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By Greg Billing
| Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 08:48 PM
ROSSBURG — Okay, I’m back. My internet connection was making life a little scary here at the Ollie’s Outlet 360 Challenge.
Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney are here. Tony Stewart is not. He’s still a bit under the weather from Saturday, where he had to pull out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Daytona.
A heavy rain drenched the track around 4:30 p.m. but it’s been sunshine ever since. We’re staging for the 360 sprint B-Main. The modifieds run their B-Main after that, and then it’s the A-Main features.
Kahne looked good in his heat. He had to go to the tail but rocketed up to third. He’s a driver to watch tonight. World of Outlaws driver Donny Shatz can collect an extra $50,000 with a win tonight. He won the Ollie’s opener at Sharon Speedway in June. He must be excited about that. A local racer told me Schatz’s hauler was pulled over near the track for speeding.
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By Greg Billing
| Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 03:12 PM
ROSSBURG — Sitting here at Eldora Speedway on Tuesday, July 8, you can almost feel the electricity for the Ollie’s Outlet 360 Challenge … unfortunately it’s from Mother Nature. There are some ominous clouds creeping up on the track in what is fast becoming a darker Darke County.
Push trucks are out packing down the track, but the lightning is getting closer. Not too close I hope. There’s still someone off in the distance flying a kite from one of the camping sites.
Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney are both running the 360 sprints tonight. Track owner Tony Stewart is not here. He’s still recovering from a bout of illness that forced him out of the No. 20 at Daytona Speedway on Saturday.
Stay tuned for additional updates.
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By Michael Cooper
| Thursday, May 29, 2008, 03:20 PM
Springfield resident Kyle Jones won his second consecutive race of the season in the USA Modifieds series, taking home the checkered flag of the Windy City Bags 50 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 24.
Jones leads the series with 300 points. Brad Springer is second with 289 points.
The Shawnee High School graduate will go for three in a row at Toledo Speedway on Sunday, June 1.
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By Greg Billing
| Friday, May 23, 2008, 07:26 PM
It won’t happen in 2009 — so says NASCAR, which already has most of that schedule complete — but Kentucky Speedway moved into the fast lane for a Sprint Cup race.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. announced the purchase of the Sparta, Ky., track on Thursday, May 22. SMI already owns seven other tracks that hold Cup races. It’s only a matter of time — can you say 2010? — before the Cup guys come to Kentucky.
I’d love to see Kentucky Speedway get a Sprint Cup race, but some improvements will have to be made. One of those would be the seating. The facility holds about 66,000 and about 50,000 might be added.
Traffic is an issue. I-71 is a parking lot after the Nationwide Series races. Adding some hotels around the area would help with the congestion. Announce a Cup race and watch the hotels spring up.
Message boards are hit and miss with Kentucky getting a race. Critics say too many Cup races are already held in this region. I say if Kentucky can hold the second-most popular stand-alone Nationwide Series race then let them give the Cup a shot.
I’d drink to that.
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By Greg Billing
| Sunday, May 18, 2008, 12:56 AM
KOIL Tour driver Toby Alfrey was released from Miami Valley Hospital on Saturday, May 17, following his stunning accident at Kil-Kare Speedway on Friday.
The Miamisburg resident suffered a closed head concussion and an injury to his left arm that could be a bruise, a fine fracture or a torn rotator cuff, said his wife Elonda Alfrey. She said Alfrey’s arm injury will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days.
Alfrey was driving his Legends car at Kil-Kare when he slammed into the wall just past Turn 2 seven laps into the feature. The impact sent his car airborne and nearly flipping over the catch fence. Alfrey’s car landed on its top between the wall and the catch fence in the backstretch, scattering pieces of debris.
“The catch fence worked really well and the safety equipment on the car did its job,” said Kil-Kare general manager Rick Chrysler. “It’s hard to train for a problem like that. You can talk about it and discuss it in a safety situation, but how do you plan for something like that? Everybody seems to be okay.”
Alfrey remained upside down in the car for nearly 30 minutes and it took Kil-Kare crew, Xenia Township emergency workers and Xenia firefighters nearly 90 minutes to free him. He was taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley.
“It was just terror,” Elonda Alfrey said of watching the accident. “I’ve never ever in my whole life seen anything go that high, even when he was driving midgets. I’ve seen them go through the catch fence, but not above the catch fence.”
One spectator in the Turn 3 bleachers said had it not been for the catch fence Alfrey’s car would have landed in the crowded stands.
“He was coming around the corner and two other guys got into him,” he said. “He hit that wall so hard he went up in the air and came down right on his top. It was a sick hit. He flew up as high as the fence. We thought for sure he was coming up in the stands.”
Legends cars are 5/8-scale full-fendered replicas of American autos from the 1930s and 1940s. They weigh 1,300 pounds with the driver and generate 122 HP.
Elonda Alfrey said Toby suffered additional bruises and cuts and the left side of his body took the most impact.
“He doesn’t remember the wreck,” she said. “He’s pretty groggy because they have him on pain pills. He seems to be coming too. You can talk to him and he’ll answer your questions. He’s ready to get back in that car. … He’s on light duty and they said he’s ready to go racing in a few weeks.
