“MOTOR RACING: Vickers' gamble worth the risk - San Bernardino County Sun” plus 4 more |
- MOTOR RACING: Vickers' gamble worth the risk - San Bernardino County Sun
- Anderson spoils Line’s storybook attempt at Brainerd raceway - Duluth News Tribune
- Gamble on gas fuels a victory for Vickers - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Pioneer Toler, 81, passes away - Contra Costa Times
- Camera & Autograph Night at SSP's Stock Car Saturday Night SSP This ... - Who Won
| MOTOR RACING: Vickers' gamble worth the risk - San Bernardino County Sun Posted: 16 Aug 2009 08:15 PM PDT BROOKLYN, Mich. - There were only two possibilities for Brian Vickers . Run out of gas and probably blow any chance at making NASCAR's championship chase. Or make a bold move toward title contention by winning the race. After a surprising gamble on gas by his crew chief, Vickers drove conservatively to conserve fuel. He then pounced when race leader Jimmie Johnson's tank ran dry, took the lead with two laps to go and held on to win Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. Vickers had confidence in crew chief Ryan Pemberton, but he also had a sick feeling in his stomach during the last few laps. "I've got to tell you, when you're coming to two to go, I'm still sweating bullets, no matter how much confidence you've got," Vickers said. Vickers won his second career race, boosted his chances of making the chase and delivered the first checkered flag for Red Bull Racing. It was the second time in two races at Michigan this season that Johnson's crew gambled on gas and lost. Johnson also was in the lead when he ran out of fuel back in June, handing a win to Mark Martin. "Certainly frustrated," Johnson said. "We've won one race on fuel mileage ever. It's just what we're not good at. I think it's a little too risky for us to even try it." Jeff Gordon finished second, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards and Sam Hornish Jr. Series points leader Tony Stewart, who clinched his spot in the chase by starting Sunday's race, was 17th.With three races left before the cutoff for NASCAR's season-ending championship chase, the win provided a significant boost to Vickers' chances of qualifying. Vickers jumped one spot in the standings to 13th and is only 12 points behind Martin for the 12th and final chase qualifying spot. Martin apparently ran out of gas on the final lap and finished 31st. It also was the continuation of a wild weekend for Vickers, who won the pole on Friday and then spent Saturday sparring with Kyle Busch. Vickers and Busch are trying to climb into the top 12 in Sprint Cup points to qualify for the chase, and their rivalry ratcheted up during Saturday's Nationwide race when they raced for the lead on the final lap and were passed for the win by Brad Keselowski. They exchanged words afterward, a confrontation Vickers called "ridiculous" and "unnecessary" Sunday night. "I feel sorry for Kyle, that he lives that angry about something so small," Vickers said. Vickers certainly got the best of Busch on Sunday and watched his rival come home 23rd. Busch slipped two spots to 15th in the standings. Earnhardt was one driver who didn't try to save gas, and it almost worked. Johnson, Vickers and several other contenders made pit stops with 51 laps to go, seemingly just outside the window they'd need to make it to the end. Earnhardt then pitted with 42 laps to go while other leaders such as Johnson, Vickers, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick did not. The strategy call by Earnhardt's crew allowed him to drive all-out to go for the win while others had to drive conservatively in an attempt to save gas. Earnhardt charged from sixth to third in the final 20 laps, but couldn't quite catch the leaders. as he closed in on the checkered flag with mostly fumes in his gas tank NHRA BRAINERD, Minn. - Tony Pedregon raced to his third Funny Car victory of the season at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. Pedregon powered his Chevy Impala to a 4.149-second run at 295.59 mph to hold off championship challenger Ron Capps in the final. Capps' Dodge Charger lost traction after the start and finished in 6.613 at 99.35. With his second consecutive win in Brainerd, Pedregon extended his series lead to 28 points over Capps. Morgan Lucas, Greg Anderson and Hector Arana also won their categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Lucas captured his second Top Fuel victory of the season from the No. 1 qualifying position by edging Larry Dixon at the finish line. Lucas covered the distance in 3.814 