McMahan takes Opening Night in Empire State!
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[/media-credit]The Greatest Show on Dirt brought their magic to Rolling Hills Raceway aka “The Fast Track” was one of three founding-member speedways when DIRT Motorsports was established in 1976, Rolling Wheels has matured into one of the most respected ovals on the entire circuit. The big 5/8-mile banked layout was first mapped out by the late Bob Petrocci, once a competitor himself at neighboring Weedsport Speedway. This is the largest track the WoO drivers will compete on this year.
The only glitch in the evenings action seemed to be when The New York State Liquor Authority didn’t come through on the liquor license in time for tonight’s race. Fans were allowed to bring beer in stadium size coolers, but no glass bottles were allowed.
Although a late afternoon rain shower cooled the temperature off considerably with the temperature at race time being 58 degrees. But the racing was red hot from qualifying all the way through to the final lap of the A Main.
Quick Time would be set by last years WoO ROTY and Kasey Kahne Racing driver Cody Darrah, who turned a lap of 16.257 or138.402 mph. The top 15 qualifiers were separated by just .547 of a second.
The first heat race saw a strong front row with last weeks winner at Williams Grove, Freddie Rahmer starting on the pole with Volusia Park winner and former Outlaws champion Danny Lasoski on the outside. The heat race was a fast hard charging race that Lasoski would win in dominate style over Cody Darrah and Freddie Rahmer. Lasoski and Darrah would advance to the Dash and Rahmer Kerry Madsen, Lance Dewease, and David Gravel would all advance to the A Main.
The second heat race would find the 20 time WoO champion Steve Kinser on the pole with Jac Haudenschild starting outside. The race would be a high speed ballet of position switches and tip toeing around a very narrow and slick track. Joey Saldana would come from 4th to take the victory while Steve Kinser would finish a solid second to advance to the dash. Haudenschild would lead Daryn Pittman, Paul McMahan, and Michael Parent to the A Main.
The 3rd Heat race was more of the same with 4 time champion and current points leader Sammy Swindell starting on the pole and to his outside a familiar sight in the STP/Tony Stewart Racing number 15 of Donny Schatz. Schatz and Swindell traded the points lead back and forth until last week when Steve Kinser took over the 2nd spot leaving Schatz just 12 points back. Swindell would dominate until the final lap when his car began smoking heavily on the back stretch. But Swindell would hold on to win the heat with Schatz closing fast. Both Swindell and Schatz would advance to dash. But Swindell would make the first of 2 engines changes on the night. Also advancing to the A Main were Chad Kemenah, Craig Dollansky, Logan Schuchart and Kraig Kinser.
The Dash inversion was a 6 putting Cody Darrah in the 3rd row to start. In the end, it would be Paul McMahan on the pole of the A Main followed by Chad Kemenah, Craig Dollansky, David Gravel and Donny Schatz. The Dash would find Sammy Swindell with another engine letting go and relegating him to the tenth spot on the start of the A.
The Last Chance Showdown was scheduled to start 8 cars and transfer 6 to the A Main with 4 getting their time back and the last two taking the tail of the field. But Lucas Wolfe would scratch for the night after losing an engine in the heats as would Blake Breen. That pared the field to 6. Jessica Zemken would lead for the majority of the race before losing an engine and catching on fire between turns 1 and 2. She climbed from the car quickly and was unhurt. The race would be won by Justin Barger, followed by Glen Styres, George Suprick, Chuck Hebing, April Wilson and Zemken would be credited with 6th.
When the mighty wings of the greatest show on dirt took the track for the A Main, the top 5 rows were a who’s who of racing. Tough competition all the way through. It was hard to pick a winner even for the staunchest of dirt racing fans. With 30 championships starting in the top 10 there was little doubt that this was going to be a hard fought race and the winner would have earned his $10,000 winner’s purse tonight.
Paul McMahan would take the early lead and never look back. Leading all 25 laps despite hard charges and challenges from David Gravel early and Craig Dollansky late. But through the top 10 it was a show worth twice the price of admission amongst some of the greatest drivers of our time. Danny Lasoski was in championship form cutting his way up to 4th. Steve Kinser would come home 5th. And even after changing 2 engines Sammy Swindell would come home in the seventh position. Interestingly enough all 30 of those championships would finish in the top 10. The Hard Charger award would go to Jessica Zemken who climbed 11 positions in the A main after blowing an engine in the B Main.
The points closed up almost as tight as the racing with Steve Kinser closing to within 4 points of Sammy Swindell and Kinser well he can’t breathe too much because team mate Donny Schatz is right there just 10 points back.
At the end of the night, fans and media alike had to sit back and take a breath. They had just witnessed racing at it’s finest. They had witnessed the unique and beautiful joining of man and machine in a display of skill that simply can not be matched else where. The graceful ballet of the masters of dirt had once again played out in front of an eager and excited crowd and they had not disappointed.
As the crowd gathered at the entrance of the pits, the masters prepared to meet their supporters, sign their names, pose for pictures, and answer questions both easy and hard. To the casual observer it was hard to tell which group was more excited the legions of fans or the master’s that thrilled them.
The World of Outlaws will run again on Saturday the 19th at the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York. Good tickets are still available. If you are in the area treat yourself to the Greatest Show on Dirt. You will never be sorry.
The Future of NASCAR – Spotlight on Jeremy Clements
Jeremy Clements is following a racing family tradition and is determined to add his name to the legacy.
