Taking a Wild Guess at the 2007 Silver Crown Schedule/ The SPEED Report to get Competition/ Hornish to Try NASCAR?/ Red Hot Roni to IPS
Taking a Wild Guess at the 2007 Silver Crown Schedule
USAC typically does not release their Silver Crown schedule for the next season until late fall or early winter. The series has to wait until companion series like NASCAR and the IRL announce their schedules before UASC can make their announcements. Only two dates have been officially announced for the 2007 Silver Crown season, Phoenix and ORP. NASCAR released their schedule for the NEXTEL Cup Series earlier this week. The IRL has released portions of their 2007 schedule. Our friends over at http://www.tracksideonline.com/ have come up with what the 2007 IRL schedule could look like so we decided it is time for us to do some speculating. The following information with the exception of the Phoenix and ORP races are speculative and the dates have NOT been announced. This report is just for fun. Do NOT plan your vacations around what is written in this article. When a track or USAC officially releases the date of a Silver Crown race, we will let you know. Until then, I hope you enjoy this glimpse of what could be the 2007 schedule.
February 25 Weekend California
It looks like the 2007 USAC Silver Crown season could open up at California Speedway. We are hearing that the series could visit the 1.5 mile oval in 2007. If that is the case then the series would most likely visit the speedway on the NEXTEL Cup weekend of February 25th since the fall Cup date conflicts with the potential DuQuoin 2007 date. It is important to note that while California has announced their Cup dates for 2007, no date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at California.
March 23-24- Homestead Miami Speedway
No date has been announced for either the IndyCar Series or the USAC Silver Crown Series at Homestead. Our friends at http://www.tracksideonline.com/ are guessing that the IRL could run there on March 24th. If that is the case and Homestead elects to pair the Silver Crown cars with the IRL again then we could see the dates I listed above but again no date has been announced for either series.
May 25 Indiana State Fairgrounds
While no official date has been announced for the Hoosier Hundred, the event normally falls the Friday before the Indy 500. The 2007 Indy 500 is scheduled for May 27th.
June 2-3 Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile announced that the IndyCar Series would run there on June 3rd in 2007. At the time of the announcement, they said they had not discussed a 2007 date with USAC. If the Milwaukee Mile elects to bring back the USAC Silver Crown Series to the mile oval and goes with the same race weekend format from 2006, we could see the Silver Crown Series at the historic oval on the morning of June 3rd. Just remember, no date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Milwaukee.
June 15 Kentucky Speedway
If Kentucky elects to pair the Silver Crown Series with the Busch Series and the Busch Series takes the same date as 2006, then the Silver Crown cars could run on the 15th. The 2007 NASCAR Busch Series schedule has not been released. The track announced that the IndyCar Series would run on August 11th in 2007 at the 1.5 mile oval. In the news release announcing the date, the track stated that the dates for the rest of the 2007 season would be announced at a later date.
June 29-30 Richmond
No date has been announced for either the IndyCar Series or the USAC Silver Crown Series at Richmond. Our friends at http://www.tracksideonline.com/ are guessing that the IRL could run there on June 30th. If that is the case and Richmond elects to pair the Silver Crown cars with the IRL again then we could see the dates I listed above but again no date has been announced for either series. May 5 and September 8 are the NASCAR weekends at RIR. No date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at RIR.
July 13 Chicagoland Speedway
NASCAR announced that the NEXTEL Cup Series would race at Chicagoland on July 15 in 2007. If that is the case and the track elects to also pair the Silver Crown cars again with the Cup weekend, we could see the Silver Crown Series race on July 13th if the track sticks to their 2006 race weekend format. No date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Chicagoland.
May 16 or July 22 Weekends Michigan
We have heard that Michigan International Speedway may host a USAC Silver Crown race in 2007. NASCAR has schedule NEXTEL Cup races at Michigan on May 17th and August 19th. Our friends at http://www.tracksideonline.com/ are saying that July 22nd could be a likely date for the IndyCar Series to visit Michigan although no date has been announced by the IRL. The August 19th date looks out of the question because it would conflict with the potential Silver Crown race at Springfield. That leaves us with the May 16th weekend with NASCAR or the potential July 22nd weekend with the IRL. Once again the IRL date has not been announced and no 2007 date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Michigan.
