'At The Track' Bi-Mart Salute to the Troops 125

NCWS West July 4, 2009 - NASCAR Home Tracks Page

Click here for the full entry list

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Tweeting The Bi-Mart Salute to the Troops 125 Live

As in the past, the ‘At the Track’ segment will be blogging all the pre-race activities of the NASCAR Camping World Series West Race.

******* NASCAR Race Mom will also be tweeting Moses’ Race, green flag to checkered!

You can follow the action on twitter by following @MosesRace.

You can also read the updates on the live blog above.

If you want to participate in the action:

1. Leave a tweet using the #MosesRace hashtag. Your tweet will automatically be posted to the live blog also. Tweets will appear in the live blog almost immediately.
   
   Tweet any questions you have to @MosesRace.. (Please do not leave a dm - it is usually too dark at the track to switch back and forth.)
   
   
2. You can also leave a post in the comment box located at the bottom of the live blog. (However tweeting is much faster)
   

Important – when NASCAR Race Mom signs off the blog - please feel free to leave any comments and questions while we are gone - NRM will see them as soon as we log back in. If you are a first time user, your input might not appear on this blog until we return and approve them. However, rest assured that they will be saved and answered.

NASCAR Race Mom will be checking for activity on this Blog frequently!

If you are not familiar with Twitter, click here for a cheat sheet.

Moses Guests on Tailgating Internet Talk Show

UPDATE: The interview went well - you can listen to the rebroadcast by clicking here!

This Thursday (07/16), NASCAR Camping World Series West Driver, Moses Smith will be a guest on Tailgating Internet Talk Show by Tailgate Trackside. The show offers everything from your Grill to your Tailgate plus Racing news from your favorite series.

The thirty minute show will feature NASCAR Driver Moses Smith. Moses, who is currently eighth in the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series West, is entering his third full season. He recently received the prestigious “2008 Most Popular Driver” Award by his NASCAR fans. For the first time, balloting was conducted online resulting in an overwhelming global response to Moses.

‘Tailgating With Tony’ and Moses will talk about Tailgating, Racing, and how to have a good time doing it. Join them live this Thursday Night at 10:00 p.m. CST. You can also join them live in their chat room and/or call into the show. The call in number is (347) 843-4942.

PIR Defending Champion - Hershel McGriff

Hershel McGriff and z. Smith (NRM)

The last time the NASCAR Camping World Series West raced in Portland was 1986 when Hershel McGriff, then fifty-nine years of age, took the championship and Chad Little was named rookie of the year. Portland International Raceway is a 1.967 mile road course that features twelve turns on an asphalt/concrete surface. There is only a five foot elevation change throughout the track. Portland International Raceway is one of three road course races this season. The other two are Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA and Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT.

McGriff, retired twice from NASCAR racing. He retired once in 1954; then came back in the mid-1960s. In 2002, Mr. McGriff retired again. The eighty-one-year-old racer planned on racing at all three road courses.

The only problem was that one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers and multiple halls of fame — including the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame — was unable to qualify for the Sonoma race and did not get a provisional into the race.

"We should be in good shape here {Portland International Raceway}," said McGriff from his motor home where he was camping Wednesday {July 8th} . "I hadn't driven in seven years. I never dreamed I wouldn't make the program (at Sonoma). They wouldn't give me the provisional.”

Hershel McGriff is the PIR Defending Champion. For the record, McGriff won the series' only other stop at P.I.R.; that race coming in 1986.

Like my son, Moses Smith, McGriff lives in Arizona. McGriff was voted Most Popular Driver twelve times over his long NASCAR career. This honor has been awarded in the west series since 1965. Hershel McGriff receive the MPD Award in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992. Moses was the recipient of the prestigious award last year.

Resource: Bill Poehler’s article “Legendary McGriff back in the car racing at 81”

We Will See You At PIR

Interview with Jerry Boone

As I was running through the lobby of the hotel this past June, grabbing a cup of coffee for my husband Paul, I ran into Jerry Boone. I was there in support of my son Moses and the Hasa Pool Products Race team.

Jerry explained that he was there promoting the ninth race in the NASCAR Camping World Series West Championship; the race in Portland.

“I would love to interview you for my blog!” I gushed. Mr. Boone graciously agreed.