His grandfather was the acclaimed NASCAR owner and crew chief Crawford Clements and was a big influence.
“My racing background goes all the way back to my grandfather Crawford Clements. He was a crew chief for Rex White and Buck Baker in the 1960s and they won a championship. So he’s the one who got all this started.”
He got his first go-kart when he was seven and won 47 feature events before moving on to dirt track racing. He began racing four cylinders on dirt in 1999. During the next three years he won over 50 feature events and two track championships.
In 2002, he progressed to the Late Model division winning nine races and the championship at Cherokee Speedway. He also made his first ARCA Series start at Talladega Superspeedway.
In 2003, he competed in late models and made five ARCA Series starts capturing three top-ten finishes. He also became one of the youngest drivers to ever qualify for a NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
He continued racing in the ARCA Series and the Late Model division in 2004 but his career came to a screeching halt. On July 24th while racing at 311 Speedway in North Carolina he was seriously injured. The drive shaft on his late model car broke and came through the car injuring his right hand.
The doctors told him it looked like a bomb had exploded in his hand.
“It just about took my hand off,” he said. “I had to have 10 surgeries and they sewed my hand to my hip for about a month. They did a skin graft, a bone graft and they took tendons from my foot to make it all work again.”
His doctors told him he would never race again. He was devastated.
“That’s all I’ve ever done with my life and all I hope to do. It scared me to think I might not be able to race again.”
What he didn’t find out until later is that his doctors had initially considered cutting off his hand.
It took him a year to recover but he was determined to prove the doctors wrong. A year later, he was back doing what he was meant to do.
In 2008 and 2009 he worked with Joe Gibbs Racing practicing and qualifying for Kyle Busch or Joey Logano when they were not available due to scheduling conflicts. There was a possibility of starting a third team for him but unfortunately he was not able to find the sponsorship money to advance his career with the organization.
He now drives for Jeremy Clements Racing. It’s a family business owned by his father Tony and his Uncle Glenn. It’s a daily struggle to compete with the well funded teams and their bevy of sponsors but Clements has never backed down from a challenge.
The team operates on a race to race basis. The money is usually just enough to keep them going but not enough to provide him with the competitive edge that a corporate sponsor could provide.
Here’s an example of the issues they face each race weekend. For the race in Darlington they were allowed to have six sets of tires but they came to the track with only two. They used one set for practice. The second set was used for qualifying and to start the race.
They get their remaining tires from the Cup teams who give them the tires after they have used them for practice.
They also use a different engine from most teams. The newer engines have more horsepower, torque and are about 30 pounds lighter.
“It’s difficult,” he says. “But if you’re not here, you’re going to be forgotten. We’ve got a good team. We just need sponsors to help with these kinds of obstacles.”
“Money buys speed.”
But don’t think he’s not grateful.
“I appreciate the opportunity to do this. I just want to be able to keep going.”
Look for Clements in his No. 51 Chevrolet on Memorial Day Weekend as NASCAR begins their campaign, ‘NASCAR Unites – An American Salute,’ to support the U.S. military and their families.
Jeremy Clements Racing gave fans the opportunity to honor loved ones, friends or themselves during the race. These names will be displayed on the deck lid of his car for the May 26th Charlotte race. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point base.
They are also proud to have Rick Harrison of ‘Pawn Star’ fame as their primary hood sponsor for the race. Harrison will serve as Grand Marshall for the Nationwide History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
For more information on Jeremy Clements, please visit JeremyClementsRacing.com
Kurt Busch Fined and Placed On Probation
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[/media-credit]Tuesday afternoon NASCAR placed Phoenix Racing driver Kurt Busch $50,000 and placed on probation until July 25th for driving through Ryan Newman’s pit stall recklessly and almost hitting crew members Saturday night at Darlington.
Along with Busch, Craig Strickler, Phoenix Racing crew member, was placed on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $5,000 for cameraman interference.
Newman’s gasman, Andrew Rueger, was placed on probation until June 27th and fined $5,000 for not obeying a NASCAR official. Placed on probation, was crew chief Tony Gibson for a rule stating a crew chief is responsible for team members.
Tony Gibson had this to say about the incident, “Its dangerous enough doing normal pit stops, when you come ripping through someone’s pit stop like that, Busch could have taken out five or six guys plus the officials, pretty easy. I don’t know how someone didn’t get run over. It’s a miracle no one got hit.”
After the incident and fine, Newman was willing to talk but Busch was not.
“It’s easy to say that Kurt blew a fuse again. I’m not sure why he did it and tried to run over our guys and NASCAR officials. And nobody is. I think the chemical imbalance (presumably Kurt Busch’s anger management issues) speaks for itself. Kurt drilled me in pit lane and said he was taking his helmet off, and he didn’t see where he was going. I’m pretty sure there were 42 other guys that are taking their helmets off and doing whatever for the last 10 years, and that’s the first time that’s happened to me.”
This wasn’t the first time Busch has been penalized for his temper. In November, after is his profanity- laced tirade toward a reporter and his obscene gesture he made after his transmission broke down, Busch was fined $50,000 and fired by Penske Racing shortly afterward. Busch did say that he was working with a sports psychologist back in December.
“I need to be a better person on the radio, to the team, as a leader,” he said. “It’s personal issue, of course, and working with a sports psychologist, I’ve gotten obviously a small grasp, but there’s obviously bigger things I need to accomplish and things cant happen overnight.”