“Everyone he knows has called. If we need help to let them know. It’s everybody. Even people I don’t know are calling. Everyone is asking if we need help, does he need help getting the car back together.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991 or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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By Michael Cooper
| Thursday, May 15, 2008, 05:30 PM
Frenchman Michel Disdier and Todd Bowsher are teaming up again.
Check out this press release from Jack Bowsher and Associates Motorsports racing team:
TOLEDO SPEEDWAY: FAMILIAR TRACK FOR FRENCHMAN MICHEL DISDIER
TOLEDO, Ohio (May 15, 2008) — After a solid 13th finish in his ARCA RE/MAX debut at Salem Speedway last month, Frenchman Michel Disdier is ready to take another step. Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports and race car driver Disdier have joined forces again for the May 18th Hantz Group 200 by Federated Car Care at Toledo Speedway.
“I’m not nervous, I’m ready to take another step,” said Disdier. “I’m so happy to continue with such a great team. Actually, I’m ready to be there right now! I feel very comfortable with this track. I felt the test went very good when we were here in April. I am very excited about returning to this track. It would be fantastic if we could obtain a top-ten finish.”
Disdier is familiar with the track as he tested at the half-mile oval on April, 10th. He will take what he learned from the Salem race as well as the Toledo test and build on it for the seventh race on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series calendar.
“We’re looking forward to this weekend,” said team manager Todd Bowsher. “I think the time and effort we spent testing at Toledo Speedway will definitely benefit Michel. It was a very productive test and he used his racing instincts to adapt to the track very well. The focus was more on just finishing the race for Salem. Now that we have the first race out of the way, we can put Michel’s talents on display and concentrate on improving the final outcome.”
Powered again by a Rhyne Racing engine, the Jack Bowsher & Associates Motorsports No. 21 will head into the Sunday race with sights on crossing the finish line. With momentum on the rise, it will be an exciting event!
The Hantz Group 200 by Federated Car Care (100 miles/200 laps) is the seventh of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The first of two events held at Toledo Speedway this season is a two-day show. Practice begins Saturday, May 17 with an hour and half practice session planned from 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Sunday, May 18 shortly after 2:00 p.m. The race will be tape-delayed on MavTV with the first showing scheduled for May 23rd at 8:00 p.m. EST. Additional race coverage including live timing and scoring will be available online at arcaracing.com. All times are local.
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By John Bombatch
| Saturday, May 10, 2008, 12:21 AM
Congratulations goes out to a pair of female Miami Valley racers.
MEGAN RITENOUR, of Miamisburg and SLOAN HENDERSON, of Franklin were both named among 18 finalists for the 2008 Lyn St. James Project Podium scholarships.
The scholarships are intended to help young female racers “achieve racing and business success.”
St. James is a retired veteran road racer who is one of five women to have qualified for the Indianapolis 500. She was the 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year.
Female racing drivers from 13 states and Germany were named. Each applicant submitted their driving qualifications, sponsor information and a written essay which outlined their goals, racing plans and why they need support.
Ritenour is competing in the Super Cup Stock Car Series and the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series. Henderson competes in the INEX Legends and Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana Legends Tour.
Joining Henderson and Ritenour as finalists for this year’s scholarships are:
* Renee Dupuis, Glasbury, Conn. — NASCAR Whelen Modified Series
* Kaley Engstrom, Rhome, Texas — Brazo Mini Sprint Association
* Natalie Fernaroli, Raymore, Mo. — TAG USA Kart
* Diana Harker, Gainesville, Ga. — NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster
* Kate Harker, Gainesville, Ga. — NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster
* Brandi jass, Bryan, Texas — Brazos Mini Sprint Association
* Kristy Noll, Amherst, N.Y. — WKA Jr. Restricted Dirt Karts
* Samantha Nield, Jensen Beach, Fla. — NHRA Altered Dragster
* Ashley Parlett, Harrisburg, N.C. — 260 Sprint Cars
* Leah Pruett-LeDuc, Cherry Valley, Calif. — NHRA Funny Car/Super Comp
* Kayla Sewell, Henderson, Nev. — NHRA Sportsman
* Trista Stevenson, Pocahontas, Ill. — NASCAR Late Model
* Samantha Taylor, Bonney Lake, Wash. — USAC/QMA/IKF/ASCA Series
* Miranda Throckmorton, Coatesville, Ind. — All-Star & Midwest Circuit of Champions
* Lynsey Tilton, Martinsville, Ind. — USAC Midgets/Mini Sprints
* Jackie Weiss, Hessen, Germany — Karts/Formula BMW
Project Podium is an offshoot of St. James’ Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation and Driver Development program. Project Podium plans to award $55,000 in racing scholarships this year.
The finalists are currently being evaluated by a select panel of female business and auto racing personalities, including St. James, NASCAR driver Erin Crocker and current Formula Atlantic Championship managing director Vicki O’Connor.
Scholarship winners will be announced in late May.
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