Gettin' Dirty: Lebanon Valley Speedway

Last night i had the opportunity to go to a local dirt track, well, about 1 1/2 hours away in West Lebanon, NY. The track: Lebanon Valley Speedway. I went there a couple of years ago because my friends' brother was entered into a pure-stock race. Purestock is pretty much taking an everyday average car that is driven on the street, and putting a roll-cage inside to make it race-ready.

This year, i kind of wanted to go back to the first ever track i visited. I was able to go back for "Eve of Destruction" which didn't disappoint. There were so many events taking place: the purestock 20 lap race was first followed by the 4-cylinder 20 lap race, reverse race, forward-reverse race, hood-and-trunk race, trailer race, roll over contest, school bus race, a gauntlet race, and to end the night, was the demolition derby.

Also, the first time i went to LVS, the last race was the modifieds. I didn't get to stay for the whole race, unfortunately, because it was breezy and cold. The whole reason why i mention the modifieds was because of this one driver, Andy Bachetti #34. He came to my middle school for a program known as "Minds in Motion" and had his car on school grounds. The car was amazing! One kid actually got to sit in the seat, but i was too scared to touch anything, because i'm a clutz and am known to break anything i touch. To go along with his car, there was a whole session in one of the classrooms about racing and Andy and his modified. But, i didn't attend because i would have been the only girl, and i would have felt really awkward. Yes, i do regret my decision!

At first, we were able to get a seat at the start/finish line, and i'm thinking "wow, this is cool"... until someone comes and pretty much threw us out of that section. So, we went to the seating entering turn 1 and sat there. Bad thing about turn 1: all the dirt and dust comes right at you if you're sitting in the front row. Bad place to be! My clothes, skin, and hair were covered in dirt before the night was even beginning! But, i wouldn't trade it for anything. I love bein' at a track; whether it be a NASCAR track at Dover, or whether it be a "local" dirt track such as LVS.

Like i said previously, the first event was the purestock

race. This race was pretty intense, with multiple crashes. The #41 car was involved in numerous accidents, i'd say about 5!!! The winner of this race was Ray Hall Jr, who apparently, has been on a winning streak lately, and has a pretty good record at LVS.

The second event was the 4-cylinder race. The #31 car won the race with Steven Loomis at the wheel. Before the race even started, i saw the #31, and i was like "that car is going to win". I just liked the lime green number on the side! Did the car start on pole? Nope. He started mid-pack, and was able to work his way towards the front and avoided all the "carnage" and "collisions" to cross the stripe first.






Hood and trunk race winner: Don Curley









Reverse race winner: Shawn Perez




Roll Over Contest winner: Frank Sorrento

Trailer race winner: Robin Pough


School Bus Race winner: Todd Goldstein












Forward/Reverse: ???? Because all 4 pairs of cars broke apart before the 4 laps were completed!

Demolition Derby winner: Craig Westerfield

Also, a car was dropped by a crane with a stunt guy inside. The car had no roll-cage or any other safety equipment that isn't included in a street car right off the assembly line. Once the car was released, it landed in a pre-made "bed" of cars to take some of the impact away from hitting the ground head-on. The car landed straight up in the air. The stunt guy inside was okay.

There was so much more that happened, but it would take me forever to begin to tell everything. Did i have a good time? You bet. It was just so crazy there... they had to go to standing room only because so many people showed up! If you ever get a chance to go to a local dirt track or a track near you, GO! It's a really cool experience you won't ever forget!

Until next time, i'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

Driver Profile: Bradley "Reed" Sorenson

This weeks profile features Reed Sorenson. He's a Peachtree City, Georgia native who also grew up with some other NASCAR stars including David Ragan and rising star, Joey Logano. Today, he took over the reins of the #83 Red Bull Toyota for Brian Vickers who is out for the rest of the season due to blood clots in his legs and chest. You may remember reading my driver profile from last week which featured Mattias Ekstrom, who also filled in for Vickers at Infineon.


You may ask: well why are you doing a driver profile two weeks in a row on one team? Well, my answer to that is because both of these drivers have filled some big shoes. Vickers, in my opinion, is an awesome driver. What Mattias Ekstrom did last week was amazing; but it all went down the drain when Brad Keselowski ruined it. Todays Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was a good one for Sorenson as well. He came home with a 24th place finish, 1 lap down. There was a little controversy surrounding Sorenson this afternoon, after a late race run-in on lap 289 with the #42 Target Chevy driven by Juan Pablo Montoya. Before the run-in, Montoya was having a skirmish with the #24 of Jeff Gordon. It seems like everyone is out to get Gordon after last weeks aggressive driving, dont ya think? First David Ragan, then Martin Truex, Elliott Sadler, Clint Bowyer, and the list goes on.

