Dodge Avenger Driver Falls Short of Winning First Canadian Nascar Race
The Dodge Dealers 200 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is the first NASCAR stock car race in Canadian soil and Dodge Avenger driver Mark Dilley aimed to win it to complement his feat of winning the last CASCAR race last September. While he has prepared well for the race, he fell short and only finished second after Don Thomson Jr. Nevertheless, his performance was good enough to make him a strong contender for the series’ championship early in the season. On September 12 last year, NASCAR completed the purchase of CASCAR and announced that the Canadian Tire Series will take over the previous racing activities in Canada.
Early in the race, Dilley seems to be in control and at one time even led the race. An incident with Kerry Micks though saw Dilley pushed at the back of the field. “It was pretty crazy, that’s for sure,” says Dilley about the whole race. “One of the things I feel badly about was getting into Kerry. That was my fault. I just drove it in way too hard. Then we got sent to the back and we had some different issues. I was spun around and that may have been a bit of a payback, but I kind of deserved it and I’ve got no problem with that.”
After Dilley was pushed at the back of the field, his team worked on the steering system of his car with it’s Dodge body parts to enable him to get back to the race. The improvements took three stops which finally gave him the chance to get back to the front of the field. “We came in and could only take two right-side tires during our first stop because of when the caution happened and how far back we were. Then when we did make the stop for the two left-side tires, the set just didn’t match up. We came in after that and made an adjustment and then the car was good at the end.”
During the later stages of the race, Dilley made his move and with 15 laps remaining, he managed to get to the fifth spot. After a yellow flag flew, Dilley found himself on the third spot. With five laps remaining, he managed to overtake Peter Gibbons. Eventually, he caught up with the race winner Thomson during the last lap. Going on a tight race to the finish, Dilley was not able to take the win but he finished only 0.126 seconds behind Thomson.
Katie Jones writes for a local newspaper and her beat involves the latest updates in the automotive industry. She is also working on her book on cars during her spare time.
“Start your engines…it’s time for your own Nascar party! Welcome your guests to the racing event with a Nascar banner that reads, “Welcome All Race Fans”. Hang it over the front door of your party venue with a few balloons or flag decorations and your guests will be able to locate the party without any trouble.
You’ll want to include everything about race cars at this party, so get to know the Nascar racers, the cars, the winners, and the official sponsors of Nascar. Make sure there are plenty of race car-themed decorations to get your guests in the mood. Add some games and activities to keep your guests busy with race cars. Have lots of little toy cars for children to play with at your party; you can find inexpensive Hot Wheel or Matchbox cars, remote control toy cars, pull-back and go cars, large plastic cars, ride-on cars and more. Buy a few Nascar coloring books, or print out a few race car coloring pages from the internet, and set up a coloring station for your little fans.
Look for life-size cut-outs or posters of your favorite drivers, like Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., or Jimmie Johnson. Use the photos to decorate and use them for a great photo backdrop at the party. Be sure to add some official snacks of Nascar (or sponsors of the drivers), too – Little Debbie Snack cakes sponsor Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Gordon is sponsored by Pepsi, and Jimmie Johnson partners with Gatorade, just to name a few.
Remember, when hosting a party of any sorts it should be all about fun. Don’t stress about having a schedule and sticking to it as long as everyone is having fun that’s the main thing!
Thor is a huge Nascar fan and has created a site help you plan the best <a target=”_new” rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://nascarpartysupplies.net/”>Nascar Party</a> ever. His site has everything from decorations to <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://nascarpartysupplies.net/nascar-party-favors/”>Nascar party favors</a> and Games!
So i’ve been thinking about this tattoo for years and I’ve been playing around with ideas for awhile now, but i finally have a solid idea that i like. I want to get a memorial tattoo for my brother. He died in ’04 from a heart problem; he was 15 and I was 10. I’m 16 now and this is just something I really want and I know I won’t regret it. It’s gonna be a portrait of his face and behind him on the top right side will be the raceway of a nascar track and it will wrap around and stop at about his chin and then right below that; kind of overlapping the raceway right in the middle I want 2 crossed checkered flags. I want the race track to look far away but then get closer as it curves. I don’t really know how to explain it. Also on the racetrack I want to put a few of his favorite racers like Dale Jarrett, Jr, and maybe Waltrip. The idea is still growing but i want to start sketching it out. So if anyone can find any pictures i can use for reference that would be great. Also i’m open for any suggestions or advice people have to add to the tattoo. I’m particularly looking for a picture of a race track like the one i described.