at 309.27 to just beat Dixon's dragster. Anderson ended his season-long winless drought by outrunning teammate Jason Line in the Pro Stock final. Anderson earned his 58th career victory with a performance of 6.641 at 207.53 in a Pontiac GXP. Arana earned his second victory of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, powering his Buell to a run of 6.983 at 190.51. From news services  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Anderson spoils Line’s storybook attempt at Brainerd raceway - Duluth News Tribune Posted: 16 Aug 2009 09:41 PM PDT BRAINERD, Minn. — Jason Line came into the 28th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway looking to capture the one thing that has eluded him in his professional drag racing career: a victory at his home track. Line's storybook performance was about to come true on Sunday, but unfortunately for Line, teammate Greg Anderson wrote the final chapter. Anderson covered the quarter mile in 6.641 seconds at 207.53 mph to edge Line (6.655, 207.30) across the finish line of the Pro Stock final. Line hoped to give the "The Wally," the winner's trophy named after late NHRA founder Wally Parks, to friend Peter Boslovitch, who is battling bone cancer. Instead, Anderson gave it to his father, Rod. "Jason wanted to win really bad, and a little bit of me feels sad, but you're competitors," said Anderson, a Duluth native. "You're racers, so you better have that eye of the tiger and be ruthless when you go out there, because you're not going to win in this class if you don't. Unfortunately one of us had to lose, and it seems like for the first time all year, it was his turn." Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Tony Pedregon (Funny Car) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were Sunday's other professional winners. After a nearly three-hour rain delay, Sunday's cool, overcast racing was extremely fast, particularly in Top Fuel, where some of the fastest speeds ever recorded for 1,000 feet were reached. Anderson certainly had added incentive in wanting to win as well. Anderson hadn't won since the 2008 season finale on Nov. 16 in Pomona, Calif., the longest winless drought of his career. His only other BIR victory came in 2003, a win he dedicated to his late friend John Hagan, who was willed at the track in 1983. Anderson now has a 17-11 elimination record against Line, including 9-4 in finals, but lost in the previous Pro Stock final three weeks ago in Sonoma, Calif., "That win felt like the first one of my life, and it was great to win here. I love these people," Anderson said. "It's been a long dry spell, without a doubt, and you certainly start to doubt yourself. I know I certainly was. Everyone always tells you, 'You've got to stop worrying about it,' but that's easier said than done. I struggled with that this year. Sometimes the mind can be a terrible thing." Anderson went on to heap praise on his teammate. The Summit Racing duo tunes each other's engines, so victories and defeats are a shared experience. "If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best, and [Sunday] was a great day for us," Line said. "Of course, with the competitive side of me, I wanted to win, too, but it doesn't always work out that way. I'm sure [Monday] I'll feel better about it." Line had the race of the day in the class, getting a phenomenal .006 reaction time to beat No. 1 qualifier Mike Edwards in the semifinals despite the fact Edwards set track records for elapsed time (6.630) and speed (208.07).Line, a Wright native who, like Anderson, lives in the Charlotte (N.C.) area, moved past Edwards into second in the season points standings while Anderson solidified his position in fourth. BEST OF THE REST Arana, of Milltown, Ind., was the class of the motorcycle division all weekend and hit 190 mph or better in every run on Sunday. Junior Pippen, a 56-year-old who didn't start racing professionally until 2004, figured he had to beat Arana on the line but ended up jumping the starting lights by .012, thereby giving the victory to Arana. Pippen had never won an NHRA elimination round until Sunday. Pedregon, meanwhile, strengthened his lead atop the Funny Car points standings, easily winning with a run of 4.149 seconds at 295.59 mph after Ron Capps (6.613, 99.35) lost traction. Pedregon, a two-time NHRA champion living currently residing in Brownsburg, Ind., beat his brother Cruz Pedregon in the quarterfinals. Tony Pedregon announced Friday that he and crew chief Dickie Venables were parting ways. "We don't do what we do because of one person. It takes a