Ona 2007 finale

Let’s go racin’!

Saturday, Oct. 13 will be the final race of 2007 at Ona Speedway and will feature late models (100 laps), modifieds, classics and Hobby stocks (50 laps each division) and nay car and u-car (30 laps each).

You can meet the local drivers from 4 to 5 p.m., and the green flag drops at 5 p.m. for a night of great racing.

There will be some changes at Ona Speedway next season with races every other weekend to give drivers more time to work on their cars. The 2008 season will begin in May with a demolition derby.

You can check out their new Web site at www.onaspeedway.com and find out more about the Oct. 13 races.

Kenseth showcar coming to town

Members of Roushdom, listen up!

Matt Kenseth’s Arby’s showcar is making a few stops in the region on Thursday and Friday.

Thursday it will be at Greenup, Ky., from noon to 2 p.m. and in Jackson, Ohio, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Arby’s (go figure).

Friday will have stops in Huntington from noon to 2 p.m. at the Arby’s on Fifth Avenue near Joan C. Edwards Stadium (Marshall University, for those who still call it such.) and then move up the road to the MacCorkle Avenue Arby’s in Charleston from 5 to 7 p.m.
There will be games and prizes and Matt Kenseth stuff.

For more information, visit www.arbysracing.com.

Advantage Junior

Who’s the winner?

Junior announces he’s leaving DEI. No advantage to either side.

Junior signs with Hendrick Motorsports. Advantage Junior.

DEI merges with Ginn Racing, won’t give up number 8, announces Mark Martin to have seat time. Advantage Teresa.

Robert Yates gets in the match, asks NASCAR to reassign Dale Jarrett’s old number 88 to Hendrick for Junior. Advantage Junior. (That was a really nice gesture in a fracas that hasn’t exactly been nice.)

Junior gets Mountain Dew AMP as a sponsor, Advantage Junior. Did you notice there’s already merchandise on the NASCAR.comSuperStore with Junior Mountain Dew 88? I think Junior deserves an edge for that, too.

Budweiser signs Kasey Kahne (uplifted hands, "woo!") So that's a point for Ray Evernham, er, Gillette Evernham whatever. The Bud No. 9. OK, The car's red, he's young and good looking. Bad for DEI, gotta find another major sponsor.

I know it’s not a chess match, but that’s how it looks some days. He makes a move, she counters. It’s really sad.

They actually have something in common. Dale Earnhardt Sr. We know how the son feels about the father and we have to believe there’s love and affection between the wife and husband that continues forever.

Obviously Junior is moving on with his life, growing up, showing some maturity. He’s becoming his own man, moving out of the shadow of his father, making his own legacy. Can the same be said at DEI?

You know there’s a counter move coming, it’s just a matter of when? Or has Junior’s DEI equipment been that move?

Happy Birthday Boris!

Boris Said will be racing in this Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Louden, New Hampshire, driving the #98 Dodge for Gillette-Evernham Motorsports.

His car was slow and didn’t qualify on Friday. HOWEVER, John Andretti's car failed post qualifiying inspection, putting Boris in the race.

Sad for Andretti, happy for Boris! And a gleeful time for SaidHeads nationwide.

Birthday break for Boris! He turns 45 on Sept. 18.

OK all you SaidHeads, send along a birthday greeting to Boris at boriss@nofear.com.

And if you haven't joined in the SaidHeads yet, go to www.saidhead.net and sign up.

Thanks again to SaidHead Deb on the west coast for passing along Boris news as it happens!

NCTS driver Mike Skinner to visit

Pull those belts tight… Ooops, wrong sport.

What do you say about golf? “Fore!”

NASCAR and golf seem to be hand-in-hand for drivers (no pun intended) and Monday will be no different.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Mike Skinner will be at Hurricane, W.Va., on Monday for the annual Toyota/Special Olympics West Virginia Golf Classic at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

Skinner currently sits in 2nd place in the NCTS, four points behind leader Ron Hornaday going into Saturday’s race at Louden, N.H.

Mike will play in the tournament, which raises money for the West Virginia Special Olympics.

Racing note: Last year at New Hampshire International Speedway, Skinner qualified at 129.626 miles per hour.

You can read more about Mike Skinner at his Web site, www.mikeskinner.com.

Saturday’s race at NHIS will be televised at 3 p.m. on SPEED.

Dario moving to NASCAR?

He’s successful. He’s articulate and smart. He has a nice, bright, well-spoken wife. He’s easy on the eyes. He’s won the Indy 500 and the Indy Racing League title. And besides, the Tri-State’s hometown favorite momma, Naomi Judd, likes him.