Aug 3 O’Reilly Raceway Park
Officials at ORP announced that the track will host the JD ByRider 100 on Auguest 3rd as part of the Kroger Speedfest.
Aug 5 Terre Haute
Assuming that USAC returns to Terre Haute after the dustfest that was the 2006 Sumar Classic and assuming that they keep the same date, then we could see the Silver Crown cars on the historic dirt oval on August 5th. Just remember, no date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Terre Haute.
Aug 18 Illinois State Fairgrounds
The 2006 Silver Crown race at Springfield was a success. The 2007 Illinois State Fair is scheduled for August 10-19th. Assuming that the promoters go with the same format as 2006 then we could see the Silver Crown cars at Springfield on August 18th. Track Enterprises and USAC have not set an official date for the Silver Crown Series at Springfield.
Sept 2 DuQuoin State Fairgrounds
Smash Mouth will take the stage Saturday before the USAC Silver Crown Series rumbles into DuQuoin next weekend for one of my favorite stops on the schedule. Assuming that the promoters and USAC pick Sunday night before Labor Day for the 2007 date, then the USAC Silver Crown Series will run at DuQuoin on September 2nd in 2007. Track Enterprises and USAC have not set an official 2007 date for the Silver Crown Series at DuQuoin.
Sept 16 Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway has announced several dates for their 2007 schedule but has not announced a 2007 Silver Crown date. If the series returns to Iowa on the same date as 2006, then we could see the Silver Crown Series make its return to Iowa Speedway on September 16th. No 2007 date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Iowa.
Sept 21-22 Eldora Speedway
If Eldora Speedway keeps the same dates for the Four Crown Nationals for 2007, then we could see the race on September 21-22 at Eldora. No 2007 date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Eldora.
Sept 29 Kansas Speedway
NASCAR announced that the NEXTEL Cup Series will run at Kansas on September 30th in 2007. If Kansas Speedway pair the Silver Crown cars with the Cup weekend again and the schedule is the same at this season, then we could see the Silver Crown cars at Kansas on September 29th. No 2007 date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Kansas.
November 8 Phoenix International Raceway
PIR has moved the Copper World Classic to November pairing in up with one of the final NEXTEL Cup weekends of the season. The 2007 CWC will again feature the USAC National Midget and Silver Crown Series. The race will be run under the lights.
Note: The story above was just a wild guess of what the 2007 season could look like. The schedule is by no means official with the exception of the Phoenix and ORP dates.
Red Hot Roni in the IPS
Veronica McCann on the left in this photo is slated to make her first start in the Indy Pro Series on September 9 at Chicagoland Speedway. The 22 year old sprint car driver from Australia was recently at the USAC Silver Crown race at Springfield with Lyn St. James. She is looking at several possibilities for the 2007 season in the states. Red Hot Roni is scheduled to take her rookie test on Thursday at Kentucky with Brian Stewart Racing. She will do her rookie test on Aug 31st at Kentucky.
The SPEED Report to get Competition
JAYSKI.com is reporting that ESPN will produce a daily racing program called NASCAR Now. The popular website http://www.jayski.com/ reports that a program host has not been named.
Chase Future not to Bright for Open Wheelers
It doesn’t look good for Open Wheelers looking to get into the Chase. Only four Open Wheelers are mathematically eligible for the Chase. Of those four, half are currently in the top ten with two races to go. Jeff Gordon is in the best shape. The former USAC driver moved up one position in the points to 5th after a 5th place finish at Bristol. Tony Stewart slid to 8th after coming in 22nd at Bristol. Kasey Kahne is on the bubble in 11th just 90 points out of the Chase. Carl Edwards will have to have strong finishes and others will have to falter at California and Richmond for the Silver Crown owner to make the Chase. Edwards is 261 points out of the Chase in 13th.