NASCAR racing is all about speed, adrenaline, checkered flags, and, unfortunatley, accidents and injuries. Its in the news almost on a daily basis nowadays. “Dale Earnhardt Jr. briefly lost consciousness and he hid a significant head injury from his team and NASCAR last year”, “Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau, critically injured during a crash during practice at Richmond International Raceway”, etc… We will discuss what causes these crashes and injuries and what is currently being done to prevent them and why more needs to be done.
The worst injuries result in death and lately their have been numerous basal skull fractures received by drivers like Dale Earnhardt and Adam Petty. Doctors have determined that a helmet harness is a good protective measure to stop some of these injuries. A basal skull fracture can result fro a severe whipping forward motion and/or a sudden abrupt stop – as in Dale Earnhardt’s case. A basal skull fracture almost always results in immediate death. Another highly effective measure is shock or crash absorbing walls instead of steel reinforced concrete walls that have zero give – These could have spared Jerry Nadeau from his severe injuries or at least limited them. These walls are now being introduced and installed at several tracks.
NASCAR is over 50 years old. Why does it take a famous death or several to begin safety measures or to take them more seriously? Why is it that our own automobiles have air bags, side airbags, crumple zones, etc… Can’t these same devices be reconfigured for NASCAR specs. Air bags have been proven in tests to be highly effective at speeds well over 100 mph. NASCAR drivers deserve more protection than we are currently giving them. The problem is that more attention has been given to advertising, advertisers, and speed. Placement of advertisers stickers on the car were and still are more important than the driver. More money is spent to make sure the different advertisers have their brands clearly displayed on the driver and car than on any safety measures. Some safety measures are thought of as increasing too much weight and are therefor discarded (thicker firewalls, absorbant
Take any other sport – Football, Baseball, basketball – the athletes don’t have stickers, or patches with 50 different sponsors all over them. They are actually more concerned about athlete safety over advertising revenue in these sports, not in NASCAR, though. Yes, NASCAR is experiencing a huge winfall in earnings lately, but that cannot bring back the great legends like Dale Earnhardt. There is no problem with sport profits, but lets focus a little more on safety of our athletes. With all the money NASCAR has they should already be installing safety walls at all tracks, not just a few. Lets focus on safety rather than just on advertising dollars. That way we won’t be left praying for our drivers outcome after a crash anymore.
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com and at http://www.bestskinpeel.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Smoke was on fire Saturday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the NASACAR Sprint Cup Series’ annual all-star race. Tony Stewart, whose nickname in the garage is “Smoke”, won his first race as an owner-driver by passing Matt Kenseth with two laps to go. Though the all-star race is not a points race, the winner’s purse over million makes for some great competition and exciting racing. The winnings are sure to help the bottom line for Stewart-Haas racing which is running its inaugural season on NASCAR’s senior circuit.
Jeff Gordon had a very strong car, sticking to the bottom of the track most of the night. Inside of ten laps the number twenty-four was in a back-and-forth battle with Kyle Busch for the lead. With eight laps to go Gordon was three-wide with Busch in the middle and Ryan Newman on the high side. Assuming he was clear on the right, Gordon allowed himself to drift up at the same time Busch and Nedwman were coming down. The contact sent him into the grass, then up the track and into the wall. Asked afterwards about the contact, Gordon said that it was just a group of guys racing really hard.
Matt Kenseth finished second, Kurt Busch was third, Denny Hamiln fourth, and Carl Edwards fifth. Mark Martin, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top ten. The Sprint Cup Series returns to Lowe’s Motor Speedway next weekend for the Coca-Cola 600, long considered the series most difficult endurance race.
Meanwhile, the Camping World Trucks returned to action at Lowe’s on Friday night after taking off the last two weekends. Points leader Mike Skinner crashed just 35 laps in, ending his night and causing him to surrender the points lead to second place driver Ron Hornaday. For his part, Hornaday went on to win the 200 mile race and build a lead of 84 points over Skinner. At one point Hornaday was a lap down when he got caught in the pits by a caution flag. He battled back and took the lead from Matt Crafton on lap 106. Kyle Busch and Crafton both tried to catch Hornaday, but he clearly had the better truck and finished the job.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Nationwide Series was off this week, but there was still action in the front office. NASCAR announced on Wednesday that Michael Allen, crew chief for Terry Cook’s number 91 Chevolet has been fined for violations at Darlington on May 7th. The ,500 fine is the result of three violations of the 2009 Nationwide Series rule book, all dealing with equipment that does not conform to the rules. Allen has not made any moves to appeal the fine. The Nationwide Series resumes this Saturday at Lowe’s, as Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Jason Leffler lead the field in the Carquest Auto Parts 300.
