Home Blog Page 5167

Marshall’s Madness: Another MWR Bad Decision; Sadler Subbing For Vickers

Early Thursday morning the Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) stable made another big announcement, this time in regard to who will pilot the No. 55 Toyota for the remainder of the NSCS season.

38-year-old Elliott Sadler will drive the Aaron’s Dream Machine in the final five races for Brian Vickers who has taken the rest of the year off due to blood clots. The 3-time winner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) has been driving in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) for Joe Gibbs Racing.

“First, I am already a teammate of Brian’s at Joe Gibbs Racing and it is really tough to see him going through this again,” Sadler said. “Both of us have fought hard to get back in a position to win at NASCAR’s highest level. I am honored to have this opportunity to drive for MWR because I know their cars are competitive. I want to thank Rob Kauffman, Michael and Aaron’s for giving me this chance. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers will be for Brian to have a quick recovery.”

But could this decision be another wrong choice by Kauffman and Waltrip? Is Elliott Sadler truly worthy of this opportunity?

Top notch equipment is key now a days and Sadler has had that type of equipment, the only problem is he hasn’t been able to produce victories and championships with it. 2012 saw Sadler compete with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the NNS championship until late in the Phoenix race Sadler spun out and it cost him the title. 2013 gave positive hopes for Sadler as he’d expect a championship, that hasn’t been the case because he hasn’t even been to victory lane and is currently fourth in NNS points.

We also don’t know what Sadler is capable of doing back in the NSCS. The last time we saw him he was deprived of his contract and sent to the NNS because he wasn’t producing. These last 5-races if the No. 55 team plans on having successful weeks you can’t count on an on/off guy like Sadler.

In my personal opinion I certainly don’t believe MWR should’ve chosen Sadler, I think a more reasonable source would have been Parker Kligerman or Alex Bowman. Most people would think I’m going out on a limb with those two guys, but if MWR has already downsized to 2-cars in 2014 and you can’t paint the future of Brian Vickers why not develop young talent.

“Elliott has all the attributes we were looking for. He’s experienced, familiar with Toyota, has a great attitude plus he’s a heck of a driver,” Waltrip said. “We’ll pair him with Scott Miller and the No. 55 guys and I know they’ll have the Aaron’s Dream Machine at the front of the field. I also want to thank everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota for letting us borrow Elliott for a few races.”

Michael Waltrip won’t be helping get Sadler setup for the car this weekend though because he will be in the No. 55 Toyota for Talladega.

If Your Last Name Is Earnhardt, You Might As Well Live In A Fish Bowl

Photo Credit: Gary Buchanan

If you are Dale Earnhardt Jr., this is what you do every day of your life and more so since the loss of his father on February 18, 2001.  Earnhardt Jr. has really lived his life in a “fish bowl.” It has to be tough growing up and having every form of news media watch your every move.  I relate Earnhardt Jr. to the life that Elvis Presley lived.  Every move Elvis made was watched till he left this world. Of course we have nut cases who say he is still alive. Who knows, perhaps he did to get away from the crazies and staged his own death.

I have followed Earnhardt Jr. since his career began when his uncle Tony Eury Sr. talked his Daddy into putting him into at that time, a Busch Series car. Dale Sr was wanting to get started in that series with a driver. It turned out to be a good move for sure. Earnhardt Jr. went on to win races and Busch Championships.  But as fate would have it, Earnhardt Jr. was moved up to what was known back then as the Winston Cup Series, the wonderful Winston Cup years. What a sponsor Earnhardt Jr. had with Budweiser in that red and white number 8.

The only thing that really irritates me are the things said over the years about any female relationship Earnhardt Jr. might have become involved with. When he did he kept them well hidden except to family and those he could trust.  I have read some about Amy since he brought her to the awards banquet last season, it’s sad.  Just like I said, living your life in a “fish bowl.” To the females making the comments and negative as they are, no one will ever be good enough in your eyes for Earnhardt Jr. to have a permanent relationship with.  But I think that is for him alone to decide.

