Wednesday, December 31, 2008

At Test Day At Toyota Speedway

Toyota Speedway
I caught up with Moses during a testing day at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. The sunny and warm California weather belied the snow capped mountains in the background.

Moses and the crew look very busy, but I was able to chat with him for a moment in between his time on the track.


Question: The weather is gorgeous out here at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale; you were born and raised in California. When was the first time you raced at Irwindale?

Moses #76 Formula MazdaMoses: I race a Formula Mazda here in 2000…I qualified on the pole but finished second…I think, or was it the other way around.

Question: How is testing going?

Moses: Testing is going well. It is the first time I get to work with Mario Isola. We seemed to hit it off well.

Question: Will this be your last test of the 2009 season, since the NASCAR ban on testing?

Moses: Yeah, we wanted to get out and shake everything down before the ban is put into effect January 1st. It should be interesting to see how the ban affects everyone next year.

Question: What are your predictions for 2009?

Moses: Too early to tell. I think the showdown will give us a good indication; you will have to ask me after that.

Moses Smith, #16 Hasa Pool Products ToyotaThe sixth-edition of the NASCAR Toyota All- Star Showdown will be the first race of the 2009 season for driver Moses Smith, #16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota.

Moses finished the 2008 season sixth in the championship points. He completed the season on October 25, with a third place finish at the All American Speedway.

The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Show- down has been nicknamed “The Daytona 500 of NASCAR Short Track Racing.” The 250 lap race will begin at 8:31 p.m. January 24, 2009.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

One of the Ten Semi-Finalists in the Irwin "Tell Us Your Vise Grip Story" Sweepstakes.

Checking the website and it appears that we are one of the ten Semi-Finalists in the Irwin "Tell Us Your Vise Grip Story" Sweepstakes. This would mean that at the very least, Paul won a Tool bag of Vise-Grip pliers and wrenches (contents of tool bag determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). ARV: $550. What an excellent prize – I know that Paul will make good use of his new tool bag!

The rules state: After the conclusion of the Voting Phase, a different group of qualified judges determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion will select from amongst the Semi-Finalists the top three (3) Contest Entries ("Finalists") based on the Judging Criteria (defined above). Each Finalist will be a potential Top 3 Finalist Prize winner. The qualified judges will then select the potential Contest Grand Prize, First Runner-Up Prize, and Second Runner-Up Prize winners from amongst the Finalists based on the Judging Criteria. In the case of a tie, the entrant whose Contest Entry received the highest score in the Fit with Theme category will be deemed the winner from amongst the tied entrants.

Thanks to everyone who voted for us! We will keep you posted! Please think good positive thoughts about us making the cut and becoming one of the three finalists in the Irwin "Tell Us Your Vise Grip Story" Sweepstakes! That would mean an awesome trip to New York!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Moses Smith Prepares To Run In The 56th Camping World West Season

By Official Release

The 2009 schedule for the NASCAR Camping World Series West, which features two visits to Iowa Speedway, will be comprised of 13 races, NASCAR announced today.

The schedule – with stops at 11 venues in seven states between March and September – features a balance of short tracks, speedways and road courses.

It includes the addition of a second visit to Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on Sept. 4. The event will be in conjunction with the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the ultra-competitive 7/8-mile track.

The NASCAR Camping World Series West will make an earlier trip to Iowa during the month of May for the third edition of the combination race between the NASCAR Camping World Series East and West. Joey Logano edged Kevin Harvick in the first combination race at Iowa in 2007, while West Coast native Brian Ickler topped Kasey Kahne there in 2008.

Venues joining the NASCAR Camping World Series West schedule in 2009 include Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, a road course visited by the circuit in 1986, and Madera (Calif.) Speedway, which last held a series event in 2003. The Portland event, one of three road course races on tap for 2009, is set for July 19; while the Madera race is slated for April 25.

Two events will once again run in conjunction with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends again in 2009. The NASCAR Camping World Series West will travel to Phoenix International Raceway on April 16 to be part of the big NASCAR weekend in the Valley of the Sun. The series will also share the stage with NASCAR’s premier series on the road course of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on June 20.