NASCAR has become one of the hottest sports to bet, so we’re here to put you on the fast track to understanding racing odds and finding the best places to wager. The two main ways of gambling on NASCAR are “Betting to Win” a race and “Matchup Betting” which pits a driver against another driver or a group of drivers.
“Betting to Win” an outcome event like the Daytona 500 is the most common way to wager on a NASCAR race. Since NASCAR has multiple races over the course of a year, “Betting to Win” obviously offers numerous wagering opportunities. It is very important to note that not all the drivers in a race may be listed, so another NASCAR betting option is on the “field” which includes all other drivers not listed.
The NASCAR odds on a “field” bet depend on how many drivers are listed and how likely it is for the top drivers to win. In other words, if the same five or six drivers seem to battle it out for the top spots each race, the odds on the “field” will be much higher since there is less likelihood that one of the longshots in the “field” will win.
Here’s an example:
Favorites or top drivers = 5/1 to 10/1
30 or so other well-known drivers listed individually = 10/1 to 200/1
Field (collection of 20 or more not listed) = 80/1
Futures are another way you can “Bet to Win” that can offer you appealing NASCAR odds because you are betting far in advance of when the event takes place. For example, betting on the 2006 Daytona 500 now might get you much better value on Jeff Gordon, who may be 10/1 at this moment but dip to 6/1 closer to the event if he is on a roll. For more information on the value of betting NASCAR futures, read How Future Bets Can Pay Off.
In addition, NASCAR drivers are awarded Nextel Cup points according to the place they finish in each race, and those points are accumulated over the course of the season (click here to learn how the NASCAR points system works). Some Las Vegas sportsbooks will allow you to bet on who you think will finish atop the Nextel Cup standings, giving you yet another opportunity when it comes to betting NASCAR.
Meanwhile, “Matchup Betting” offers an alternative to simply betting on a NASCAR race’s winner. Artificial head-to-head matchups are created by oddsmakers and involve drivers who are all competing against each other to win the race, with the bet specifically focused upon how one driver finishes compared to another driver in the matchup. Group matchups are another “matchup betting” option particularly popular in golf and NASCAR, where you can select how one driver will finish amongst a group of other drivers. Both head-to-head and group matchup NASCAR odds are based on the money line (check out How to Read the Money Line for more information).
Since NASCAR has pre-qualifying, not everybody will start the race, so most group matchups will typically require all individuals in the group to start in order to be eligible for action. Different sportsbooks will often feature different matchups, and this is very important to note because you can shop around to different online sportsbooks and try to find the NASCAR matchup that’s most worth betting on. There are several advantages to betting at elite online sportsbooks but the very best will give you the most wagering opportunities, so it’s a good idea to consider betting online and find out what everybody has to offer.
Also, keep in mind that popular drivers tend to be over-rated and over-priced when oddsmakers create these artificial matchups due to their status of being more well-known with the public, so the underdogs are usually a good play because they offer more value. If you like a particular driver going into a NASCAR race, your best move is to compare matchups across multiple sportsbooks and put a larger wager on the biggest mismatch in your estimation. Then you can also put down a small wager on your favorite driver to win the race in case he takes the checkered flag. By betting your driver to win the race and a matchup, you’ll have double the fun knowing you’ve got double the chances to win!
If you are a knowledgeable NASCAR fan who has a good feel about how races will likely turn out, then you should most definitely trust your insights and use them to find strong bets. For those of you with less experience, several sports web sites have power rankings for drivers which should give you a good idea of who’s hot on the NASCAR racing circuit and who’s not. Of course it’s up to you to decide which driver you want to bet on, but the more you learn about NASCAR racing, the more prepared you will be when placing your bet. Hopefully now at least you know the basics of betting NASCAR and how to use NASCAR odds to your advantage!
> Learn Advanced Handicapping Theory for NASCAR!
Pregame.com provides sports betting rules, basics, advice, systems, and strategy, online for free, covering NFL Football, NCAA college basketball, NBA, pro MLB baseball wagering from gambling experts.
One of the worst 16 bit racers ever made on one of the worst consoles ever made. Video Rating: 4 / 5
Now that Jimmie Johnson has wrapped-up the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup championship what is left of the racing season to be concerned about? The answer is shopping for the NASCAR gifts needed for friends, family and yourself before the Christmas holiday is upon us all.
Yes, it’s that time of year race fans. This is equally true for those who may not be fans of the sport but have loved ones to shop for that are. You’ve got to prepare yourselves for searching for the items that are on the wish-lists of stock car racing aficionados. There’s time to spare but the clock is ticking. Avoid the panic button being pressed allowing anxiety to begin a crescendo that could end in shopping disaster. What’s the solution?