NASCAR Race Mom: First off, please give me a brief bio of yourself.

Jerry Boone:

I'm a retired newspaper reporter/photographer/editor and columnist. I also covered motorsports for The Oregonian newspaper for almost seven years and was a contributing writer for Stock Car Racing magazine, Circle Track, Classic Motorsports and ESPN.com.

I began working on the Portland NASCAR race in early February, because I know the man who is backing the event and I wanted to help make it successful. Most of my time has been spent with face-to-face promotions, bringing either an MJ2 West car or a GASS car to car shows, shopping malls, cruises etc. to tell folks about the race.

NASCAR Race Mom: What are the five things a NASCAR Camping World Series Race Fan might not know about the Portland International Raceway?

Jerry Boone:

1) When people see the address is "Victory Boulevard" they assume the street name has to do with auto racing. Actually the name of the street goes back to when the site of PIR was the community of Vanport, a large city that housed workers for the shipyards in Portland and Vancouver. The yards built WWII Liberty Ships and most of the streets had names the reflected the war effort. The city was destroyed in a flood in the 1950s, when an earthen levee broke.

2) Unlike most road courses, the track is almost flat, with less than 5 feet of elevation change over the entire two-mile course.

3) The track is owned by the City of Portland and it a designated city park. It gets no taxpayer money and operates on the revenue it receives from rental and use fees.

4) Many race engineers feel the track is very demanding for both engine builders and suspension tuners. Because it has two long straights, it is much like a big oval, but the tight corners at the chicane also resemble the type of corners you might see on a course laid out on city streets. Brake wear will be a huge factor, as will be the abuse on the engine and gearbox.

5) The last time the series raced at PIR was in 1986; when Hershel McGriff won the race and went on to win the season championship.

6) The fastest part of the track will be at the end of the long back straight -- which is really a very long curve -- just before the cars have to brake for a quick series of left-right corners.

NASCAR Race Mom: How would you answer this question, “What I love about the NASCAR Camping World Series West is?”

Jerry Boone:

The variety of tracks, the history behind the cars -- because almost all of them are former Cup or Nationwide cars -- and how approachable the drivers are when it comes to answering questions. I tell new fans that they can see the nearly the exact same type of technology, tech and talent as they'll see at a major NASCAR race, except they'll be able to see it up close and ask questions.

NASCAR Race Mom: This question is for my buddy Paul Harraka Sr. (father of Rookie of the Year contender Paulie Harraka) - Where is your favorite place to eat near the track?

Jerry Boone:

My friends and I always met at Shari's across the track or the NightHawk a mile or so south for breakfast. The track food is better than average; or dinner, check out some of the spots at Jantzen Beach or go into downtown Portland for restaurants along the waterfront with great food and spectacular views.

NASCAR Race Mom: Is there anything else you want to inform my readers about?

Jerry Boone:

The Portland area is really pumped up about the series coming back to the area and racing on the road course. Since the track is city-owned, most fans have a feeling of "ownership" in the facility so look on the series as coming to our "home." As part of the group putting on the race, we expect there are some things we will screw up and have to fix on the spot. We are open to suggestions on how to do things better...as we hope to get a second shot next year.

You can go to their website for more information by clicking here.

Sprint Cup Driver, Greg Biffle to appear at PIR

Greg Biffle will be at Portland International Raceway to meet the fans and sign autographs on July 19th from 10:00 a.m. until noon!


Greg is off to a great start this year, spending most of the season in the top 10 in Sprint Cup points. Greg's appearance will coincide with an action packed weekend at PIR, including the NASCAR Camping World cars racing on Sunday as well as the historic Cup cars of the Stock Car Race Series and the locally based Great American Stockcar Series.

Moses and I will be there participating in the Camping World Series West race. I hope that I get the opportunity to meet Mr. Biffle. I find it cool that Moses and Mr. Biffle both race the same number.

Advanced weekend packages are only $25, available at Portland area Bi-Mart stores or on the Portland Nascar Website tickets page. Weekend ticket packages bought at Bi-Mart include a free pit pass, available while supplies last.

If you would like a complete breakdown of the weekend please CLICK HERE to download the pdf.

info from Portland Nascar