“The 2009 schedule features many of the popular venues in key markets that have hosted some of the greatest racing in the 55-year history of the NASCAR Camping World Series West,” said NASCAR’s Managing Director of Racing Operations, George Silbermann. “We thank our promoters and competitors throughout the region for their continued support, and look forward to returning to Madera Speedway and Portland International Raceway. The package of events overall should make for another exciting season of competition.”

Other 2009 highlights include:

  • The NASCAR Camping World Series West will kick off its 56th season at Thunder Hill Raceway in Kyle, Texas on March 14. It marks the fifth annual visit to the 3/8-mile track.

  • The series will make two visits to All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. The historic fairgrounds track, which attracted a sell-out crowd to open the 2008 season, will host an event on April 4. As it did in 2008, the series will return to Roseville to close out its season on Sept. 19.

  • The NASCAR Camping World Series West will visit Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.) on the Fourth of July for what has become a big holiday attraction for Southern California race fans.

  • Two other popular short track events on the 2009 schedule include a visit to Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore., on June 6 and a trip to Colorado National Speedway in Dacono, Colo., on Aug. 15.

  • A visit to the expansive Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, on Aug. 1 will mark the third road course event for the year.

2008 Team at Thunder Hill Raceway In Kyle Texas

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

NASCAR: Hornaday Jr. to race in All-Star Showdown

Herald news services

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For drivers in the NASCAR Camping World Series, the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is a chance to showcase their talent in the biggest event of the year. For Ron Hornaday Jr., it will be more of a homecoming.

Hornaday – who prior to becoming a three-time champion in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, spent much of his life in and around the NASCAR Camping World Series West – recently announced plans to compete in next month’s all-star event at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).

The prestigious postseason event, slated for Jan. 23-24, is considered the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing.’ It will feature two days of racing and will air live on SPEED beginning at 7 p.m. both nights.

Hornaday’s father, Ron Sr., was a two-time champion in the NASCAR Camping World Series West, when it was known as the NASCAR Winston West Series – winning back-to-back titles in 1963 and 1964. Ron Hornaday Sr. passed away on Sunday at the age of 77.

The younger Hornaday made 46 starts in the series between 1989 and 2001, nearly winning the championship in 1994.

Now he will get the opportunity to return to the series and compete in the sixth edition of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

“I’ve always wanted to run it,” Hornaday said. “It’s been a great series. That’s how I got noticed in the earlier days when I was racing Winter Heat on TV.”

Although he moved on to become a regular in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well as competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Hornaday returned from time to time to race in the NASCAR Camping World Series West through 2001. One of those opportunities was the first NASCAR Camping World Series West race at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in 1999. He finished fourth in that event – trailing race winner Steve Portenga, Bill Sedgwick and Butch Gilliland at the finish.

Despite the 10 years that have passed since, Hornaday says he has a vivid recollection of the track.

“I remember like it was the back of my hand, because it was racing just like Tucson where I kind of made a name for myself,” he said. “It’s a triple-groove race track, where you can run the top, middle and bottom.”

While he expects the track to be much the same, Hornaday anticipates the competition will be different.

Hornaday joins a list of top short-track drivers who have already committed to running in the event, including NASCAR Camping World Series East and West champions, Matt Kobyluck and Eric Holmes. Also confirmed to compete are 2007 NASCAR Camping World Series West champion Mike David, four drivers who have earned rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Camping World Series in the last three season (Jason Bowles, Peyton Sellers, Jeff Barkshire of Auburn, and Austin Dillon), and Brian Ickler, winner of the NASCAR Camping World Series combination race in Iowa this past May.

“Everything’s changed so much,” he said. “Everyone’s learned so much about the cars. It’s so competitive. I’m looking forward to going out there to put a good show on and give the fans a good race.”

Hornaday, who hailed from Palmdale, Calif., prior to moving to North Carolina, also looks forward to seeing a lot of his old friends at the all-star event.

“I’ve got a lot of friends that I grew up with and went to school with and some who have followed my career. It’ll be great to see them,” he said.

In addition to the NASCAR Camping World Series, the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown’s two days of racing will also include action in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series with Late Model and Super Late Model races. Hornaday’s homecoming plans include competing in the Super Late Model race, driving for a car builder he knew early in his racing career.

“The first car I ever bought was from Dave Jackson,” Hornaday recalled. “It’s been about 25 years since I drove one of his cars. It’s going to be neat. I really appreciate them bringing a car out for me and the opportunity to drive out there. It’s going to be fun. I’m really looking forward to it.”

