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Tag Archive | 14
Talladega Brings Out The Humor In Smoke
Talladega October 2012
2012 Fall Race – The Big One
It seems racing at Talladega brings out the funny side of Tony Stewart. Matt Kenseth won the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 when “The Big One” happened on the final lap as the #14 driven by 3-time Champion Tony Stewart was racing hard against Kenseth’s #17 on the high side of the track.
Tony was coming down to protect his position, when Michael Waltrip had a big run on the inside line of cars. Tony thought he was clear, telling reporters after the race “It’s my fault. I take 100 percent of the blame. I was trying to win the race and stay ahead and Michael got a big head of a steam. I turned down across the front of his car. It was a mistake on my part, but it made for a bad day for a lot of other guys.” Continue reading
Nascar Reinstates AJ Allmendinger
A.J. Allmendinger
Allmendinger Gets A Second Chance
On Tuesday, Nascar announced they have reinstated AJ Allmendinger after successful completion of the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy Road to Recovery program.
This marks the first driver to enter and complete the program since its inception. ‘Dinger failed a drug test on June 29 at Kentucky Speedway. He was put on temporary suspension July 7 when the “A” sample of his urine specimen tested positive. That suspension became indefinite on July 24, after AJ Allmendinger’s “B” Sample Tests Positive.
Allmendinger’s business manager, Tara Ragan, said was an unspecified stimulant, adding that the results “were within nanograms of accepted standards.”
On August 7th Allmendinger told Marty Smith in an exclusive interview, he tested Positive for a Prescription Drug, Adderall. AJ tells Smith: ” he had been out in Louisville, Ky., the Wednesday before the Quaker State 400 race at Kentucky Speedway and was tired. A friend, Allmendinger said, handed him a pill and stated it was a workout supplement that would give him energy. Allmendinger ingested the pill.” That pill turned out to be Adderall, according to Allmendinger. Continue reading
Write A Letter To Your 16-Year Old Self
Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88
What Would You Say?
All week I’ve heard about this article that Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrote to his 16 year old self. A CBS News project that aired September 12, 2012.
As reported by the media, other Nascar fans and friends, it’s a very moving insight from one of racing’s premier drivers. It reflects on relationships, worries, his career and it even has some humor tossed in for good measure.
It is indeed a very moving reflection from a man who is not comfortable with being in the limelight each and every time he steps through the door. And it made me wonder, if you wrote a letter to your 16 year old self, what would you say?
One of the most poignant lines in his letter that hit home for me was: “You’re there, worried about me here.”
It caused me to think about how much time we waste worrying about things that may never happen, scared to take the chance on that first step on our way to finding out what we can accomplish. One of my favorite things to tell people in my practices is: “We can’t go back and change the past, but we can change the way we allow the past to affect our present and our future.” That starts by living life in the now, to the fullest and without worrying about the failures that “might” cross your path. You will never grab the brass ring, if you don’t take the chance to reach for it in the first place.
Letter Transcript:
Here is a transcript of Jr’s letter to himself: Continue reading
Do You Believe In Allmendinger?
Allmendinger Tests Positive for Prescription Drug
AJ Allmendinger
Nascar Driver
In an exclusive ESPN interview with Marty Smith, AJ Allmendinger says the drug he tested positive for was a legal substance, prescription Adderall…well it was sort of legal.
You see AJ doesn’t have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is what Adderall is prescribed for. So not only does he not have a need for the medication, he doesn’t have a prescription for the medication either.
Then what’s it doing in his system? AJ tells Smith: ” he had been out in Louisville, Ky., the Wednesday before the Quaker State 400 race at Kentucky Speedway and was tired. A friend, Allmendinger said, handed him a pill and stated it was a workout supplement that would give him energy. Allmendinger ingested the pill.”
Say what? You took a pill based on what “a friend” says when you know the potential dangers to your career if it turns out to be something it’s not? I guess if the “friend” was really a friend they’d be honest about what it was. They’d know the potential issues with a Nascar Driver being randomly tested. Or better yet, they’d suggest going home and going to be instead of being out partying and giving them a substance they aren’t prescribed. What kind of friend was this anyway? Not much of one that’s for sure. Continue reading
A.J.’s “B” Sample Tests Positive
Nascar Driver A.J. Allmendinger Indefinitely Suspended
A.J. Allmendinger
On Tuesday July 24th, Aegis Analytical Laboratories in Nashville completed it’s evaluation of A.J. Allmendinger’s ‘B’ sample provided by the driver several weeks ago at the Nascar event in Kentucky.
As with the first sample, this one too came back positive for what Allmendinger’s business manager, Tara Ragan, said was an unspecified stimulant, adding that the results “were within nanograms of accepted standards.”
