Tony, You’ve got to Quit Snowboarding/ USAC/ IRL/ Open Wheelers in California
Tony, You’ve got to Quit Snowboarding
According to today’s edition of the Indianapolis Star, Champ Car World Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven is urging Tony George to quit snowboarding and return to skiing. The two power broakers in Open Wheel racing vacationed together in Colorado in the off-season. Kalkhoven as we reported earlier this week also talked to George about reunification. If TG can give up the board for skis, why cant CCWS and the IRL get back together? It is not out of the question but there are a few minor barriers to hurdle. According to the Star, the IRL just signed four-year engine and TV deals. There are other business deals that both sides have individual commitments to. Like Kalkhoven stated earlier this week, George would like to see the media coverage of a potential merger die down and let the two sides deal with it. Maybe the two sides merge in the future. If Tony George can go back to the old way of sliding down a mountain, maybe we can one day see one major Open Wheel series again.
Rusty Gets Serious About Open Wheel
Today’s Indianapolis Star also reported that Rusty Wallace would drive a Penske Racing IRL car Thursday during the IRL open test at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The time in the car will help Wallace in the broadcast booth. The former Cup star is one of the commentators for ABC/ESPN broadcasts this season.
Thiago to Silver Crown
A Former IRL Indy Pro Series champ will join the ranks in the Silver Crown Series. Thiago Medeiros will drive in the remaining pavement races on the schedule for PDM Racing. Medeiros tested a week ago at Homestead. The addition would give PDM a three car team. The group also fields cars for Aaron Pierce and Pablo Donoso. Sponsors for Thiago Medeiros’ car include Brazilian cable sports network BAND as well as Image Marketing. The team has not announced a chassis for Medeiros.
USAC Sprints in VA
If you have never seen the USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series in action at Richmond International Raceway, then you need to block out vacation time this June. The series heads to RIR on June 23 but before they get there they will visit Southampton (Va.) Motor Speedway on June 21. The race originally scheduled for North Wilkesboro has been moved to Southampton by the race organizers.
IRL Moving Closer to 2007 Race in San Antonio
Tom Orsborn writer for the San Antonio Express-News Staff reports in an article in Thursday that HollyHills Development and the Indy Racing League are moving closer to hosting a race in San Antonio, Texas in 2007. The promoters are expected to make a trip to the IRL race in St. Petersburg, Florida this spring.
In other IRL news, Vonage will sponsor the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Abbott at Homestead
Mishael Abbott will drive for Michael Crawford Motorsports in the Indy Pro Series event at Homestead.
Equal Time
Thursday we mentioned that Danica Patrick was up for ESPN’s Hottest Female Athlete. Well the IRL’s Dan Weldon is up for Hottest Male Athlete. Here is the link to vote.
Iowa to See the IRL in 2007?
Tracksideonline is speculating that we could see an IRL race at Iowa Speedway as soon as 2007. The speedway opens up for racing this September with the Hooters Pro Cup and a USAC weekend.
Fike Likes California
Open Wheeler Aaron Fike heads to California this weekend for the first time since he finished runner-up for the second year in a row at the Turkey Night USAC Midget Grand Prix at Irwindale Speedway. The famous Southern California race was founded by the late father of Fikes car co-owner Cary Agajanian. Aaron Fike scored a career-best NBS qualifying effort of second at Daytona last weekend. Last week, Fike moved his full-time residence to Cornelius, N.C., to be closer to the team’s shop in Mooresville.
“I think we come to Fontana feeling pretty pumped up as a team after that great qualifying run at Daytona,” stated Fike. “Even though we got wrecked out of the race, we definitely put ourselves on the map for this year as one of the surprise teams in the Busch garage. Our move to Evernham power really paid off, and we’ll just hope to build on that as we go.”
Lamar on NBS
Open Wheeler Burney Lamar will be featured on the SPEED reality series, NBS 24/7.
Kinser Adjusting to the Trucks
Kraig Kinser is adjusting to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after driving for several years with the World of Outlaws. The son of the King, is taking his time adjusting to the difference in the cars and pavement racing.
“The main deal today was to get laps,” said Kinser following the first day of practice at California Speedway. “A lot of the rookies are limited on track time here. I was real limited; I had never seen the place until I got out of the car in the infield this morning. There is no safety net up there. The first thing you have is a wall. I know there is nothing there so I didn't know where that edge was. I didn't want to step over that edge the first lap or two and wreck the truck. I got a lot closer to where I need to be."
