cruze will replace the Lacetti, which has already won twelve world championship races. Fans are ecstatic but critics are sceptical – perhaps unsure if the new contender will be able to keep up with the reputation of the old marque. That is something that only time will tell, but in the meantime the new WTCC Cruze is already being tested as it gets ready to make is debut next spring in Brazil. It is interesting to note that the new vehicle has been developed, built and run by the same team that was involved with its predecessor. It is also being driven by the same team. Everyone involved in the project is currently very busy with the testing which will continue right through until the vehicles first race in Curitiba, Brazil, in 2009. The vehicle will then go on to visit all twelve tracks involved in the WTCC, in South America, Central America, the Far-East, Africa and Europe. Oddly enough, the WTCC has never really caught on in the US where NASCAR sees a much bigger following by and large.

According to Wayne Brannon, motorsport is deeply embedded in the DNA of Chevrolet. It would seem then that the new Cruze World Touring Car is simply the next logical step in a long tradition of winning both on and off the track. Brannon also drew parallels between Chevrolet’s winning performance on the racetrack and in the sales room, remarking that sales were up by 23 percent within the first six months of this year. Clearly customers are choosing Chevrolet in record numbers. No doubt the new Chevrolet Cruze will prove to be yet another vehicle that the company can be proud of. Motoring enthusiasts look forward to seeing it perform in the 2009 WTCC season.

Burton Steals Bank Of America 500

Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, was the stage for Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup. The night was full of fast-paced action, with an exciting turn of events taking place as Jeff Burton took his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to its limit to take home the winner’s trophy.

The race was exciting and had the phenomenal 160,000-strong crowd on the edge of their seats. Jeff Burton led the final 57 laps of the race, finally managing to beat 2nd place winner Kasey Kahne by just one second. Burton’s entire racing strategy was a gamble, but it paid off. This is his second victory this season and it has had even bigger implications for him in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. The win helped Burton gain 30 points on Jimmie Johnson, who only finished sixth in the race. Burton is now just 69 points behind Jimmie Johnson for the Sprint Cup and there are still plenty of races in the season for Burton to gain even more ground. Commenting on his move up on the Sprint Cup standings, Burton said: “People keep wanting to give the trophy to someone, but we’re only halfway through this chase, and it’s a long time from here to Homestead.” Indeed, contenders for the coveted Sprint Cup trophy are only five races into the ten-race chase. A lot can happen between now and then and Burton’s latest victory might give him quite a big psychological advantage over his chief rival.

Dodge driver Kurt Busch finished third and both he and Kasey Kahne were a surprise to fans who watched Johnson fade into the background after some stiff competition initially. Carl Edwards had an even more dismal race, crashing early and finishing a distant 33rd. Prior to the start of the race, Edwards had been second in the standings for the Sprint Cup, just 72 points behind Johnson. He will now have to work extremely hard if he wants to regain the ground he has lost. Sprint Cup contenders will be looking forward to driving at Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix and Miami during the second half of the challenge. A lot has already happened in the first half of the Sprint Cup challenge and it is impossible at this point to predict who will be taking the Cup home after the Miami finale.

2008 Black Sunday

Many people have probably never heard of the term ‘Black Sunday‘ before and have no idea what it means. Despite the fact that Black Sunday is already a very large event, it is not one that is generally splashed across racing calendars. If you’re an auto racing fan, then you owe it to yourself to show up and support this great event as part of your growing ‘auto’ education.

At least once a year the men and woman who belong to the United Black Drag Racers Association gather together at a single location to take part in Black Sunday. Auto/drag racing may not be the next black national pastime, but it certainly is a lot more popular than many people think. In fact, the event has grown so much in popularity over the years that the African-American fan base is now large enough to facilitate a truly excellent day of sport, car culture, racing and socializing. Apparently Black Sunday has its roots in a bragging-rights day that was organised amongst black drag racers in the St. Louis area. Well, what might have started out as a really simple, small gathering is now a full-scale auto and motorcycle festival with national appeal. It’s a place where fans of the sport can get together and reignite old friendships, test their skills behind the wheel and compare the performances of their machines against each other. The introducing of a purse has further added to the appeal and drama of the event.

The event is also a great way to learn more about the sport and the United Black Drag Racers Association offers a hands-on show and tell-type of educational display on the day. The idea is to spark the imagination of youngsters and get more of them racing from a younger age so that there are more black drivers out on the racing circuits. Far from being a small, minority event, more than 20 000 people turn out to support the event each year. This year’s Black Sunday will be taking place at Gateway International Racetrack on Oct 17-19. So try something new and support this great annual event. You may be surprised at what you find!

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