Buy your NASCAR gifts early and have them gift-wrapped with time to spare! Take the lead today and get ahead of others who might just claim the last piece of merchandise that you may desperately need before the race is over. It’s a cruel fact that manufacturers make a limited amount of products that may run out before Christmas Day. Don’t let your competition get the inside lane on the gift that will make someone you know beam with racing excitement.
The good news is that there are racing gifts in pretty much any price range. There are the higher priced NASCAR memorabilia that have actual pieces of the driver’s car and autograph on it as well. There are pricey leather jackets and furniture and upscale die-cast models for those that can afford them. These may go quickly so it may be best to make a determination early on and make the move in time to have these type of products shipped to you pronto.
There are NASCAR gifts that may be more in your price zone such as clocks, blankets, pillows, throws, rugs, mats or bean bags all having a favorite driver on them. There are tons of ideas for apparel including the basic t-shirt to the sporty uniform jackets that boldly advertise the stock car competitor that has won the gift recipient’s favor. There is a buffet of racing merchandise out there now that may not be around for long that could make somebody’s holiday season a most memorable one for years to come.
Take the advice of StockCarUSA.com and start your engines early in the rush to finish the race a winner. Let your 2007 racing season end with a checkered flag for yourself and the ones that you aim to please.
Brian is the owner of Stock Car USA Collectibles and wants to remind you that time is of the essence regarding NASCAR gifts shopping. He invites you to visit http://www.StockCarUSA.com for racing gift ideas today.
Bedding Nascar ? Sleep With your Favorite Team Around You
Bedding nascar is all the products that fall under the category we would find in a bedroom to decorate the space there. For a child, having a room that is filled with their favorite things would be a dream come true and they would wake up every morning to this bedding nascar. This adds to the joy of every day and so if a child who enjoys racing has bedding nascar and matching pillows and other accessories in his room, it is sure to brighten his life. Similarly, for a child who is crazy about Dale Earnhardt, they can have his picture on their bed linen, pillow covers, and even on the curtains. This way they wake up looking at his face of their idol’s number. Decorating a room this way sure makes it fun for the person using the room and for the family as it takes away the boring element and adds a bit of spice to their lives. This also helps the child stay more focused on his studies if he aspires to become like the racer he dreams about.
If a family is a Greg Biffle supporters, they can have a grand comfortable sofa in the living room with many throw pillows sporting covers that have his name or photo on them. This is a wonderful way to exhibit the interest and enthusiasm they have for the sport. These pillows usually come in sets of four, and will be in the color of the racing team which would create a focal point to the otherwise dull room. There are companies that manufacture and create complete bedding material based on nascar and have them in different styles and colors to suit different tastes. For someone who like black and white, they can have the checkered flag look for their room. The bed sheets, pillows, wardrobe, curtains would all be in the same black and white colors and the pictures hung on the wall could be of a contrasting red frames with racers in them.
A unique way of decorating your office or home creating a space that is truly yours and one that reflects your tastes and personality is what these bedding nascar items do. They allow you to express yourself through these pieces and have something connected with a sport that you love so much. Imagine having a couple of friends over to your house, and your guest room is done up completely in nascar prints and patterns, your guest will be surprised and if he or she is a nascar fan, they will fall in love with the room and would not want to leave your house. Bedding nascar products are not in the least bit considered kiddish or childish and so there are adults who enjoy having a bit of this in their private spaces. There are bachelor pads which are done up completely in a nascar theme right down to the cutlery and bedding nascar items giving the house a lovely racing atmosphere.
Article written by Robert Riles III,
owner of skyfireproducts.com a sports store for all sports fans.
If you think of these numbers who do you think of? #9, #20 or “God Bless #3”? If you’re thinking Casey Kahne, Tony Stewart or Dale Earnhardt then not only are you at the wrong race but you’re also about to get a lesson in fast paced excitement and what “fan-friendly” really means.
#9 belongs to Jay Springsteen, Rookie of the Year in 1975. Just one year later he earned the title of Grand National Champion and kept that title from 1976-1978, not an easy task in one year let alone three. The two traits he shares with Kahne are a quick smile and a fierce determination.
#20 is Johnny Murphree, Rookie of the Year in 1997. Not a bad start for the nineteen year-old Californian. While he is a fierce competitor like Stewart, he’s never had an anger issue.
“God Bless #3” is Ricky Graham. Like Earnhardt this multi-time champion had a quick mind and a deeply rooted love for racing–Flat Track Motorcycle Racing.