Open Wheeler Cup Results Bristol
1. (17 Matt Kenseth)
5. 24 Jeff Gordon
7. 99 Carl Edwards
8. 12 Ryan Newman
12. 9 Kasey Kahne
13. 21 Ken Schrader
14. 22 Dave Blaney
17. 42 Casey Mears
22. 20 Tony Stewart
27. 7 Robby Gordon
31. 18 J.J. Yeley
Hornish to Try NASCAR?
Viv Bernstein of the New York Times reports that we could see Sam Hornish Jr. in the ARCA RE/MAX and Busch Series in 2007. Bernstein quotes Roger Penske saying it is not a done deal. The article does say Hornish will compete in the full season in the IndyCar Series in 2007 regardless of what will happen in the fendered cars. http://www.nytimes.com
IRL on Your Cell
The Indy Racing League will soon be coming to a cell phone near you. Michael Smith reports in today’s edition of the Sports Business Journal that the IRL will partner with Digital Orchid Inc. to create screensavers, wallpaper, and incar audio and video. Smith also reports that the IRL is building a special stage to crown the series champion at Chicagoland. The championship presentation will be held on a stage in the grandstand. The final IndyCar Series event of the 2006 season is the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 presented by Mr. Clean at 1:30pm on Sept. 10 at Chicagoland Speedway. The race will be telecast live by ABC.
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.main&articleId=51656
2006 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Results
1 Marco Andretti
2 Dario Franchitti
3 Vitor Meira
4 Scott Dixon
5 Helio Castroneves
6 Dan Wheldon
7 Jeff Simmons
8 Danica Patrick
9 Sam Hornish Jr.
10 Bryan Herta
11 Tony Kanaan
12 Ed Carpenter
13 Kosuke Matsuura
14 Scott Sharp
15 Buddy Rice
16 Ryan Briscoe
17 Tomas Scheckter
18 Jeff Bucknum
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of R.E. Technologies.
USAC typically does not release their Silver Crown schedule for the next season until late fall or early winter. The series has to wait until companion series like NASCAR and the IRL announce their schedules before UASC can make their announcements. Only two dates have been officially announced for the 2007 Silver Crown season, Phoenix and ORP. NASCAR released their schedule for the NEXTEL Cup Series earlier this week. The IRL has released portions of their 2007 schedule. Our friends over at http://www.tracksideonline.com/ have come up with what the 2007 IRL schedule could look like so we decided it is time for us to do some speculating. The following information with the exception of the Phoenix and ORP races are speculative and the dates have NOT been announced. This report is just for fun. Do NOT plan your vacations around what is written in this article. When a track or USAC officially releases the date of a Silver Crown race, we will let you know. Until then, I hope you enjoy this glimpse of what could be the 2007 schedule.
February 25 Weekend California
It looks like the 2007 USAC Silver Crown season could open up at California Speedway. We are hearing that the series could visit the 1.5 mile oval in 2007. If that is the case then the series would most likely visit the speedway on the NEXTEL Cup weekend of February 25th since the fall Cup date conflicts with the potential DuQuoin 2007 date. It is important to note that while California has announced their Cup dates for 2007, no date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at California.
March 23-24- Homestead Miami Speedway
No date has been announced for either the IndyCar Series or the USAC Silver Crown Series at Homestead. Our friends at http://www.tracksideonline.com/ are guessing that the IRL could run there on March 24th. If that is the case and Homestead elects to pair the Silver Crown cars with the IRL again then we could see the dates I listed above but again no date has been announced for either series.
May 25 Indiana State Fairgrounds
While no official date has been announced for the Hoosier Hundred, the event normally falls the Friday before the Indy 500. The 2007 Indy 500 is scheduled for May 27th.