In addition to being a three-time champion in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Hornaday was a two-time champion in the former NASCAR Southwest Tour. His racing resume also includes 179 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and 45 starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Iowa Speedway To Host NASCAR Camping World Series West Race In 2009

The Iowa Speedway, “America’s Place To Race” in Newton, Iowa announced that they would host the U.S. Cellular NASCAR Camping World Series East/West Challenge on May 17, 2009.

NASCAR vice president of racing operations Steve O'Donnell said in a news release, "The Midwest has some of our sport's most loyal fans, and Iowa Speedway produces some incredible racing as we've seen with the NASCAR Camping World East and West Series. We look forward to racing there." So do at least some top-level racers.

NASCAR star Carl Edwards told The Des Moines Register recently that Iowa Speedway is "real special."

"I feel like the fans in that area, they're hard-core racing fans," said the Columbia, Mo., native, who plans to race both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series schedules full-time again this season. "There are more dirt tracks in Iowa than probably any other state in the country. I feel like when we go up there to race, the fans are really going to support this, so that's exciting."

In addition to the NASCAR Camping World East and West Series race in 2009, Iowa will host the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race later in the season.

Moses Smith, driver of the #16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota participated in the 2008 West meets East Challenge held on May 18, 2008. While qualifying twenty-fourth, he finished sixth in the West series on the 0.875-Mile Asphalt Oval.

Friday, December 19, 2008

NASCAR Set To Begin Doping Tests In January

From FOX Sports On MSN - NASCAR will test drivers for performance-enhancing drugs next month under a tougher policy that also bans using illegal drugs and abusing prescription medications.

NASCAR likely will test drivers the third week of January, and crew members must submit results from an approved lab by Jan. 16, according to documents obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.

A NASCAR memo sent to teams lists specific banned substances for which crew members must be screened. No similar guidelines were issued for drivers, as NASCAR reserves the right to test competitors for anything.

Under the old policy, NASCAR had the right to randomly test based on suspicion of abuse. Under the tougher guidelines first announced in September, everyone will be tested before the season begins, and random testing will continue throughout the year. NASCAR expects to randomly test 12 to 14 individuals per series each weekend in 2009.

The guidelines were strengthened in part because of former Truck Series driver Aaron Fike's admission that he had used heroin — even on days he raced. That led Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and other veteran drivers to call on NASCAR to add random drug testing to its policy.

The memo, dated Dec. 8, is the first time the new policy has been laid out in writing and specifies who falls under the guidelines. Those who must be tested before Jan. 16 include: pit crew members, including "over-the-wall" crew members, the crew chief, car chief, team members responsible for tires, fuel and pit crew operation, spotters and race-day support personnel that includes engineers, engine tuners, shock specialists, chassis specialists and tire specialists.

Among the substances those participants must be tested for are:

* Seven different amphetamines, including methamphetamine and PMA, a synthetic psychostimulant and hallucinogen.

* Three drugs classified under ephedrine.

* 13 different narcotics, including codeine and morphine.

* Ten different benzodiazepines and barbituates.

* Marijuana, cocaine, zolpidem, nitrites, chromates and drugs that can increase specific gravity.

No such list exists for the drivers, but spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed NASCAR will test for performance-enhancing drugs.

The driver testing, which will be administered by NASCAR, had been scheduled for preseason testing at Daytona next month. But because testing has been suspended for 2009, NASCAR likely will screen drivers when most are in Charlotte next month for the annual media tour of race shops.

The gap in the drug policy was exposed last September when Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday Jr. admitted he used a testosterone cream during 2004 and 2005 to treat a medical issue.

Hornaday has Grave's disease, a condition he's treating with Synthroid, which replaces a hormone normally produced by the thyroid gland to regulate the body's energy and metabolism.

NASCAR did not punish him for the testosterone admission, saying the cream did not enhance his performance or impair his judgment.

Moses Smith #16Moses Smith races the #16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota in the Camping World Series West. The Camping World Series has been entitled NASCAR's top developmental series. Over the years, this series has helped launch the careers of many future NASCAR stars, including current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standouts Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex, Jr., and David Gilliland, along with two-time championship crew chief Greg Zipadelli.