Well, that's in the past now.

If you recall, Reed has been in the Cup series since 2006 when he had a ride with Chip Ganassi in the #41 target dodge. He was only 19 when he made his first cup start in 2005 at his home track at Atlanta, where he finished a dismal 41st.

Unfortunately, he left Ganassi racing 3 years later with only 13 top-10 finishes. Last year, he took over the famous Petty #43 car. Many people do not know that Reed raced more than half of last season for free! FREE! They sat down and had a meeting with him and said, "You either quit or you race for free" to put it in simple lamens terms. Well, Reed's a racer. He's not going to quit racing because he has to race for free. Plus, he cared about his crew. He wasn't going to stop racing because if he did, his crew would become unemployed. He did the only thing he could; he raced for free.

Now he looks at the opportunity of filling the seat in the #83 Red Bull Toyota as one that will hopefully get him a full-time cup ride. He says, "This is something that I've been looking forward to happening this year. I took a step back running the Nationwide car with Braun Racing. That's been really good this year. That was the right move to make. We've been really good over there and I think that's helped my confidence and I think that will be the biggest help more than anything. Things happen every year and people move around and weird things happen during the season. It's been able to give me an opportunity to go out there and run some more Cup races with a great team."

On friday,he said that he and Brian are a lot alike. "I really don't think we're too much different from each other. As far as what we want out of the car compared to a lot of other drivers that have been around, I think it's pretty close. I talked to Brian the other day and asked him if he has any advice or any help to help me out and he said he'd be here this weekend. So hopefully, he'll help me out if I need any and we'll just work the best we can together."

It's tough for drivers who don't have a full-time ride every week. "You're always auditioning, no matter what you're doing. Even just being in the Nationwide car this year, it matters how you do. If you're out there running bad and wrecking and things like that, I probably wouldn't get an opportunity to be in the garage this weekend. These three races are huge, not only for more races in this car, but maybe for something else down the road in the future. After this three-race deal, hopefully it can turn into something longer and that's my goal."

And to think, Reed is only 24. He has so much more to prove to fans, other drivers, and other teams. His career is still just beginning! C'mon team owners, other drivers, and fans. Give Reed a chance. He deserves to be in a Cup car! He is currently the youngest ever pole winner at the Brickyard. If he gets a team and sponsor after this 3 race deal with Red Bull Racing, he'll be making more history. Maybe not right away. But he has what it takes to win, if given the right equipment. But that's just my two cents of input this week.

Until next time, I'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

Can You Believe It?

The car came to a halt on the backstretch of Bristol Motor Speedway a little after 12:41 in the morning on June 24th. The car: 2011 Ford Mustang. The challenge: Go 1,000 laps at Bristol on one tank of fuel. Was this feat accomplished? Yes, and with many more laps to spare.

David Ragan and Ford engineers full-filled this challenge. 17 hours 40 minutes and 1,457 laps later, the car stopped dead in its tracks.

Ford set out to show consumers that the new Mustang V-6 could complete 1,000 laps which equals 533 miles on a tank of fuel. This is the first car to have 30 mpg with 305 horsepower. However, during the 1,000 lap challenge, the Mustang averaged 48.5 mpg over the 776.5 miles that were logged in this session.

At about 7:26 on June 23rd, Ragan passed the 1,000 lap mark, and the car didn't seem like it was even sputtering; there was plenty left in the tank.

51,000 Ford customers entered guesses about how many laps the Mustang would run. One lucky customer who guessed 1,457 will be drawn from all the other correct entries and will have a chance to win their own 2011 Ford Mustang V-6!

Until next time, I'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

NASCAR broadcasting in 3D? Holy $#*!

NASCAR.com came out with an article today saying that the July 3rd Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International will be broadcasted in 3D, exclusively through and only on nascar.com with TNT Racebuddy and DirecTV. Crazy huh?

I was kind of shocked when i saw the headline on the website's main page. But what i thought the article was about before i read it, was that TNT was going to broadcast it in 3D as well. But, in order to watch the race in 3D, you will have to have a 3D television (which is a no-brainer) or a 3D PC display with 3D glasses.

If you dont have a 3D television, no worries. On July 3rd, you can go to www.nascar.com/racebuddy3D to get more information as well as the equipment you will need to view the online 3D production.