June 2-3 Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile announced that the IndyCar Series would run there on June 3rd in 2007. At the time of the announcement, they said they had not discussed a 2007 date with USAC. If the Milwaukee Mile elects to bring back the USAC Silver Crown Series to the mile oval and goes with the same race weekend format from 2006, we could see the Silver Crown Series at the historic oval on the morning of June 3rd. Just remember, no date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Milwaukee.
June 15 Kentucky Speedway
If Kentucky elects to pair the Silver Crown Series with the Busch Series and the Busch Series takes the same date as 2006, then the Silver Crown cars could run on the 15th. The 2007 NASCAR Busch Series schedule has not been released. The track announced that the IndyCar Series would run on August 11th in 2007 at the 1.5 mile oval. In the news release announcing the date, the track stated that the dates for the rest of the 2007 season would be announced at a later date.
June 29-30 Richmond
No date has been announced for either the IndyCar Series or the USAC Silver Crown Series at Richmond. Our friends at http://www.tracksideonline.com/ are guessing that the IRL could run there on June 30th. If that is the case and Richmond elects to pair the Silver Crown cars with the IRL again then we could see the dates I listed above but again no date has been announced for either series. May 5 and September 8 are the NASCAR weekends at RIR. No date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at RIR.
July 13 Chicagoland Speedway
NASCAR announced that the NEXTEL Cup Series would race at Chicagoland on July 15 in 2007. If that is the case and the track elects to also pair the Silver Crown cars again with the Cup weekend, we could see the Silver Crown Series race on July 13th if the track sticks to their 2006 race weekend format. No date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Chicagoland.
May 16 or July 22 Weekends Michigan
We have heard that Michigan International Speedway may host a USAC Silver Crown race in 2007. NASCAR has schedule NEXTEL Cup races at Michigan on May 17th and August 19th. Our friends at http://www.tracksideonline.com/ are saying that July 22nd could be a likely date for the IndyCar Series to visit Michigan although no date has been announced by the IRL. The August 19th date looks out of the question because it would conflict with the potential Silver Crown race at Springfield. That leaves us with the May 16th weekend with NASCAR or the potential July 22nd weekend with the IRL. Once again the IRL date has not been announced and no 2007 date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Michigan.
Aug 3 O’Reilly Raceway Park
Officials at ORP announced that the track will host the JD ByRider 100 on Auguest 3rd as part of the Kroger Speedfest.
Aug 5 Terre Haute
Assuming that USAC returns to Terre Haute after the dustfest that was the 2006 Sumar Classic and assuming that they keep the same date, then we could see the Silver Crown cars on the historic dirt oval on August 5th. Just remember, no date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Terre Haute.
Aug 18 Illinois State Fairgrounds
The 2006 Silver Crown race at Springfield was a success. The 2007 Illinois State Fair is scheduled for August 10-19th. Assuming that the promoters go with the same format as 2006 then we could see the Silver Crown cars at Springfield on August 18th. Track Enterprises and USAC have not set an official date for the Silver Crown Series at Springfield.
Sept 2 DuQuoin State Fairgrounds
Smash Mouth will take the stage Saturday before the USAC Silver Crown Series rumbles into DuQuoin next weekend for one of my favorite stops on the schedule. Assuming that the promoters and USAC pick Sunday night before Labor Day for the 2007 date, then the USAC Silver Crown Series will run at DuQuoin on September 2nd in 2007. Track Enterprises and USAC have not set an official 2007 date for the Silver Crown Series at DuQuoin.
Sept 16 Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway has announced several dates for their 2007 schedule but has not announced a 2007 Silver Crown date. If the series returns to Iowa on the same date as 2006, then we could see the Silver Crown Series make its return to Iowa Speedway on September 16th. No 2007 date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Iowa.
Sept 21-22 Eldora Speedway
If Eldora Speedway keeps the same dates for the Four Crown Nationals for 2007, then we could see the race on September 21-22 at Eldora. No 2007 date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Eldora.