Every female in your words will be after his fame or money, no matter who they are. Let things be. Let Earnhardt Jr. and Amy be alone and enjoy their lives together. They may or may not marry one day, it’s not for a fan to decide. It’s really nice to hear Earnhardt Jr. say “she is a real nice girl.” It’s nice to read where he makes comments about Amy’s little Pomeranian to every race with a smile and stand next to him during the pre-race ceremonies.

Stop blaming everything that goes wrong on Amy. I have a good friend who sends me articles she reads on sites almost everyday that is said about Amy blaming Jr not winning race to blown up engines on her. You people have got to be crazy to say some of the things you do to keep Earnhardt Jr. from being happy and for once in his life, truly happy. It takes a strong woman who can deal with all of that.

Amy just might be the right one to jump in and handle all of it because of one word, true love. She has been in there with him for a long time now and handled all that the media and jealous female fans. I am happy for both of them and I truly hope this relationship lasts.  For myself, Earnhardt Jr. appears to be truly happy in his personal life and that counts more than winning a race.

Todd Parrott Suspended From NASCAR

Todd Parrott, the crew chief for the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports team, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy. On Oct. 17, Parrott was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) of the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book.

Richard Petty Motorsports fully supports his indefinite suspension from NASCAR. Richard Petty Motorsports commented on the issue in a press release stating,  “We are very disappointed that one of our employees did not meet our expectations and we completely support NASCAR, their policies and final decisions when it comes to the substance abuse policy.”

Sammy Johns, Vice President of Operations and Competition, will handle crew chief duties on the #43 Ford driven by Aric Almirola this weekend at Talladega. “We have an expectation of all RPM employees to conduct themselves at the highest level of professionalism and within the competitive confines as set forth by NASCAR,” said Johns. As of now Sammy Johns will be the crew chief for the #43 machine for the rest of the 2013 season.

 

 

Gary McLean goes back-to-back in Autumn Colours Classic OSCAAR Modified Feature

Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin

He won the Chase for the Colors to earn the pole for the Autumn Colours Classic. He won the Rick Wooler Memorial at Sunset Speedway on Velocity 250 weekend. He won his second straight OSCAAR Modified Championship. Gary McLean kept it rolling as he would lead all 50 laps on his way to winning the OSCAAR Modified Autumn Colours Classic feature.

As previously mentioned, he started pole with Shane Stickel beside him. The rookie survived the Chase for the Colors event to finish second back in August. Matt Barton would qualify third followed by Mike Westwood, Justin Jones, Darren Kearnan, Brent McLean, Rod Sauder, Dave Osbourne, Nick Kozak, Tim Burke, Brian McLean, Davey Terry, John Harper, Dean Scott, Justin Demelo, Tommy Robb, the 4, Bobby Tolton, Dustin Jackson, Ryan Dick and Andy Jankowiak.

The cautions started early as on lap three, Jankowiak would spin on the front stretch. Jankowiak was smoking a couple laps prior. It was sight nobody wanted to see after the Boston native drove six hours to be there for the Monday feature. With 47 laps to go, Gary McLean led Barton, Stickel, Kearnan, Brent McLean, Jones, Osbourne, Kozak, Burke, Demelo, Terry and Harper.

The restart wouldn’t go that way as Osbourne would end up in the grass. The second restart went well and Gary McLean escaped the field till the third caution at lap nine for Burke going into the grass. The fourth caution came six laps later for Scott spinning in turn four. With 35 laps to go, Gary McLean led Barton, Brent McLean, Stickel, Demelo, Kearnan, Jones, Harper, Kozak, Robb, Terry, Brian McLean, Sauder, Osboure, Burke, Jones, Dick, Tolton, the 4 and Scott.

The restart went wrong as Kozak spun, collecting Dick, Jones and Osbourne. The three of them would get stuck together and after a red flag delay, Dick and Osbourne continued while Jones was done. It marked the second start for 13-year-old Jones after winning the Factory Stock Championship at Laird International Raceway.