Recent enhancements to the series included a schedule with an expanded geographic reach, new competition and cost-containment initiatives such as the new "spec engine" and composite body, and a lowered age-limit to 16 for drivers.


Should NASCAR's new drug testing policy filter down to their developmental series - The Camping World Series - East and West?

Vote in the poll located on the right side bar and let your voice be heard.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Short-Track Racing's Most Prestigious Race Moves To January

In its five-year history, the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown – held at one of NASCAR’s premier racing facilities – has quickly become a showcase of top short-track racing.

The race includes protected starting spots for the champions of each of the NASCAR Developmental Series. The move of the race from the Fall to January allows for increased preparation and provides greater exposure for the teams and drivers.

“This is the weekend that launches major U.S. motor sports each year,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations. “This move represents a tremendous opportunity to build upon the successes of past NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdowns, broaden the scope of potential participants, and allow competitors additional time to gear up for this huge event.”

Camping World Series NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown


Friday, January 23
10:55-11:55 a.m. - Practice
12:50-1:50 p.m. - Final Practice
6 p.m. - Qualifying
9:10 p.m. - “Open” Race (50 laps) ***

Saturday, January 24
5:15-6:15 p.m. - Driver Autograph Session
8:31 p.m. - Race (250 Laps)


*** Provisional Starting Positions 35th thru 40th have been established for those who did not qualify for positions 1st thru34th. The 50-lap “Open” race will be conducted to fill any unfilled positions for the NASCAR Camping World Series Toyota All-Star Showdown. Positions 35th thru 40th will be filled by the top six (6) finishing drivers in the 50-lap “Open” electing to transfer. To be eligible for these positions the driver and car owner must possess a valid 2009 NASCAR license and have filed this entry prior to the entry deadline.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Every Fan Vote Was Crucial - Moses Smith Wins MPD By Percentage Points.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 14, 2008) – Saturday night at the final awards banquet of the 2008 season, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher was also honored as the series’ Most Popular Driver.

He was the last of eight drivers to receive the honor via first-time fan voting on www.nascar.com and through www.nascarhometracks.com, the official NASCAR Developmental Series website. The Most Popular Driver award wasn’t revealed until each series’ season-ending banquet.

More than 253,000 votes were cast for 258 drivers in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and each of NASCAR’s six national touring series. Voting began July 7 and closed for each series as its season ended.

In addition, many track and team/driver web sites throughout NASCAR carried the links to voting on www.nascar.com.

Brad Keselowski, the Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, led all drivers with 59,300 votes. Fans cast 131,875 votes for drivers in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, tops among the eight series.

Every fan vote was crucial, especially in one series. The closest battle was in the NASCAR Camping World Series West where Moses Smith won the award by percentage points over Austin Cameron. Of the 7,612 votes tallied, Smith earned 15.409% while Cameron totaled 15.151%.

Two series champions were also voted as Most Popular Drivers – Christopher and Johnny Benson (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series). But the other six winners were drivers inside – and outside – their series’ final championship Top 10, illustrating the fans’ passion for their favorites regardless of ranking.


2008 NASCAR Most Popular Drivers

Moses Smith and Austin Cameron, along with Series Champion Eric Holmes, raced the 2008 season as Bill McAnally teammates. Moses finished the season sixth in the Championship while Cameron came in at seventh. Having all three of his drivers in the top ten was quite an accomplishment for the McAnally shop.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown was not kind to Moses last year as the video below evidences. You can hear the announcer theorize that Moses had a tire go down. However, in reality the noise you hear is a 'love tap' from a competitor. Moses finished 33rd in the race.


Friday, December 12, 2008

Two Days Of Action-Packed Competition Slated For Showdown



The sixth edition of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will feature two days of exciting action among some of the nation’s greatest short-track drivers in NASCAR Camping World Series and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition.

The prestigious postseason event, the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing,’ is slated for Jan. 23-24, 2009 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).

In addition to the NASCAR Camping World Series, which is NASCAR’s top developmental series, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be featured in Late Model and Super Late Model competition. The series is the weekly racing, grassroots foundation of NASCAR.

Both nights of all-star action will be aired live on SPEED, which has broadcast the event in each of its first five years. Broadcasts will begin at 7 p.m. PT each night. It will be part of a packed weekend on SPEED that includes the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car event.

