plus 3, A long road back for Kenseth - Dubuque Telegraph Herald

A long road back for Kenseth - Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Madison International Speedway Enters its Sixth Year as an ASA Member ... - Who Won
Monster Jam Show at the Stadium Close to Selling Out - First Coast News
KHI reaches back in time with west coast pipeline - NASCAR

A long road back for Kenseth - Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 07:55 AM PST

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Madison International Speedway Enters its Sixth Year as an ASA Member ... - Who Won

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 07:34 AM PST

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Thursday, February 25, 2010
Madison International Speedway Enters its Sixth Year as an ASA Member Track

by Kevin Ramsell

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The American Speed Association and Madison International Speedway have a long standing relationship. That relationship goes back to when the half-mile oval located south of Madison, WI hosted the popular ASA National Tour events. In 2004, it cemented itself in the ASA family by signing on as an ASA Member Track.

"When I purchased MIS in 2003 I felt that the track should be a part of a strong sanctioning body and when Dennis Huth presented the ASA Member Track program to us, it was an easy decision to sign on," Terry Kunes, MIS Owner said. "There is no hesitation when it comes time for me to re-sign every year with ASA. They do a great job of promoting the Member Tracks along with providing a great insurance program for the racers."

Known as "Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile Oval," Madison International Speedway was built in 1969 and has produced some of the more famous names in auto racing from Dick Trickle, Joe Shear, Johnny Ziegler and Tom Reffner from the 1970's to 80's. In the 1990's, track champions included 2009 Daytona 500 Champion/2003 Sprint Cup Champion Matt Kenseth (1994), 2003 Truck Series Champion Travis Kvapil (1996), 2007 ASA Midwest Tour Champion Nathan Haseleu (2008) and seven-time champion Bobby Wilberg.

Dave Grueneberg also has collected multiple track championships at MIS. In 2007, he decided it was time to step out from being behind the wheel to become the track's General Manager, a role he still serves today. "Our relationship with ASA helps us attract fans and competitors from all over the United States with the exposure they provide to us on a national level," Grueneberg said. "Many are aware of the great history that MIS has with ASA as both build champions. Last year, our track champion Jeremy Miller was very close to winning the ASA Member Track National Championship. With him being close to the top of the standings, it really brought a lot of attention to the great racing we were featuring every Friday night."

Madison is well known for its "Friday Night Tradition" as many fans would kick off their weekend by watching the Late Models, Area Sportsmen, Hobby Stocks battle on the half-mile oval along with Bandits and Legends competing on their quarter-mile oval.

"Madison International Speedway is a great example of the ASA motto 'We Build Champions,'" Dennis Huth, ASA President said. "Their history clearly shows the champions they have built and the success from it. Drivers who compete at MIS learn what it is like to race side-by-side at fast speeds. The racing is exciting and we are glad to have MIS part of the ASA family."

The track is located south of the capital city between Oregon and Stoughton. For more information, please visit www.madisoninternationalspeedway.com.

The ASA Member Track program is comprised of dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.

ASA members in good standing are eligible for a $500,000 Excess Medical Benefit as well as a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit. Coverage for the member begins while traveling to a location promoting an ASA-sanctioned event and continues until arrival home again. The American Speed Association, in conjunction with WSIB Motorsports Insurance, is the only sanctioning body to offer insurance coverage which extends beyond the boundary of the racetrack itself (complete details are available online at www.ASA-Racing.com).

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Monster Jam Show at the Stadium Close to Selling Out - First Coast News

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:17 AM PST

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Saturday! Saturday! Saturday! Monster Jam is heading to the stadium.

With the crowd expected to be around 70,000 strong, parking and traffic will be an issue, so leave plenty of time if you're heading downtown.

The Jacksonville Municipal Stadium parking lots open at noon, and opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m.

It will cost $20 for the closest spots owned by the city, about 6,000 in all. About 10,000 private spots nearby will offer varying costs and times.

As for the show, the "victims" (cars) already are gathering at the stadium in anticipation of a rough night.

The trucks will be on display throughout the First Coast tomorrow before gathering at the stadium to start the show.

Check the Monster Jam website to find out which truck is at which location.

From 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, rides on the trucks are available for a $5 ticket (free while they last at area Advance Auto Parts).

From 1 to 5 p.m., there's a pit party, and tickets are also $5 (free while they last at area Southern Ford Dealers).

The main even gets underway at 7:30.

Tickets are still available, and start at $10. They are available from Ticketmaster and at the arena box office.

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KHI reaches back in time with west coast pipeline - NASCAR

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:31 AM PST

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It was a championship race you had to see to believe; reading about it on Monday morning would not have sufficed.

Only 77 points separated the drivers in first and third positions and the top three cars in contention either crashed or suffered a set back.

However, one driver managed to survive the carnage and through a chance happening saved his championship dreams. But it wasn't before the driver and his entire team realized they had to push their stalled car around the track and cross the finish line in order to win the title.

Almost 18 years later, Doug George still questions the legality of it all.

"At first, between the three of us, no one really knew who won the championship at the end of the race," he said.

The winner was Ron Hornaday and the year was 1992.

The "three of us" comprised George, Hornaday and Rick Carelli -- all west-coast racers who competed against one another in NASCAR's Southwest Tour Series and all were crowned champions. But they weren't friends, never even had beers together.

"To be honest we beat the hell out of each other," said Carelli, the tour's 1991 champ.

George, who won the title the year before, said, "We were always the three winning, running up front, but I wouldn't say we were friends. When we showed up it was all business. We respected each other but never took anyone's crap and if someone needed to lean a fender then that's what we would do."

The men parted ways and eventually traveled east to North Carolina where they could ascend the NASCAR ladder further into the Truck Series. Hornaday stayed behind the wheel and has won four Truck Series championships; Carelli retired from driving and went the management route; and George found his niche on top the pit box.

Now, the men are together again working for another championship. Only this time it will be together, not against one another, at Kevin Harvick Inc., the organization owned by fellow west coast native Kevin Harvick.

Hired at KHI in December, George, who last season was crew chief for Kyle Busch, will replace Dave Fuge as crew chief for Hornaday's No. 33 Chevrolet. Carelli is the general manager of KHI and has been for five years.

Hornaday and George worked together for the first time during an offseason truck test in Orlando, Fla. The chemistry was instant.

"The biggest thing is being confident in each other," George said. "That gets rid of a lot of obstacles. When you believe in your driver, that makes a difference. We know each other's past. Once you get past the pleasantries you can say 'OK, then let's get to making this thing fast.' "

Hornaday agreed.

"Doug has been a driver before, he knows what it takes and he knows how to treat people. I like the way he acts, his demeanor, he's a people person and I like that. He's a good lookin' guy too, has a good swagger about him and I get along with him," Hornaday said. (Continued)

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