The second restart was no better as Kozak once again found trouble, hitting the outside wall. Jankowiak, Scott, the 4 and Harper used the caution as an opportunity to head down pit road. Still with 35 laps to go, Gary McLean led Barton, Brent McLean, Stickel, Demelo, Kearnan, Jones, Robb, Terry, Brian McLean, Westwood, Burke, Tolton, Osbourne, Dick, the 4, Scott and Jankowiak.

The third attempt at a restart produced the scariest incident of the night as going into turn one, Burke got into Terry. Terry would slide up, knocking the driver’s side of his modified off of the tractor tire, before flying off the edge of the hill at the turn one track opening and landing down below. Terry was okay and looking over the No. 14 Wasteco Modified, there wasn’t much damage sustained. Due to the race going over its scheduled time limit, caution laps were now being counted.

The restart would come with 28 laps to go and they’d make a pair of green flag laps before the seventh caution for Demelo spinning.

With 22 laps to go, the field saw green again and Gary McLean escaped the field and began opening up his lead ahead of Brent McLean, Matt Barton, Shane Stickel, Darren Kearnan, Tommy Robb, Justin Jones, Brian McLean, Bobby Tolton, Tim Burke, Mike Westwood, Dave Osbourne and Andy Dick. The top four remained the same over the next 11 laps with Robb making his way by Kearnan for fifth ahead of Jones and Brian McLean.

They wouldn’t make it to the end without another caution as on lap 43, the eighth caution flew for Jones spinning Kearnan.

The restart would come with five laps to go, though quickly found the ninth caution as Westwood spins, collecting Osbourne. With five laps to go, Gary McLean led Brent McLean, Barton, Stickel, Robb, Jones, Brian McLean, Tolton and Burke.

The second attempt at a restart brought forth another caution as Tolton spun Brian McLean.

The third attempt was success as Gary McLean led the five laps on the way to picking up the victory. Brent McLean finished second followed by Matt Barton, Shane Stickel and Tommy Robb. Justin Jones finished sixth followed by Tim Burke, Darren Kearnan, Brian McLean, Bobby Tolton and Ryan Dick.

Andrew Gresel wins OSCAAR Super Late Model Autumn Colours Classic

Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin

For the fourth time this year, Andrew Gresel was victorious, driving his No. 81 Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park, Canadian Union of Skilled Workers, Overland Heating and Cooling, McRobert Fuels, Spira Fire Protection, Shoreline Property Management, London Recreational and HY-Grade Roofing Super Late Model to victory lane on Monday.

Virtue of winning the Chase for the Colors event, 2013 OSCAAR Super Late Model Champion Brandon Watson would start pole. Watson also won both of his heats during Saturday’s qualifying action. Gresel would start second virtue of finishing second to Watson at the Chase for the Colors. Virtue of his heat win, J.R. Fitzpatrick started third followed by Derrike Tiemersma, Brad Corcoran, Brent McLean, George Wilson, Jesse Kennedy, Jeff Dunford, Shane Gowan, Dwayne Baker, Glenn Watson, Shane McGlynn, Tyler Hawn, Todd Campbell, Ed Bowlby, Jim Bowman, Cory Jones, John Owen, Quinn Misener, Craig Stevenson and Gary Passer.

Brandon Watson grabbed the early lead and led till the first caution at lap seven for Bowlby spinning on the front stretch, thanks to contact from Owen. Bowman and Stevenson used the caution as an opportunity to come down pit road.

Watson once again grabbed the lead on the restart and led till the second caution at lap 14 for Dunford being spun by Owen. Misener, Bowman, Jones, Wilson, Hawn and McGlynn used the caution as an opportunity to head down pit road. With 36 laps to go, Watson led Gresel, Corcoran, Tiemersma, Fitzpatrick, Glenn Watson, McLean, Gowan, Passer, Kennedy, Baker, Campbell, Dunford, Owen, Bowlby, Wilson, Jones, McGlynn, Hawn, Bowman, Misener and Stevenson.