team," Tony Pedregon said. "I really felt all the information was in place. It was just a matter of putting it together. It was a test, but sometimes that brings out your best. I'm proud of this team for making it happen." Lucas, a 25-year-old who like Pedregon lives in Brownsburg, was the top qualifier going into Sunday and responded by having abanner performance. He progressively got better in every run, including three straight career-best ETs, capped by a 3.814-second run at 309.27 mph to edge hard-charging Larry Dixon (3.818, 314.09). Lucas' second career win clinched a berth in the NHRA's Countdown to 10 playoff and came at race sponsored by the family business, Lucas Oil Products. "I don't know what to do for the rest of the year because we've already accomplished all our goals. It was like everything we've ever wanted happening at once," Lucas said. "I still have goose bumps. This is the best day of my life."  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Gamble on gas fuels a victory for Vickers - St. Louis Post-Dispatch Posted: 16 Aug 2009 10:31 PM PDT Closing in on the checkered flag with mostly fumes in his gas tank, there were only two possibilities for Brian Vickers. Run out of gas and probably blow any chance at making NASCAR's Sprint Cup championship chase — or make a bold move toward title contention by winning the race. After a surprising gamble on gas by his crew chief, Vickers drove conservatively to conserve fuel. Then he pounced when race leader Jimmie Johnson's tank ran dry, taking the lead with two laps to go and holding on to win Sunday's Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Vickers had confidence in crew chief Ryan Pemberton, but he also had a sick feeling in his stomach during the last few laps. "I've got to tell you, when you're coming to two to go, I'm still sweating bullets, no matter how much confidence you've got," Vickers said. Vickers won for the second time in his career, boosted his chances of making the chase and delivered the first checkered flag for Red Bull Racing. It was the second time in two races at Michigan this season that Johnson's crew gambled on gas and lost. Johnson also was in the lead when he ran out of fuel in June, handing a win to Mark Martin. "Certainly frustrated," Johnson said. "We've won one race on fuel mileage ever. It's just what we're not good at. I think it's a little too risky for us to even try it." Jeff Gordon finished second, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards and Sam Hornish Jr. Series points leader Tony Stewart, who clinched his spot in the chase by starting Sunday's race, finished 17th. With three races left before the cutoff for NASCAR's season-ending championship chase, the win provided a significant boost to Vickers' chances of qualifying. He jumped one spot in the standings to 13th and is only 12 points behind Martin for the 12th and final chase qualifying spot. Martin apparently ran out of gas on the final lap and finished 31st. It also was the continuation of a wild weekend for Vickers, who won the pole Friday and then spent Saturday sparring with Kyle Busch. Vickers and Busch both are trying to climb into the top 12 in Sprint Cup points to qualify for the chase, and their rivalry ratcheted up during Saturday's Nationwide race when they raced for the lead on the final lap and both were passed for the win by Brad Keselowski. They exchanged words afterward, a confrontation Vickers called "ridiculous" and "unnecessary" Sunday night. Pedregon wins Funny Car race — Tony Pedregon raced to his third Funny Car victory of the season at the NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway. Pedregon powered his Chevy Impala to a 4.149-second run at 295.59 mph to hold off Ron Capps in the final. Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won their categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Pioneer Toler, 81, passes away - Contra Costa Times Posted: 16 Aug 2009 09:48 PM PDT Burl Toler Sr., the first African-American official in NFL history and a star on USF's 1951 undefeated team, died Sunday in San Francisco. He was 81. Toler, an NFL official for 24 years after a knee injury ended a promising pro career, played linebacker on USF's 9-0 team in 1951 that also featured Hall of Famers Ollie Matson, Bob St. Clair and Gino Marchetti. Toler's son, Burl Toler II, played at Cal, as did his grandson, Burl Toler III. NFL Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall (leg injury) and free safety Brian Dawkins (broken hand) returned to practice. Dallas wide receiver Roy Williams missed