Nascar defines stimulants as:
Illegal substances: stimulants (such as methamphetamine, Ecstasy), narcotics (oxycodone, heroin, codeine), ephedrines (pseudoephedrine), benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium), barbiturates, muscle relaxers, sleep aids (Ambien) and beta blockers. Drivers and over-the-wall crewmen also are tested for performance-enhancing drugs such as hGH. Continue reading
Tony Stewart Wins His 3rd ESPY
2012 Best Driver ESPY
2012 Best Driver ESPY Winner
Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart is a 3-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. His run for the Cup title in 2011 was epic as he took the lead in 5 of the final 10 races during the Nascar Chase and won. An unprecedented feat that brought the point standings to a tie with rival driver Carl Edwards. Tony’s 5 wins for the year (all of which were gained in the Chase) broke the tie and gave the 2011 Cup Title to Stewart.
Last night in Los Angeles, California he was honored for that stellar effort with the 2012 ESPY for “Best Driver” at the 20th annual ESPY Awards on ESPN. Other drivers in the category were four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti, F1 champion Sebastian Vettel and NHRA champion Del Worsham. All great drivers and champions in their own series events.
Tony was not present at the awards in Los Angelese, but he did release a statement. “I am thrilled to win the ‘Best Driver’ award after what turned out to be a great NASCAR season last year. I was fortunate enough to be able to take the checkered flag when it mattered most,” said Stewart. “There were some great drivers and great champions in this category, so I cannot thank the NASCAR fans and everyone who voted enough for their unbelievable support.”
Winners for the ESPYs are determined by fan vote and who they want to win in each category. This is the 3rd time our Anthony has won the “Best Driver” honors from the ESPYs. He also won in 2003 and 2006. Continue reading
When Sports Idols Fall From Grace
How To Talk To Your Children
AJ Allmendinger
Nascar Driver
On Saturday July 7, 2012 Nascar announced the temporary suspension of A.J. Allmendinger driver of the #22 Dodge for Penske Racing. ‘Dinger as he’s known, failed one of the racing series random drug tests that it administers to Officials, Drivers, Crews and anyone who works on a car driven in any level of Nascar.
In Kentucky officials approached the well liked driver, who immediately complied in the in-field care center. Nascar collects a sample which is immediately divided into two containers, sealed and initialed by the testee. These become the ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples. On Saturday Penske Racing was notified that Dinger’s ‘A’ sample failed.
Nascar has a long list of banned substances, from the mundane to the extreme. Neither Nascar, Penske nor Dinger released the substance that was initially found in the sample. Dinger has until Tuesday to request testing of the second ‘B’ sample. (Story updates at the bottom of this article.) Continue reading
The White House Honors 2011 NASCAR Champion
2011 Chase Drivers Honored
The White House Welcomes the NASCAR Champion, Tuesday April 17, 2012. The tributes to sports teams are a long-stranding presidential tradition. It’s an opportunity for the President to celebrate excellence and achievement by American sportsmen and women.
Tony Stewart of Stewart-Haas Racing
The 30th President of the United States is credited with starting the practice. In October of 1924, Calvin Coolidge welcomed the Washington Senators after winning the American League championship. “The Washington team won because it deserved to win,” said Pres. Coolidge. And the same could be said about our own 2011 Nascar Champion Tony Stewart and the entire #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 team!
Say what you will about Pres. Obama, he’s still the sitting President of the United States and it’s an honor for any sports champions to be recognized by the White House.
Every Nascar fan agrees that last year was a unique and special Championship series. The level of intensity expressed by Stewart-Haas Racing and in particular the #14 team and our 3-Time Champion Tony Stewart especially, was a story for the ages. It was spectacular. It was heroic. It was an excellent achievement to raise the bar in the last 10 races of the season. And it deserves the same recognition that any NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB champions have received no matter who is in the Oval Office. It’s about the history of recognition and accomplishment by a country who is grateful to have heroes to cheer for on Sundays. Continue reading
Why Nascar Fans Don’t Like Danica
Earned..or..Entitled?
By Springwolf
Nascar is a family, for drivers and teams and for fans. Get to a track at 7am for tailgating and behind the back of every truck, suv or car will have some form of ‘homestead’ ready to party and have a good time with their neighboring tailgaters. People share specially cooked goodies, treats, recipes and cheers or chides for their neighbors favorite driver compared to their own. With such a family and fun loving comradery, why is it that some drivers aren’t welcomed into the fold equally or as openly as others?
Fans have their favorite drivers, favorite teams and favorite owners in each of the Nascar series. They also have those they don’t like and they’d love to see hit the wall and knock themselves out of the race. I could say there are drivers fans love to hate, but no matter how much fans don’t like a driver, they don’t want to see them hurt when they do hit the wall. So you can’t say real fans hate any of the drivers in the series. As long as they don’t hit the wall and then turn down into our favorite driver or one of his team mates.
So with all that family emotion going on in the stands and outside the track, as well as in the infield; why has it been so hard for Danica Patrick to find acceptance in Nascar? Well that’s easy, she hasn’t earned it. And that’s the only real reason. Continue reading