Sept 29 Kansas Speedway
NASCAR announced that the NEXTEL Cup Series will run at Kansas on September 30th in 2007. If Kansas Speedway pair the Silver Crown cars with the Cup weekend again and the schedule is the same at this season, then we could see the Silver Crown cars at Kansas on September 29th. No 2007 date has been announced for the Silver Crown Series at Kansas.
November 8 Phoenix International Raceway
PIR has moved the Copper World Classic to November pairing in up with one of the final NEXTEL Cup weekends of the season. The 2007 CWC will again feature the USAC National Midget and Silver Crown Series. The race will be run under the lights.
Note: The story above was just a wild guess of what the 2007 season could look like. The schedule is by no means official with the exception of the Phoenix and ORP dates.
Red Hot Roni in the IPS
Veronica McCann on the left in this photo is slated to make her first start in the Indy Pro Series on September 9 at Chicagoland Speedway. The 22 year old sprint car driver from Australia was recently at the USAC Silver Crown race at Springfield with Lyn St. James. She is looking at several possibilities for the 2007 season in the states. Red Hot Roni is scheduled to take her rookie test on Thursday at Kentucky with Brian Stewart Racing. She will do her rookie test on Aug 31st at Kentucky.
The SPEED Report to get Competition
JAYSKI.com is reporting that ESPN will produce a daily racing program called NASCAR Now. The popular website http://www.jayski.com/ reports that a program host has not been named.
Chase Future not to Bright for Open Wheelers
It doesn’t look good for Open Wheelers looking to get into the Chase. Only four Open Wheelers are mathematically eligible for the Chase. Of those four, half are currently in the top ten with two races to go. Jeff Gordon is in the best shape. The former USAC driver moved up one position in the points to 5th after a 5th place finish at Bristol. Tony Stewart slid to 8th after coming in 22nd at Bristol. Kasey Kahne is on the bubble in 11th just 90 points out of the Chase. Carl Edwards will have to have strong finishes and others will have to falter at California and Richmond for the Silver Crown owner to make the Chase. Edwards is 261 points out of the Chase in 13th.
Open Wheeler Cup Results Bristol
1. (17 Matt Kenseth)
5. 24 Jeff Gordon
7. 99 Carl Edwards
8. 12 Ryan Newman
12. 9 Kasey Kahne
13. 21 Ken Schrader
14. 22 Dave Blaney
17. 42 Casey Mears
22. 20 Tony Stewart
27. 7 Robby Gordon
31. 18 J.J. Yeley
Hornish to Try NASCAR?
Viv Bernstein of the New York Times reports that we could see Sam Hornish Jr. in the ARCA RE/MAX and Busch Series in 2007. Bernstein quotes Roger Penske saying it is not a done deal. The article does say Hornish will compete in the full season in the IndyCar Series in 2007 regardless of what will happen in the fendered cars. http://www.nytimes.com
IRL on Your Cell
The Indy Racing League will soon be coming to a cell phone near you. Michael Smith reports in today’s edition of the Sports Business Journal that the IRL will partner with Digital Orchid Inc. to create screensavers, wallpaper, and incar audio and video. Smith also reports that the IRL is building a special stage to crown the series champion at Chicagoland. The championship presentation will be held on a stage in the grandstand. The final IndyCar Series event of the 2006 season is the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 presented by Mr. Clean at 1:30pm on Sept. 10 at Chicagoland Speedway. The race will be telecast live by ABC.
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.main&articleId=51656
2006 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Results
1 Marco Andretti
2 Dario Franchitti
3 Vitor Meira
4 Scott Dixon
5 Helio Castroneves
6 Dan Wheldon
7 Jeff Simmons
8 Danica Patrick
9 Sam Hornish Jr.
10 Bryan Herta
11 Tony Kanaan
12 Ed Carpenter
13 Kosuke Matsuura
14 Scott Sharp
15 Buddy Rice
16 Ryan Briscoe
17 Tomas Scheckter
18 Jeff Bucknum
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of R.E. Technologies.
posted by Blake Johnson at 2:26 PM
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