|
11/16/12
|
|
November 16, 2012 |
Twenty
years ago, in 1992, NASCAR’s Winston Cup division saw the end of
one era and the beginning of another. Richard Petty drove his last race at
Atlanta and officially retired from driving. Rick Wilson was named as his
replacement. It was also at Atlanta that Jeff Gordon made his Winston Cup
debut.
Ten years ago in 2002, The Busch North Series got some good news at
their awards banquet when NASCAR Touring Series Director Chris Boals
announced that the successful television package with the Speed Channel had
been renewed, with expanded national television coverage for the BNS in 2003
and beyond. This was a definite shot in the arm for competitors who were in
the process of securing sponsorship for their race teams. The Speed Channel
had also announced that they would cover USAC events in 2003. The Stafford
Speedway announced plans for a special invitational event for SK-Modifieds
and Late Models. Tentatively scheduled for October 11, 2003, with a possible
format of twin features for each division plus a grand finale for each,
should make for an exciting day of racing.
Five years ago in 2007, it
looked like Jimmy Blewett, who had 15 wins to his credit in 2007, would be
spending his non-touring Saturday nights at the Riverhead Raceway on Long
Island in 2008. Blewett would compete on the tour in 2008 but not in the
familiar Eddie Partridge No. 12. Blewett was scheduled be driving the George
Bierce No. 19 that was driven by Ronnie Silk. Partridge consummated a deal
that will saw both race teams merged into one. To supplement the Bierce team
Partridge would supply an additional car plus motors and transmissions.
Blewett and the Partridge SK Modified would compete weekly at the Stafford
Motor Speedway and at the Thompson Speedway. Silk was a candidate to drive
the Curt Chase No.77 as well as the Boehler No. 3, which is if Bobby Santos
III is committed to racing in the south. Eric Beers, who lives down the
street from Tony Hirschman, will be stepping into the Massachusetts based
No. 46 that was driven by Dick Houlihan.
Beers, who drove the Boehler No.3 a while back, finished an
impressive second in the No. 46 at the recent North-South Shootout. Jamie
Tomaino, who is considered to be the oldest active tour driver with close to
500 starts, has his home in New Jersey up for sale and hopes to be moving to
North Carolina. Once the move is made he will concentrate his racing efforts
on the Whelen Southern Modified Tour with occasional starts on the northern
tour.
The family of John Blewett III announced that it would be the end
of an era as it will be the final appearance of the Blewett Motorsports
family owned, Red, White and Blue #76 Modified. Jimmy Blewett, in honor of
his late brother John who lost his life in a racing accident at the Thompson
Speedway the previous summer, would race the car number for the final time
in the Wall and Open Mods, and then the car will be placed in the Blewett
Automotive Museum. The number 76 will be retired by Wall Speedway. The
Blewett 76 has been a mainstay in Modified racing the last 4 decades.
The Stafford Motor Speedway honored its 2007 track champions at its
38th annual Champions Awards Ceremony at the La Renaissance Banquet Facility
in East Windsor, CT. The guests of honor included Ted Christopher who was
recognized as the 2007 SK Modified Champion, which is his sixth overall at
the central Connecticut oval. Corey Hutchings was honored as the 2007 Late
Model Champion, which he achieved in his rookie campaign at Stafford. Chris
Matthews, who missed out on racing for the inaugural SK Light championship
in 2006 because he was on his honeymoon, drove to the 2007 SK Light
Championship in dominating fashion this season, clinching the championship
with two races remaining. Sean Foster drove to four feature victories and
eight top-4 finishes in the final 9 races this season and was recognized as
the 2007 Limited Late Model Champion, and Norm Sears put together an amazing
stretch during the second half of the 2007 season with seven podium finishes
in the final eight races to win his second consecutive DARE Stock
Championship.
Reliable Welding and Speed Rookie of the Year honors went to Wade
Mattesen from the SK Modified division, Corey Hutchings from the Late Model
division, Josh Sylvester from the SK Light division, and David Capriati from
the Limited Late Model division. In addition to recognizing the 2007 track
champions, other prestigious awards, including Most Improved Driver, Most
Popular Driver, and the Reliable Welding & Speed Rookie of the Year awards
were presented.
Matt Kenseth ended Johnson's four-race winning streak, but
Johnson's seventh-place finish was more than enough to cap a brilliant Chase
for the Nextel Cup performance and give him a 77-point final margin over
Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. Kurt Busch battled back from a
flat tire 100 laps in to finish second. Denny Hamlin was third. Gordon ended
up fourth. In Busch Series action at Homestead Jeff Burton won the Ford 300
for his 5th win of 2007 and the 27th of his career. It was the series' final
race with Anheuser-Busch as the title sponsor. Mark Martin was second
followed by Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Stephen Leicht, Greg Biffle and Tony
Raines. In the season ending event for the Craftsman Trucks a spin by the
#08 brought about a green-white-checkered finish and gave Johnny Benson the
room he needed to make the pass on then race leader, Kyle Busch to pick up
the win in the Ford 200 at Homestead Miami Speedway. This was Benson's
fourth win in 2007; ninth career. In the race for the championship, an early
tire problem put Skinner a lap down and then again on lap 74 Skinner had
tire problems as he lost the left rear wheel. Skinner had to pull the #5
Toyota into the garage losing eleven laps while the team made repairs. Ron
Hornaday finished seventh to win the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series
Championship. In his first outing Don Lia finished 25th.
Last year, 2011, In NASCAR
Sprint Cup action, Kasey Kahne snapped an 81-race winless streak with his
victory at the Phoenix International Raceway, where Carl Edwards and Tony
Stewart finished second and third to keep the title race tight headed into
the following weekend's season finale. Jeff Burton finished fourth and was
followed by Ryan Newman. Kyle Busch, racing again after NASCAR parked him at
Texas the previous weekend for intentionally wrecking Ron Hornaday Jr.,
worked his way up to third before his engine failed. He finished 36th. In
Nationwide Series racing at Phoenix, Sam Hornish took his first NASCAR
victory by passing points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and leading the final
61 laps at slippery Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday. Stenhouse
took a big step toward the Nationwide season title when Elliott Sadler was
taken out with 25 laps left on a bump from behind by Jason Leffler. The
unfortunate incident leaves Stenhouse with a nearly insurmountable 41-point
lead over Sadler heading into the season finale at Homestead.
That’s about it for this week from 11 Gardner Drive, Westerly, and
R.I.02891. Ring my chimes at 401-596-5467.
E-mail:
smithpe_97_97@yahoo.com.
Phil Smith has been a
columnist for Speedway Scene and various
other publications for over 3 decades.
This week are several vintage racing photos
Courtesy of
SpeedwayLineReport.com & Dave Dyke's
RacingThroughTime.com
Click on Photo for Full Sized
Bill Gurney
Bones Stevens
Ken Bouchard
Paul Radford
Pete Corey
Reggie Ruggiero
Looking Back Archive
|
|
Source: Phil
Smith / Looking Back A Bit
Posted: November
16, 2012 |
|
|