The production, via DirecTV and nascar.com, will feature two new and custom racing feeds produced only for 3D. Cameras will be strategically placed around the racetrack to provide quite a unique view of the racing action and to maximize the 3D effect. The second stream will bring pit crews to life in an unforgettable three-dimensional experience.

Jay Abraham, chief operating officer of NASCAR Media Group comments in an interview with nascar.com, "One of our goals here in NASCAR is to continuously explore ways to improve the viewing experience for our fans. Offering the Coke Zero 400 in 3D on nascar.com and select television distributors is a great example of that consistent exploration. Our fans have been asking us about 3D for several months so we're excited to deliver that to them for the first time ever in what will likely how NASCAR is consumed moving forward."

The race will be televised @ 7:30 on TNT, with the Countdown to Green beginning @ 6:30

(More information can be found on NASCAR.com)

Until next time, i'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

Driver Profile: Mattias Ekstrom

Each week there will be a spotlight on certain drivers from the past weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

This weeks driver profile focuses on Mattias Ekstrom. This past week at Infineon Raceway, he was the substitute driver for Red Bull Racing's #83 car for Brian Vickers. As well all know, Vickers has been out of the racecar since he was diagnosed with blood clot in both his legs and lungs back in early May. Casey Mears has been the replacement driver for the past couple of weeks, but an accident that happened last weekend at Michigan International with his teammate, Scott Speed, had him seeking other options if he wanted to continue racing on the Cup circuit.

Moving on, Mattias had an awesome run going at Infineon... until it was ruined by a late race run-in with the #12 Penske Dodge driven by Brad Keselowski. I'm pretty sure Ekstrom would have gotten a top 15, if not a top 10 finish in his first ever NASCAR race. He also became the first Scandinavian driver to race in NASCAR.

Mattias was born on July 14, 1978 in Falun, Sweden. Since 2001, he has been competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Audi.

CAREER

He was the DTM champion back in 2004. Before that, he had finished 4th in 2003, and 3rd in 2002. In the 2005 season, he finished 2nd behind Gary Paffett. He was also the Swedish Touring Car champion in 1999. Ekstrom is also active in rallying and the World Rally Championship.

In 2006, Ekstrom won the Henri Toivonen Memorial Trophy and earned the title Champion of Champions at the 2006 Race of Champions, by winning over Sebastien Loeb in the individual event finals.

He won his second DTM title in 2007 and went on to win the 2007 Race of Champions, beating Michael Schumacher in the individual finals. In 2009, he won the Race of Champions once more beating the seven time world champion in the final.

Now you know a little bit more about Mattias Ekstrom. Hope he comes back to Cup racin' in August for Watkins Glen!

Until next time, i'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

Bucyrus 200

Yesterday, Carl Edwards won the Bucyrus 200 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Some of you may be wondering what, exactly, is Bucyrus.

Bucyrus International Inc. produces and manufactures high quality mining equipment for surface and underground mining. The underground equipment is used mainly for mining coal, while surface equipment is used for mining coal, copper, iron ore, oil sands, and other minerals. Bucyrus' main headquarters is located in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

HISTORY

-The Panama Canal was completed in 1914, which made it the largest excavation projects of the early 20th century. Bucyrus equipment made this possible.

-Mid 1970s- Bucyrus began working with Siemens Energy and Automation with the goal of creating the most cost-effective electric drive system available. As a result, the first all AC drive electric mining shovel was commissioned in 1990.

PHILOSOPHY

-Safety

-Integrity

-Quality

-Reliability

-Customer Focus

-Sustainable Development

-Continuous Improvement

-Drive for Results

(All information can be found at http://www.bucyrus.com/)

Now you know a little bit more about the sponsor of yesterdays race!

Until next time, i'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

This Weekend: Road Racin'

This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup & Nationwide series travel to some famous road racing venues: Infineon Raceway in California and Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

This will be the first time that the Nationwide Series has been to Road America. This track is 4 miles long... the longest track on the whole NASCAR circuit. The race length for Saturday's Bucyrus 200 presented by Menards is 50 laps, equaling 200.4 (approx.) miles. You might be sayin' ...50 laps? that's all? Well... it's 4 miles with 14 turns... left, left... left, right, left .......

Road America is a replacement for once raced at Mexico City track. That was a fun road course race to watch. I think the main reason NASCAR moved from Mexico City was because of the main straightaway... i remember, NASCAR had made "turns" on the straight out of cones because the cars were carrying too much speed into the turn. I think it was Carl Edwards, who totaled his car because he carried way too much speed and when he tried to turn through the man-made cones, his car turned head-on into the wall (don't quote me on this... but i know something happened along those lines).