The first attempt at a restart brought forth the third caution when Tiemersma and Corcoran got together, collecting McGlynn, Bowlby and McLean with them.

The second attempt would be a go as Brandon Watson grabbed the lead ahead of Gresel while Glenn Watson slipped in front of Fitzpatrick for third before the lap 17 caution for Campbell being spun by Owen. Under the caution, McLean and McGlynn headed down pit road.

Once again, there’d be trouble again on a restart as the fifth caution was displayed for Tiemesma being spun by Dunford. Wilson used the caution to come down pit road for adjustments.

The green would go back in the air and at halfway, it was Brandon Watson leading Gresel, Baker, Glenn Watson, Passer, Fitzpatrick, Owen, Gowan, Campbell, Kennedy, Corcoran and Tiemersma. Six laps later, the sixth caution was displayed when Dunford and Gowan got together. Under the yellow, Bowlby pitted while Bowman got the lucky dog due to just going a lap down to Watson. With 19 laps to go, Brandon Watson led Gresel, Baker, Glenn Watson, Passer, Fitzpatrick, Owen, Campbell, Kennedy, Corcoran, Tiemersma, Wilson, Hawn, Misener, Jones, McGlynn, Dunford, Bowman, Gowan and Bowlby.

Bowlby was the only car a lap down but he’d get the lucky dog at lap 32 when Misener spun while Passer spun after the seventh caution was displayed. McGlynn, Dunford and Gowan used the yellow as their opportunity to pit.

Also under the same yellow flag, Brandon Watson came down pit road to fix bumper damage as his bumper was hanging half off due to contact on the previous restart. While on pit road, Watson’s team elected to change tires. In return, this handed the lead to Gresel. So now with 18 laps to go, Gresel led Baker, Glenn Watson, Passer, Fitzpatrick, Owen, Kennedy, Campbell, Tiemersma, Corcoran, Wilson, Hawn, Jones, Bowlby, Gowan, Dunford, Bowman, Brandon Watson, Misener and McGlynn.

The restart brought forth the eighth caution when Bowlby would spin off of turn two. Wilson and McGlynn pitted under the yellow. The field would get two more laps in before the ninth caution for Fitzpatrick spinning, collecting Campbell and Corcoran. The 10th caution flew at lap 39 for Wilson spinning off turn two. Under the yellow, McGlynn, Wilson and Bowman pitted.

At this point with 11 laps to go, Gresel continued to lead, while Brandon Watson had worked his way back up to the second position. Baker ran third followed by Glenn Watson, Passer, Owen, Tiemersma, Campbell, Corcoran, Hawn, Gowan, Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Jones, Bowlby, Misener, Dunford, Bowman and Wilson.  As the field was getting ready to go back green, Misener would hit Dunford, resulting in Dunford being done for the day due to heavy front end damage.

The caution laps would be counted now due to the race being over its scheduled time limit and the field would go back to green on lap 43, though saw another caution at lap 46 for Misener around in turn four while Owen was around in turn three. In the three laps that were ran in the process, Brandon Watson was able to slip by Gresel and grab the lead while Baker continued to run third ahead of Glenn Watson and Passer.

With the race being inside of the final five laps, cautions laps were no longer counted and the restart came with four to go, bringing the 12th caution for Tiemersma and Corcoran getting together, collecting Misener, Bowlby and McGlynn.

Once the field went back to green, Brandon Watson held Andrew Gresel off in the final four laps. However, upon further review by OSCAAR, Watson will be stripped of the win and credited with a last place finish due to breaking the tire rule. The tires that he put on under the lap 32 caution were sticker tires that were not registered with OSCAAR, and therefore illegal.

As a result, Andrew Gresel picks up his first Autumn Colors Classic victory. Glenn Watson gets credited with second followed by Dwayne Baker, Gary Passer and Todd Campbell. Shane Gowan finished sixth followed by Tyler Hawn, Jesse Kennedy, J.R. Fitzpatrick and George Wilson. Derrike Tiemersma finished 11th followed by Cory Jones, Jim Bowman, Brad Corcoran and John Owen.