Dario Franchitti is mulling a move to NASCAR next season with Chip Ganassi Racing. And according to Sports Illustrated, it’s a done deal. David Stremme is out, Dario is in.

Won’t that be an interesting pairing. And mightn't Chip have his hands full?

The fans haven’t exactly embraced Dario’s potential teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, affectionately called Juan Problem Montoya by some.

I have to admit, I had secret smiles at Bristol every time JPM was walked up the track toward the wall. But on a redeeming note, when his car burst into flames the other night I was concerned and screaming at the TV, "get out, get out, get out!" I never want to see any driver or crew member get hurt.

Even ABC’s NASCAR in Primetime specials haven’t made Montoya likeable. He comes across as elitist, brash and abrasive with an agenda to run over anyone and anything that gets in his way.

Yeah, yeah, sounds like the southern good old boys.

But back to the Scotsman.

Franchitti wants a few weeks to enjoy his IRL title before making such a major life decision. Who can blame him? Junior took a few weeks after announcing his departure from DEI before starting the decision making process as to his future.

Dario Franchitti in NASCAR would be another good reason to show up at the track.

I may eventually warm up to JPM, but so far, not so. I’ve begun to sort of like – but not pull for – Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, I’m finding redeeming values in them, mostly in the charity circuit. I already like Franchitti. But then again, I like Sam Hornish Jr., too. I can take or leave Danica. She’s good for the gender, but not necessarily for the sport, although she finished 7th overall this season.

By the way, Hornish has been running some Busch races for his owner Roger Penske and will make his Cup debut this weekend at New Hampshire.

We already say Tony Stewart can drive the wheels off any racecar of any type. Dario and Sam moving to NASCAR is just another cog in proving just how good a driver you are in many categories.

More IRL notes:

Helio Castroneves will be on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars this fall. Can his slick moves on the track translate to the dance floor? Time will tell.

And Dario, despite the Indy 500 win and the IRL title, still doesn’t make as much money as his wife, Ashley Judd. You go, girl!

Tony Toyota

"Put me in coach, I'm ready to play" goes the popular John Fogarty song.

Coach Joe Gibbs is putting Toyota on the field in a big way. His drivers are wildly successful, visible, vocal and popular.

Certainly Joe Gibbs Racing has the financial backing to put some serious resources into their cars next year. And if any group of drivers can be successful in a Toyota, it would be Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. Tony's won the Cup in a Pontiac and a Chevy.

But can you imagine Tony’s temper tantrums if the Toyotas don’t perform well? Hello again anger management classes.

Tony Stewart driving a Toyota is sort of like Mark Martin driving a Chevy. Some things just aren’t right.

I’ll be the first to admit Toyota has been good for West Virginia. The Herald-Dispatch’s coverage of the Buffalo plant was award-winning in competition amongst papers of our former owners, Gannett.

Capital investment in Putnam County of nearly $1 Billion (yes, that's with a B), about 1,000 well-paying jobs, money put into Putnam County schools and improving the quality of life in Buffalo, a pleasant little community.

However.

Toyota has struggled in the Nextel Cup Series. Done well in the Craftsman Truck Series, but with a couple of exceptions - Dave Blaney and Brian Vickers - had difficulties even qualifying for the Cup series. Dale Jarrett used up his provisionals almost before the season seriously got underway. As much as we like Mikey Waltrip, how often have you seen him in a race this season?

Will that change next year?

Time will tell and I hope the best for JGR. Coach Gibbs knows football. Let's hope he's made a good decision to leave the Chevy fold and move to Toyota.

Back from Bristol

I’m back from vacation, and back from Bristol!

All of you were right – it’s louder than you can imagine. The only time I could hear the radio traffic was during the cautions, which were few and far between.

The hardest thing was following the leader, which for the most part was Kasey Kahne (woo!). But the track is so short and so fast, watching is an art form it took most of the race to master.

One of my friends noted it’s just like watching Matchbox cars on a little electric track in your living room. He’s right, too.

Just like at every other track, the fans were nice, much nicer than at any other sport. I was surrounded by friends of the Alum Creek Lions Club in the Waltrip section between turns 3 and 4.

Another big event at the track was being part of the Guiness Book of World Records largest stadium card stunt. Being one of 160,000 holding up cards to make it into the book, I still found time to take a few photos of the breathtaking pre-race events.

Bristol was fun, and I’ll go back, but it still wasn’t as much fun as we have at Charlotte.

And the Bank of America 500 is fast approaching.