practice because of a sore wrist and is listed day-to-day. Also, cornerback Mike Jenkins (sprained ankle) returned to practice. Houston quarterback Rex Grossman is expected to miss a month with a hamstring injury. New Orleans kicker Garrett Hartley won't appeal the league's four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned stimulant (prescription Adderall). On Saturday, the Saints signed veteran kicker John Carney. ... Quarterback Drew Brees left training camp to attend his mother's funeral in Austin, Texas. Mina Brees died Aug. 7.Motor sports Brian Vickers outlasted Jimmie Johnson in another fuel-mileage duel at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., taking the lead with two laps to go after Johnson ran out of gas and holding on for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory of the season. Johnson also was in the lead when he ran out of fuel in June at the two-mile oval, handing a win to Mark Martin. Jeff Gordon was second, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 200-lap race. Series points leader Tony Stewart, who clinched a spot in the Chase for the Championship by just starting the race, was 17th. "I'm certainly frustrated," said Johnson, who placed 33rd. Simona De Silvestro became the first female winner in any class in the 40-year history of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres (Quebec), racing to her fourth Atlantic Championship victory of the year. She led every lap, finishing 0.886 seconds ahead of John Edwards. Tony Pedregon raced to his third Funny Car victory of the season at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway. He powered his Chevy Impala to a 4.149-second run at 295.59 mph to beat Ron Capps in the final. Other winners were Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).Beach volleyball Jennifer Kessy and April Ross upset Nicole Branagh of Orinda and Elaine Youngs 16-21, 21-19, 15-12 in the final of the AVP Tour's San Francisco Open. Kerri Walsh and Rachel Wacholder lost to Branagh and Youngs in the semifinals 16-21, 21-19, 15-7. NHL Mark Messier, captain of the 1994 Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers who retired in September 2005, was named special assistant to president/general manager Glen Sather. Tennis Andy Murray ousted Juan Martin Del Potro 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-1 to win the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Murray's fifth title of the year. Former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic upset top-ranked Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-2 to win the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio.Golf Justin Bolli closed with a 6-under 66 for a one-shot win over Derek Lamely (65) and Chad Collins (70) in the Nationwide Tour's Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, Mo. Bolli had a 21-under 267 total and won $112,500. Olympics The U.S. Olympic Committee decided to postpone plans for its own television network, in deference to the wishes of the IOC and NBC. MLS Visiting Chicago (9-4-8) posted a 2-0 win over Kansas City (5-8-6) to spoil Peter Vermes' first game as Wizards interim coach. Diving Drew Livingston won the men's platform at the U.S. Summer Nationals in Tallahassee, Fla. He beat Thomas Finchum by 15.2 points. Wrestling Pro wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle was arrested on charges of possessing a human growth hormone in McKees Rock, Pa. He was also arrested for violating an order of protection issued by his girlfriend.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Camera & Autograph Night at SSP's Stock Car Saturday Night SSP This ... - Who Won Posted: 14 Aug 2009 02:34 PM PDT Friday, August 14, 2009 Camera & Autograph Night at SSP's Stock Car Saturday Night SSP This Weekend; AMA Motorcycle Racing on Sunday NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. -- Racing action returns to the Susquehanna Speedway Park this weekend on Saturday night, August 15 at 7:00 p.m. featuring the popular Camera & Autograph Night. Racing action will include the Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stocks, Legends Cars and the Speedway Auto Sales Mini Vans. The popular annual Camera & Autograph Night is an event in which all fans will have the opportunity to meet their favorite drivers with their cars on the frontstretch before the feature events begin. Saturday night will also be the second York County Racing Club Night of the season at SSP.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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