Kinser and the rest of the competitors in the NCTS race tonight at 9pm eastern on SPEED.
According to today’s edition of the Indianapolis Star, Champ Car World Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven is urging Tony George to quit snowboarding and return to skiing. The two power broakers in Open Wheel racing vacationed together in Colorado in the off-season. Kalkhoven as we reported earlier this week also talked to George about reunification. If TG can give up the board for skis, why cant CCWS and the IRL get back together? It is not out of the question but there are a few minor barriers to hurdle. According to the Star, the IRL just signed four-year engine and TV deals. There are other business deals that both sides have individual commitments to. Like Kalkhoven stated earlier this week, George would like to see the media coverage of a potential merger die down and let the two sides deal with it. Maybe the two sides merge in the future. If Tony George can go back to the old way of sliding down a mountain, maybe we can one day see one major Open Wheel series again.
Rusty Gets Serious About Open Wheel
Today’s Indianapolis Star also reported that Rusty Wallace would drive a Penske Racing IRL car Thursday during the IRL open test at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The time in the car will help Wallace in the broadcast booth. The former Cup star is one of the commentators for ABC/ESPN broadcasts this season.
Thiago to Silver Crown
A Former IRL Indy Pro Series champ will join the ranks in the Silver Crown Series. Thiago Medeiros will drive in the remaining pavement races on the schedule for PDM Racing. Medeiros tested a week ago at Homestead. The addition would give PDM a three car team. The group also fields cars for Aaron Pierce and Pablo Donoso. Sponsors for Thiago Medeiros’ car include Brazilian cable sports network BAND as well as Image Marketing. The team has not announced a chassis for Medeiros.
USAC Sprints in VA
If you have never seen the USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series in action at Richmond International Raceway, then you need to block out vacation time this June. The series heads to RIR on June 23 but before they get there they will visit Southampton (Va.) Motor Speedway on June 21. The race originally scheduled for North Wilkesboro has been moved to Southampton by the race organizers.
IRL Moving Closer to 2007 Race in San Antonio
Tom Orsborn writer for the San Antonio Express-News Staff reports in an article in Thursday that HollyHills Development and the Indy Racing League are moving closer to hosting a race in San Antonio, Texas in 2007. The promoters are expected to make a trip to the IRL race in St. Petersburg, Florida this spring.
In other IRL news, Vonage will sponsor the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Abbott at Homestead
Mishael Abbott will drive for Michael Crawford Motorsports in the Indy Pro Series event at Homestead.
Equal Time
Thursday we mentioned that Danica Patrick was up for ESPN’s Hottest Female Athlete. Well the IRL’s Dan Weldon is up for Hottest Male Athlete. Here is the link to vote.
Iowa to See the IRL in 2007?
Tracksideonline is speculating that we could see an IRL race at Iowa Speedway as soon as 2007. The speedway opens up for racing this September with the Hooters Pro Cup and a USAC weekend.
Fike Likes California
Open Wheeler Aaron Fike heads to California this weekend for the first time since he finished runner-up for the second year in a row at the Turkey Night USAC Midget Grand Prix at Irwindale Speedway. The famous Southern California race was founded by the late father of Fikes car co-owner Cary Agajanian. Aaron Fike scored a career-best NBS qualifying effort of second at Daytona last weekend. Last week, Fike moved his full-time residence to Cornelius, N.C., to be closer to the team’s shop in Mooresville.
“I think we come to Fontana feeling pretty pumped up as a team after that great qualifying run at Daytona,” stated Fike. “Even though we got wrecked out of the race, we definitely put ourselves on the map for this year as one of the surprise teams in the Busch garage. Our move to Evernham power really paid off, and we’ll just hope to build on that as we go.”
Lamar on NBS
Open Wheeler Burney Lamar will be featured on the SPEED reality series, NBS 24/7.
Kinser Adjusting to the Trucks
Kraig Kinser is adjusting to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after driving for several years with the World of Outlaws. The son of the King, is taking his time adjusting to the difference in the cars and pavement racing.
“The main deal today was to get laps,” said Kinser following the first day of practice at California Speedway. “A lot of the rookies are limited on track time here. I was real limited; I had never seen the place until I got out of the car in the infield this morning. There is no safety net up there. The first thing you have is a wall. I know there is nothing there so I didn't know where that edge was. I didn't want to step over that edge the first lap or two and wreck the truck. I got a lot closer to where I need to be."
Kinser and the rest of the competitors in the NCTS race tonight at 9pm eastern on SPEED.
posted by Blake Johnson at 1:26 PM
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