A full day of on-track activity kicks off for the NASCAR Camping World Series on Friday, Jan. 23 with practice and qualifying, leading up to the 250-lap feature race on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Thirteen drivers have each already secured a spot in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown by winning a NASCAR Camping World Series race this year. In addition, champions of each of NASCAR’s developmental series also earned secured spots in the event.

Other positions in the starting lineup will be determined through time trials, which are slated for 6 p.m. on Friday, and limited provisionals for NASCAR Camping World Series regulars. Rounding out Friday’s activity for the NASCAR Camping World Series will be a “Last Chance Open” race at 9:10 p.m. that provides drivers one final opportunity to make the final 40-car starting grid for Saturday’s feature race (all times listed Pacific Time Zone).

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Models will also be featured on Friday, with qualifying at 4 p.m., and the 150-lap Super Late Model race set to go green at 7:35 p.m.

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model action, meanwhile, gets underway Friday afternoon with practice. Qualifying is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, leading up to a 75-lap Late Model race that is scheduled to start at 7:12 p.m.

The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown weekend will be capped off with a 250-lap feature event for the NASCAR Camping World Series, with the 40-car field set to take the green flag at 8:31 p.m.

To purchase tickets for the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, fans can go to www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.com or call the track at (626) 358-1100.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Rising Fees Running Revell Out Of NASCAR Model Business

Rising licensing fees are forcing Revell Inc. out of the business of producing NASCAR models, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Revell, an Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based division of Hobbico, has made NASCAR models for nearly 30 years. Production of the NASCAR models will end Feb. 28, the newspaper's Jim Pelz writes. Other race cars, hot rods and street cars will still be part of the company's model lines, along with airplanes and military hardware.

Revell pays three separate licensing fees for each NASCAR race car. One goes to the auto manufacturer, a second to NASCAR and a third to the driver/team involved. And as those licensing costs rose, profits margins were squeezed.

"It was a very frustrating and very difficult decision,” said Mike Brezette, Revell’s vice president of marketing told the newspaper.

“It really comes down to plain old economics. We’ve run in the red with the NASCAR licenses for the last three years at least.”


Revell Nascar #48 Lowe's Chevy Monte





ThatsRacin.com Report

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Sponsor Exodus From Troubled NASCAR Nation

Cash King Hits the Skids as Ad Dollars, Viewership Fall and Fans Stay Home

By Rich Thomaselli (AdAge.com)


Once-unstoppable NASCAR is hitting a wall as its fan base erodes, race attendance declines, TV ratings slip, the auto industry implodes and economically stressed marketers slam the brakes on sponsorships. The pileup is so big that NASCAR, long held up as the gold standard in sports marketing due to its followers -- fiercely loyal to the sport and its sponsoring brands -- had to lay off 1,000 employees and is fretting over whether it could actually lose money next year.

CEO Brian France, speaking last week in New York at its big year-end promotional event, Champions Week, said NASCAR won't see increased sponsorship revenue in 2009 -- a seemingly unthinkable turn of events for a sport that added $150 million in sponsorship dollars last year. "Next year, we will not obviously make that kind of a gain," he warned, then added, "The question is, are we going to back up [and lose money]?"

Of NASCAR's 42 full-time drivers, 12 currently do not have primary sponsors for the 2009 season, which begins in less than 10 weeks with the Daytona 500. Primary sponsors pay $18 million to $20 million to be featured as the main logo for all 38 races on a driver's car, such as DuPont does with Jeff Gordon. Running nearly a third of its cars without a major sponsor is a huge problem, since under its team business model, at least 75% of the budget comes from sponsors.

"I don't think it's necessarily an indictment of the value of a NASCAR sponsorship as much as it is the fact that it's more expensive than ever to do business with NASCAR," said Mel Poole, president of SponsorLogic, a sports consultancy in Charlotte, N.C. "Primary sponsors who spend $20 million to put the sticker on the car are spending just as much, if not double or triple that, in media support to leverage that."

According to an Advertising Age analysis of TNS Media Intelligence figures, advertisers spent $538.8 million on TV ads surrounding NASCAR programming from January through September of this year, down from $567.2 million in the same time period in 2007.

Old friends
And two NASCAR marketing staples have left. Eastman Kodak ended a 22-year relationship, while Sears Roebuck, hard hit by the economic downturn and anemic retail sales, decided to end its 13-year title sponsorship of the Craftsman Truck Series after this year.