I don't think Saturday will be a let down. I've never seen a race at Road America, and im excited to see what will happen. These NASCAR drivers are used to turnin' left; some of them have never seen Road America before, so this race will be quite an unknown factor to both the drivers and fans. Who knows what will happen...

Sunday, the Sprint Cup Series returns to Infineon Raceway. Last year, Kasey Kahne got his first ever road course victory coming at Infineon. Can he do it again? Who knows... im sure the road course "ringers" will have something to say about it though.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

Until next time, I'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line

Drivers Full Names

I thought i would have a little fun, so... here are some of the drivers full names! Enjoy :)

David Carl Allison
Gregory Jack Biffle
David Lee Blaney
Michael Duane Bliss
Kurt Thomas Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch
Jeffrey Tyler Burton
Richard Allen Craven
Kerry Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr
Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr
Carl Michael Edwards III
William Clyde Elliott
Jeffrey Michael Gordon
Charles Robert Hamilton IV
Charles Robert Hamilton V
Kevin Michael Harvick
Virgil Ernest Irvan III
Kenny Dale Irwin, Jr
Dale Arnold Jarrett
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson
Kasey Kenneth Kahne
Matthew Roy Kenseth
Alan Dennis Kulwicki
Travis Wade Kvapil
Robert Allan Labonte
Terrence Lee Labonte
Randy Joseph Lajoie
Kevin Paul Lepage
William Ashton Lewis, Jr
Sterling Burton Marlin
Mark Anthony Martin
Jeremy Allan Mayfield
James Christopher McMurray
Casey James Mears
Juan Pablo Montoya
Joseph Francis Nemechek III
Ryan Joseph Newman
Kyle Eugene Petty
Floyd Anthony Raines
Scott Russell Riggs
Richard Lee Rudd
Elliott William Barnes Sadler
Johnny Andrew Sauter
Kenneth William Schrader
Bradley Reed Sorenson
Anthony Wayne Stewart
Martin Lee Truex Jr
Brian Lee Vickers
Kenneth Lee Wallace
Michael Steven Wallace
Russell William Wallace, Jr
Michael Curtis Waltrip
Scott Alan Wimmer
Jonathon Edward Wood
Christopher Beltram Hernandez Yeley
Joseph Thomas Logano :)

My First Ever Blog

Hello to everyone! This is my first ever blog, and i'm really excited about it. I know a lot of people who have made blogs or are making them, and i've heard it's pretty fun. So now, it's my turn to try it out and see how it goes!

So... most of my friends know that i'm a NASCAR fan, to say the least. Apparently i'm "obsessed"... but to those of you out there who are fans (or better known as 'fanatics') understand how the whole obsession thing works for us.

"What's so exciting about drivin' around in a circle for hours on end?" Doesn't every non-racing fan say that to us fans? I think i've gotten that line, and other variations of it, at least 100 times over the time period that i've been watching the sport. If it wasn't exciting, would millions of people be watching it? ... i mean... last time i heard the number it was about 75 million! 75 million people watching something that isn't considered a "sport" to some people? That the drivers in stock cars aren't "athletes"? c'mon now... there's more to racing than just crashes and endless turning left.

I love those old NASCAR commercials i used to see on television... "it's a way of life". That's what NASCAR is. Traveling across the country for 36 weekends (not counting the All-star race and other events) must be a thrill of a lifetime. Friendships are made. Rivalries grow. Adrenaline pumps. The smell of gasoline and burnt rubber fill the air. What's not to love?

The first ever raced i watched, was the 2001 Daytona 500. Sadly, as all fans know, this was the race in which we lost a legend: The Intimadator, Dale Earnhardt. My family was helping a friend move, so the only thing left to pack was the television. We sat down to take a break, and the only channel that was available was FOX. Ever since that day, i've been hooked!

I watched through the '01 season, as well as 2002 and 2003. I really didn't start watchin' it hardcore, though, until 2004.

As you probably already know, my blog is about NASCAR! I'm excited to share with you guys what i feel about this season, and anything else that's happenin' on and off the track.

This season isn't even halfway through, and we've had so much "drama" if you will... the Daytona pothole, teammate rivalries- Jeff Gordon & Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya & Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne & A.J. Allmendinger, as well as Casey Mears (subbing for Brian Vickers) & Scott Speed this past weekend at Michigan; as well as Denny Hamlin's seemingly domination over the field this year. Who knows what's to come...

Until next time, i'm Steph Piech for The Finish Line