From the Crossville Chronicle – Crossville, TN. June 29, 2007
By Joe Dunn / joe@onpitroad.com
Nascar announced the expected penalties for the Hendricks Motor Sports teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. The same as DEI got for the infraction at Darlington, 100 Drivers points, 100 Owners points, 6 week suspension of crew chiefs, Steve Letarte and Chad Knaus and both placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2007.
Both cars were found to have the left front fenders altered during initial inspection at Sonoma, Ca. last Friday. If you listened to anybody from HMS, or even some of the former crew chief TV guys, it was all a misunderstanding and the infraction was a ‘gray’ area. The fact is, with the body of the Car of Tomorrow, there is no gray area. Besides the multi-point template that NASCAR uses on the car, each team was given specific instructions on the entire body, with the warning that NO Variations of any kind will be allowed without prior Nascar approval.
For the teams to get any less a penalty than DEI did would have been a slap in the face to all of the teams. With the history of Chad Knaus and the 48 team in skirting the rule book, many folks felt that they got off light and should have been forced to sit out the race. The penalties imposed will realistically have little effect on the two teams.
The Nextel Cup and Busch teams will be headed to New Hampshire this weekend while the Truck series will be at Memphis.
Drivers to watch for Sunday include Jeff Burton, who leads all drivers with four wins at the track. Jeff Gordon has three wins followed by Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson with 2 each. Last years winners at NHIS were Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick in the fall race.
Local racing action from last weekend –
Friday night racing action at Wartburg Speedway was another action packed night where the $2000 bounty on Anthony white in the Super Late Models went unclaimed. But the best race of the night was the final feature with the Front Wheel Drive cars. Chris Morrison made a late race pass on David Hall Sr, to claim the checked flag in an action packed, caution free 15 lap race.
Wartburg top 5’s – SLM 1. Anthony White, 2. Steve Smith, 3. Curt Williams, 4. Billy Ogle Jr., 5. Stacy Boles
Sportsman – 1. Darrick York, 2. Jeff Hamby Jr., 3. Mark Rosner, 4. Keith Longmire, 5. Jeff Adkisson
Pure Street – 1. Jonathan Sims, 2. Joe Seiber, 3. Doug York, 4. John Smith, 5. Michael Millsap
Pure mini – 1. Jason Manley, 2. David Christmas, 3. Jim Frost, 4. Shawn Shoan, 5. Lance Frost
Front Wheel Drive – 1. Chris Morrison, 2. David Hall Sr., 3. Mike Ellis, 4. Wayne Lewis, 5. Billy Freytag
Saturday night action at Crossville Raceway came to an abrupt stop during the Mini Stock feature and heavy rain hit the track. After attempts to dry the track to resume racing, it was determined that the track was unsafe to continue. The limited Late Model, Open wheel, Street Stock and front wheel drive features will be run in conjunction with the regular racing program on Saturday July 7th. That means fans will be treated to 9 feature races that night.
Mini Stock top 5 – 1. Brian Gregory 2. John Ross 3. Randy Goolsby 4. Joseph Howell 5. Mike Gales
This weekend Wartburg will run a full race program tonight with Super Late Models, Sportsman Late Models, Pure Street, Pure Mini, and Front Wheel drive with racing starting at 7:30 pm (et) Saturday Crossville Raceway will host the Advanced Auto Parts Tennessee Thunder series for the running of the Freedom 60. The 60 lap Super Late Model race will pay $5,000 to the winner. The full field of racing will accompany the Freedom 60, with the Limited Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stock, Mini Stock and Front Wheel Drive races. Gates open for fans at 5:00 pm with racing action starting at 7:00 pm (ct)
I-40 Dragway will hold their Bounty series Saturday, gates open at 4:00 pm
Next week Wartburg Speedway will host the Shoney’s Restaurants Independence 70 on Wednesday July 4th . The $10,000 to win one-day event will feature a complete show of Time Trials, Dash, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 70-lap A-Main on America’s Independence Day. The Sportsman division will also compete for a $2,000 to win 30-lap main event. There will also be a complete show of Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drives, and Pure Mini’s. Restaurants Independence 70 on Wednesday July 4th will mark the largest Super Late Model event ever held on the grounds of Wartburg Speedway. The $10,000 to win one-day event will feature a complete show of Time Trials, Dash, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 70-lap A-Main on America’s Independence Day.
The Sportsman division will also compete for a nice paying $2,000 to win 30-lap main event. There will also be a complete show of Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drives, and Pure Mini’s the night of the Shoney’s Restaurants Independence Spectacular at Wartburg Speedway. Fans will also be treated to a Huge Fireworks display.
Get off that couch and bring the family out to a local dirt track and support the local racers. You may just see the next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart on his way up.
Front Wheel Drive – 1. Chris Morrison, 2. David Hall Sr., 3. Mike Ellis, 4. Wayne Lewis, 5. Billy Freytag
Saturday night action at Crossville Raceway came to an abrupt stop during the Mini Stock feature and heavy rain hit the track. After attempts to dry the track to resume racing, it was determined that the track was unsafe to continue. The limited Late Model, Open wheel, Street Stock and front wheel drive features will be run in conjunction with the regular racing program on Saturday July 7th. That means fans will be treated to 9 feature races that night.
Mini Stock top 5 – 1. Brian Gregory 2. John Ross 3. Randy Goolsby 4. Joseph Howell 5. Mike Gales
This weekend Wartburg will run a full race program tonight with Super Late Models, Sportsman Late Models, Pure Street, Pure Mini, and Front Wheel drive with racing starting at 7:30 pm (et) Saturday Crossville Raceway will host the Advanced Auto Parts Tennessee Thunder series for the running of the Freedom 60. The 60 lap Super Late Model race will pay $5,000 to the winner. The full field of racing will accompany the Freedom 60, with the Limited Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stock, Mini Stock and Front Wheel Drive races. Gates open for fans at 5:00 pm with racing action starting at 7:00 pm (ct)
I-40 Dragway will hold their Bounty series Saturday, gates open at 4:00 pm
Next week Wartburg Speedway will host the Shoney’s Restaurants Independence 70 on Wednesday July 4th . The $10,000 to win one-day event will feature a complete show of Time Trials, Dash, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 70-lap A-Main on America’s Independence Day. The Sportsman division will also compete for a $2,000 to win 30-lap main event. There will also be a complete show of Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drives, and Pure Mini’s. Restaurants Independence 70 on Wednesday July 4th will mark the largest Super Late Model event ever held on the grounds of Wartburg Speedway. The $10,000 to win one-day event will feature a complete show of Time Trials, Dash, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 70-lap A-Main on America’s Independence Day.
The Sportsman division will also compete for a nice paying $2,000 to win 30-lap main event. There will also be a complete show of Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drives, and Pure Mini’s the night of the Shoney’s Restaurants Independence Spectacular at Wartburg Speedway. Fans will also be treated to a Huge Fireworks display.
Get off that couch and bring the family out to a local dirt track and support the local racers. You may just see the next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart on his way up.