"Just as we have transformed our company, we are transforming our marketing," said Kodak's Betty Noonan, VP-corporate marketing and branding. Kodak said it is concentrating most of its business on digital cameras, and is putting more of its sports marketing dollars into golf, whose audience demographic is far more lucrative than NASCAR's.

"Nobody appreciates sponsors more than us," said the VP-business development of a NASCAR team who asked not to be identified. (Indeed, the sport did sign on a number of sponsors in 2008, among them Wrigley and Best Buy.) "But you look around as you're trying to form partnerships, and you look at who's leaving, and it's just disheartening."

It's not only sponsors that are abandoning NASCAR; fans are too. This is the third consecutive season it has suffered from declining TV ratings and third straight year track attendance has fallen -- down some 9% from last season.

According to a Sports Business Journal report, even NASCAR's legendary brand loyalty among fans is down. Of more than 400 race fans who were surveyed by the publication, only 42% said they were "much more likely" or "somewhat more likely" to trust a particular product or service that is an official sponsor of NASCAR, down nearly 13 percentage points from the responses to the same question in 2007.

No downshift?
For its part, NASCARmaintains it's still on track. "While we're not immune to the downturn, by many measures and just about every important metric, we are in a strong position," said Andrew Giangola, VP-business communications. "We're still the second-highest- rated sports programming on TV, and while attendance is down, we still average about 120,000 fans per race."

Indeed, NASCAR is No. 2 to the National Football League by most measures, except for sponsorship revenue. The NFL pulls in about $1.2 to 1.5 billion per year compared with NASCAR's $3 billion; in third place is Major League Baseball, followed by the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League.

As for the layoffs, Mr. Giangola said to "consider the context," noting, "You had several years of very strong growth. Then NASCAR made some changes with the new car [introducing the more efficient Car of Tomorrow]. We believe some of [the layoffs] would have happened anyway. With the [Car of Tomorrow] you need fewer fabricators, fewer engineers, there's less labor costs. ... But, certainly, it's been exacerbated by the [economic] situation."

Moreover, the death throes of the Big Three domestic automakers could have drastic consequences for NASCAR: 32 of the 42 full-time teams for 2009 drive Chevys, Fords or Dodges. (The other 10 are Toyota, which saw unit sales fall 34% in November). General Motors Corp. already reduced sponsorship at 12 tracks last year to seven in 2008. According to reports, Ford Motor Co. canceled its pre-banquet party in New York last week, GM canceled its post-banquet party and representatives from Chrysler weren't even in attendance at the celebration.

GM has already publicly said everything is on the table when it comes to cuts. "We're obviously watching the situation very closely," Mr. Giangola said. "We're hopeful and optimistic that Congress will help the automakers. The domestic automakers have been a part of our tradition and history."

But if the Big Three disintegrate or scale back onNASCAR, there doesn't appear to be another foreign company ready to jump in. Honda announced last week that it is pulling out of Formula 1 racing, a shocking development.



Hasa Pool Product has been Moses’ primary sponsor since 2002. HASA, INC. has been keeping your water safe and clean for over 40 years. They are a manufacturing and distribution company, primarily engaged in the production, sale, and distribution of sodium hypochlorite and related products to the industrial, water treatment and swimming pool markets. Hasa prides themselves in their superior quality in products and service.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Auto Club Speedway Names David Talley Director of Communications

David Talley, who currently serves as Director of Media Relations for Daytona International Speedway, has been named Director of Communications for Auto Club Speedway announced Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker.

"Auto Club Speedway couldn’t be more thrilled to have David Talley join our already highly skilled team," said Zucker. "David’s talent, enthusiasm and expertise is priceless. Having someone of his caliber, lead our communications efforts will certainly take Auto Club Speedway to the next level."

As Director of Communications, Talley will oversee all public and media relations functions for Auto Club Speedway including two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Races, the West Coast Premiere of NASCAR, the Auto Club 500 on February 22, 2009 and the Pepsi 500 on October 11, 2009, the fourth race of NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. Additional events held at the Speedway include the AMA Superbike Series, the Historic Sportscar Racing Festival (HSR) and the NHRA Drag Events. Talley assumes his duties December 8th.