Flat Track Motorcycle Racing is one of the oldest forms of motorized racing in the world. It is the birth mother of road racing, at one time being part of the series, somewhat like a road course is part of NASCAR. Like the car races, Flat Track raced on the sands at Daytona and still starts the Series there each March.
Still thinking about stock cars? Okay, take away the HANS device. That shouldn’t be hard since it’s only been mandatory for a few years. Take away the custom-fitted seat, the roll bar; remove the body of the car. Now take away two wheels and the replace the steering system with handle bars.
Still with me? Replace the fire suit with leathers. Take away the driving booties; replace with heavy boots and add a steel shoe to the left foot. Got the picture? The speed stays up; by the way, did I mention Flat Trackers do it on dirt? Now you have the right idea!
Arguably, one of the NASCAR’s premier races is Talladega. So what? Flat Track Racing has the Springfield Mile!
The Springfield Mile is the fastest dirt track in the world; people come from around the world to watch these athletes give their all in an attempt to win the coveted trophy. Imagine going into a corner at over 100 miles-per hour on two wheels! The perfectly groomed black dirt and clay gumbo make that a reality. Suzukis, Harley-Davidsons, Hondas, Aprillas—make the laps in 36 seconds or less.
Lap after incredible lap at speeds so dangerous it makes you weak in the knees. One lap to go then the checkered flag is flying—who won? Photo finishes are the standard–almost. While the photos are being reviewed fans flood the track and the infield ready to celebrate with the winner or seek out their favorite racer.
No helicopters come to whisk them away so finding that racer doesn’t take long and that racer is ready to share a few handshakes, a picture here and an autograph there—many racers have pictures they’ll autograph and give out. Chances are very good, that you may have shared the same hotel with the racers, seen them in the restaurants, and you might even go to a party where they are at. Flat Track is very fan friendly.
So, if you start playing number games in racing, better clarify which race discipline. All discussions go much better if everyone is on the same page. See you at the track!
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Jan Luparell is editor of the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association’s newsletter.
This article may be reprinted freely as long as all links remain active. More information is available at their website: www.illinoismda.com or email info@illinoismda.com
Jan Luparell is the editor of “The Cycle Digest” newsletter for the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers association.
NASCAR Sprint Cup – Mark Martin Puts an End to His Bad Run
After four years of not enjoying a victory, the 50-year-old veteran driver Mark Martin, went back to the podium this past weekend at Phoenix, when he won in the eighth race of the Sprint Cup, where with an absolute dominance he managed to impose and control the pace of the competition. This was without a doubt a great rebirth for the experienced Martin, who after his previous victory had expressed several times that he wanted to retire, which definitely would have made him lose the great opportunity that was presented to him at the Phoenix International Raceway.
The competition began in the middle of a sunny afternoon with high temperatures that kept the track and the stands very heated. Since the beginning Mark Martin, who also had the pole position, and Tony Stewart figured as the favorites to win the race. The race started with an extremely hot track. Martin immediately accelerated deeply and placed himself ahead of their pursuers, leading with authority and very focused.
This was a tough competition due to Phoenix’s changing weather conditions; at first the drivers had to use tires for heated conditions because of the high temperatures in the track, later on the temperatures started to drop considerably as the night time was getting closer and in the middle of the race all the cars needed to go to the pits to change their tires. This would likely become a problem, but most of the teams were able to deal with the situation without any complications, indicating that each of them were well prepared to face the scheduled 312 laps, from which 157 laps were led by Martin.
Just in one of the most exciting moments of the race when Martin was in front, a little accident of his teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., caused the veteran to enter the pits area, thus losing the difference of four seconds he had ahead of Tony Stewart, his closest pursuer at that moment. When exiting the pits, the driver of the Hendrick Motorsports team exceeded the maximum speed permitted with the purpose of overtaking Kyle Busch which caused him a penalty and had to place himself in the second position behind Ryan Newman, who at that time placed himself in the top position.
Mark Martin kept himself stable while driving behind Newman, until he managed to get ahead and placed himself again in the first place when there were only six laps left, a position that he kept until the end of the race, becoming the well deserved master of the checkered flag, going up to the top of the podium with Stewart in second place and Kurt Busch in the third place after putting up a fight during the race.
After the end of the event, Martin entered the pits with completely satisfied and with a happiness that only could be compared with that of the crowd that witnessed the race, which were pleased to see a driver that is considered a legend being able to crown himself as the champion of this race.
About the Author
Stephen Lars has been a prominent writer on daily NASCAR races, sports news and the sportsbook industry for many exceptional sport web sites. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.