Talley comes to Auto Club Speedway as a seasoned public relations executive with over 26 years of experience. Most recently, he was the Director of Media Relations for Daytona International Speedway after serving 5 years with parent company International Speedway Corporation as its Director of Corporate Communications. In both roles he served as chief spokesperson and developed, implemented and managed all strategic communication initiatives.

For years this track was known as the California Speedway. The site sits on 568 acres. The speedway interior covers 130.7 acres. It houses three garages with one hundred spaces. Moses raced the road course here on August 11, 2007 in his rookie year in the series then known as the Grand National West Series. He qualified seventh and lead the race briefly before transmission issues sent him to the pits for repairs. He was able to return to the track and finished the race in fifteenth position.



Video by Low Budget TV

Saturday, December 6, 2008

NASCAR Is Host To Many Gentlemen

Did you enjoy the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet? I sure did. Who wouldn’t take pleasure in experiencing Jimmie Johnson officially being crowned as the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion amid the opulence of the Waldorf-Astoria, live on ESPN?

I reveled in the history bestowed on the crowd by the King, Richard Lee Petty. There is a racer who truly understood that this sport would be nowhere without its fans. Throughout Petty's career, but especially during his prime, he was known to stand for hours - backed against a fence, signing autographs to everyone who asked. Richard Petty is a true gentleman.

Then the show became very personal to me when the Chevrolet President Ed Peper walked on stage to accept the manufacturer's championship. My husband and I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Peper in September of 2006. Paul had written a short story about his 1991 Chevy Silverado truck (story) and won a trip to Dallas, Texas to take part in the public introduction of the all new Chevy Silverado.

It was an awesome trip. We met Montgomery Gentry; after which we were wined and dined at a V.I.P. party where they gave a private concert. Paul and I attended the Texas State Fair. We were treated to a Cowboy Crush concert and met with them. We were even given an autographed guitar with inlayed bowtie emblems on the fret bar. It is beautiful.

However, what I remember the most is how genuinely nice Mr. Peper was. While sharing a ride to the fairgrounds, we had a nice conversation about our son’s racing experiences. Mr. Peper was such a gentleman and very informed. It was only later that I discovered he was the Chevrolet General Manager.

Seeing Mr. Peper on stage at the awards banquet brought back a flood of fond memories. However, I was saddened to hear him announce his company tribulations. "This is the fight of our lives," he said. I wish him and Chevrolet the best for 2009.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Dale Earnhardt Jr Voted Most Popular Driver

(Over 7500 people took the opportunity to vote for the Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Camping World Series West via the NASCAR.com website. The 2008 recipient of the special award is Bill McAnally Racing’s Moses Smith, driver of the No. 16 Hasa Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry. This was Smith’s sophomore season in NASCAR. He and the Hasa team finished sixth in the chase for the series championship.)


For the sixth straight year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. accepted the Chex Cereals Most Popular Driver Award. The award was presented at the 2008 NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon at Cipriani in New York City. More than 1.2 million fan votes were cast for Earnhardt Jr. “It’s a great honor to be chosen by the fans once again,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “NASCAR fans are the best in all of sports and we’re fortunate to have a large group of fans that have been extremely loyal to us over the years."

(Photo Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Reuvers Honored In St. Paul - Minnesota State Champion Visits Capitol

(In Moses' rookie year, he race Elko Speedway on May 18, 2007. On lap 50, an accident caused him to pull it into the pits. He finished eleventh.)

Donny Reuvers is no stranger to short-track honors in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

The Dundas, Minn., driver is a former regional champion in NASCAR’s weekly series. In 2008, he earned his fourth consecutive Super Late Model championship at Elko Speedway and captured his second straight NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Minnesota state championship. Recently, Reuvers’ achievements were recognized by Governor Tim Pawlenty in a visit to the state capitol in St. Paul.

“That was real neat,” said Reuvers of the honor. “We got to spend some time with him and talk about racing. It was pretty exciting to do that.”

Reuvers had nine wins, 24 top fives and 26 top 10s in 26 races at Elko and nearby Raceway Park in Shakopee. In addition to his Elko track title, Reuvers finished seventh in points at Raceway, where he has also collected four track championships.

“I don’t think we’ve had as good a year as we’ve had in the past,” Reuvers said. “But we worked as hard as we could and still were able to accomplish some of the goals we set out to meet. Fortunately, I have a lot of good guys that help me out in the shop that were able to pick up the slack.”

For all the accolades he’s received over the years, Reuvers said it doesn’t get old.

“Never,” said Reuvers. “Honestly, it’s one of those things — NASCAR does a great job doing things for its champions — that it makes you strive to work harder so you get the opportunity to do it again.”

Just 26 drivers out of the thousands of participants in NASCAR’s grassroots, local-racing program – which encompasses tracks throughout the United States and Canada – earned a similar honor as U.S. state or Canadian provincial champion.

The NASCAR Minnesota champion was determined by the driver’s highest 18 finishes at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks within the state.

The crowning of champions in a U.S. state or Canadian province continues a tradition of honoring the best short-track racers which dates back to the earliest days of NASCAR.

Reuvers was also part of the contingent of champions honored at the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards Banquet in Las Vegas in November.

And there’s no slowing down for the 32-year-old. Reuvers is a co-owner, along with his wife, and Pat and Mary Jo Remick, of Short Track Racing Experience. They are a short-track version of the superspeedway programs like the Richard Petty Driving Experience, offering two-seater, ride-alongs and providing Super Late Models to fans to get the feel of what it’s like to race around the track.

In addition, the group recently bought Raceway Park. While the deal will keep Reuvers from racing at the .25-mile asphalt oval, he fully intends to continue running at Elko’s .375-mile asphalt oval.

“It’s been a bit hectic,” Reuvers said of the offseason. “We’ve been learning a lot and talking to a lot of people. Putting everything together has kept us pretty busy.”

Minnesota has a long history in NASCAR. In addition to Reuvers, drivers Jeff Hinkemeyer, Steve Murgic, Mel Walen, Jeff Martin and Jeff Wildung have won NASCAR Whelen All-American Series regional championships over the past 26 years.

Since its inception, NASCAR’s local racing series has served as a springboard in the careers of many top drivers. NASCAR stars Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Elliott Sadler and Brian Vickers all began their careers racing their local short tracks.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Infineon Raceway Recycles More Than 17 Tons of Materials During 2008 Season

(Infineon Raceway is one of Moses' favorite Road Course Tracks. Moses last raced there on June 21, 2008 with the NASCAR Camping World Series, West. He qualified seventh in the field of forty-one. Unfortunately a complete electrical failure relegated him to a twenty-eighth place finish.)

SONOMA, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2008) – Infineon Raceway has reaffirmed its position as the recycling leader in the motor-sports industry, collecting more than 17 tons of recyclable materials at its major events during the 2008 racing season.

In all, the raceway collected 34,568 pounds of materials at its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, IndyCar® Series and AMA Superbike Series event weekends. That brings the total to more than 73 tons (147,524 pounds) of recyclable materials since the inception of the program in 2004. The tonnage equates to slightly more than the total weight of a full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting field – 43 stock cars.

The breakdown for the 2008 motor-racing season included:
  • 18,928 pounds of glass (35,768 glass bottles)
  • 13,366 pounds of plastic bottles (179,639 plastic bottles)
  • 2,274 pounds of aluminum cans (66,628 cans)
  • Total: 34,568 pounds (282,035 beverage containers)

George Mutter, owner of Environmental Event Management Group, based in San Diego, has managed the program at Infineon Raceway since its inception in 2004 and has 27 years of experience in the recycling business.

"This year was really one of our best yet. We added about 20-percent more recycling containers to the facility, and we had additional staff collecting the recycling to help be sure we’re getting as much material as possible," said Mutter. "We collected about 10-percent more than we did last year, which is a great improvement. Anheuser-Busch still supports us with bins and recycling bags, and they’re a great, positive partner on this program."

In addition, Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., which is headquartered in Texas, provides oil recycling and re-refining services to Infineon Raceway, as well as 64 other racetracks/drag strips around the country. Everything that Safety-Kleen collects during an event at Infineon Raceway during its NASCAR, IndyCar and NHRA events, such as motor oil, gasoline or antifreeze, is eventually put back into a usable product. Safety-Kleen makes green work. "

The Green movement is not new to us. We've been Green since 1968, when the company started," said Drew Patey, motorsports manager for Safety-Kleen. "We’re proud to refine over 300 million gallons of used oil a year."