(A.J Foyt and the late Tom Carnegie, voice of the Indy 500, photo courtesy Indy Star)

Just when the country was gearing up for “The Donald” Trump’s political media blitz, things seemed to be cooling off from “The Donald”!  In fact, the king of hype has suddenly gone silent!

The latest twist . . . → Read More: Trump Dumped!]]>

(A.J Foyt and the late Tom Carnegie, voice of the Indy 500, photo courtesy Indy Star)

Just when the country was gearing up for “The Donald” Trump’s political media blitz, things seemed to be cooling off from “The Donald”!  In fact, the king of hype has suddenly gone silent!

The latest twist of events came just a couple of days ago when “The Donald” suddenly opted out as the driver of the pace car at the 2011 Centennial Indy 500!  After gobbling up all the glory, taking full responsibility and credit, for President Obama producing his Hawaiian birth certificate, then later getting completely ridiculed at the Washington DC Journalists banquet, “The Donald” is silent and in seclusion!

Not missing a beat, the Indy 500 directors have selected another polarizing, but nevertheless iconic figure, the four-time Indy 500 race winner, A.J. Foyt, to drive the pace car.  It is WOMR’s opinion that the choice of A.J. is a much better, and much more relevant, choice for driving the pace car at this years Indy 500 than having “The Donald” driving the pace car.

What is your take on this?

See ya at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday May 29th!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(file photo courtesy NASCAR)

This year marks the “golden anniversary” of  The Atlanta Motor Speedway.  The foundation of this 870 acre facility began back in the planning stage in 1958.

WOMR would like to reflect on some thoughts about the six races at Atlanta that were viewed in person.  The first Atlanta . . . → Read More: Atlanta: The Golden Anniversary]]>

(file photo courtesy NASCAR)

This year marks the “golden anniversary” of  The Atlanta Motor Speedway.  The foundation of this 870 acre facility began back in the planning stage in 1958.

WOMR would like to reflect on some thoughts about the six races at Atlanta that were viewed in person.  The first Atlanta race that WOMR attended was on the spur of the moment, therefore the seat that was available was less than desirable.  It was way down low and just past the old start/finish line.  Since the reconfiguration that location now is on the back stretch, and the grandstands have been torn down in favor of the luxury RV parking.

Having grown up in the San Joaquin Valley of California, there was an abundance of car racing there in the 50′s, 60′s, and 70′s.  Growing up in the Central Valley of California, I had watched George Snider, Billy Vukovich, Jr., Dick Brooks, Al Pombo, Marshall Sargent, Joe Leonard, and Howard Kaeding, just to name a few of the West Coast “hot shoes” race in Fresno, Clovis, and San Jose, CA race on a regular basis.  Additionally, USAC and NASCAR would also make their rounds through California and I witnessed the “immortals of racing”, “Lone Star JR” Johnny Rutherford, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Jr. Parnelli Jones, Bobby Unser,  Al Unser,Sr., Roger Ward, and Jim Hurtubise as well.

Nevertheless, when I parked my car in the parking lot of  The Atlanta Motor Speedway there was a sense of grandeur like no other that I have witnessed in my, then, 34 years.  As I walked to my seat, the pre-race pageantry, spartan by today’s comparison, was electric.  I thought to myself, I am at the big time, the big show, I’m at NASCAR!

The race cars were being assembled on the grid, down on pit road.  There was “The King’s” car, that legendary Petty Blue and STP Day-Glo #43 Pontiac staring back at me.  WOW!  I looked further and saw Cale Yarborough’s Hardee’s #28 race car.  I peered longer and I spotted the Wrangler #3 Chevy of “The Intimidator”, Dale Earnhardt, Sr.  Then there was the red Budweiser #9 Ford Thunderbird of “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,’ that “aw shucks” lanky redheaded Bill Elliott.  I spotted Buddy Baker’s racing machine, ol DW’s (Darrell Waltrip)#17 Tide ride was there, and the black #27 Miller Genuine Draft Pontiac of Rusty Wallace was perched on the gird, too.  Just looking at the starting grid sent chills up and down the back of my redneck!

I was totally awe struck!  I had made it to the big time, this is NASCAR!

When the pageantry had concluded and it was time to go racing, I got one whale of a huge surprise.  I had never worn ear protection to any of the races that I had attended while growing up, so why would I need some for this race?  Well, my thinking was totally askew!

Well, have you ever heard what over 36,000 horsepower sounds like up close and very personal?  It is earth shattering, and ground rumbling at the very least.  Pain is the only word that comes to mind!  It was a piecing, ringing, mind numbing, kind of pain!  My ears didn’t recover for two full days, needless to say, the ringing was really hard to deal with for those two days!  It didn’t take long for me to learn my lesson for future trips to the race track!

As the race unfolded, the pain in my ears became more tolerable, the excitement level increased, the cars were unbelievably fast, and the racing was intense.  At the end of the day, I witnessed “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” win one of his many victories at Atlanta on that memorable Sunday afternoon!

It is a Sunday that I will never forget the thrill and excitement of 43 beautifully painted, finely tuned, deafeningly loud, precision racing machines,  accelerating like a bullet toward the waving green flag to start the Atlanta Journal-Constitution 500.  It was the Who’s Who of NASCAR racing doing what they do for 36 Sundays every year, and WOMR was privy to be there that Sunday afternoon!

So the 50th anniversary celebration this weekend is sort of bittersweet.  Although there is a gala type of an atmosphere at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, it was just announced the previous weeks that Atlanta is loosing its Spring race, thus only have the Labor Day weekend race starting in 2011.  So the fastest race track and one of the cornerstones of NASCAR is loosing a piece of its history, and some its clout beginning in 2011.

But for WOMR The Atlanta Motor Speedway will always hold a special place in my heart and in my mind that can never be replaced!

What is your special memories of Atlanta?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON  MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy IZOD IndyCar series)

Being related by blood, you would think that A.J. Foyt IV would know better than to complain about cars built by his iconic and strong-willed grandfather, A.J. Foyt.  Nope, that was not the case Saturday.  And as a result, the grandson is out at Indianapolis Speedway today . . . → Read More: A.J Fires A.J.IV!]]>

(photo courtesy IZOD IndyCar series)

Being related by blood, you would think that A.J. Foyt IV would know better than to complain about cars built by his iconic and strong-willed grandfather, A.J. Foyt.  Nope, that was not the case Saturday.  And as a result, the grandson is out at Indianapolis Speedway today and Jaques Lazier is in.

A.J. Foyt Racing made the move after a Saturday Pole Day that did not go well for the team. With Foyt IV in the car, it did not generate enough speed to qualify.  Therefore, it must now run its way into the field on Sunday’s Bump Day.

After Saturday’s struggles, Foyt IV reportedly complained and was replaced by Lazier, a veteran at Indy who was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway looking for a ride.

“He wasn’t happy with the car,” Foyt said Sunday morning of his grandson. “If you’re not happy with your car here, you’re not going to do anybody any good.”

Asked if his grandson might be back in the car before the weekend is over, Foyt said probably not. Can’t make a change like that temporary, he said.

Lazier said he had been trying to put a deal together with Foyt’s team in the days leading up to the 500 but could not get it done.

Lazier said he got the call on Sunday morning. It came from four-time 500 winner Foyt and AJFR’s Larry Foyt.

Lazier could do no better than young Foyt, however, the car did not make the race.

So do you think that maybe A.J. IV might have had a valid complaint?  Do you think that maybe Grandpa over-reacted?  How would you like to  have a grandfather who is as opinionated, as ruthless, as egotistical as A.J. Foyt, Jr.?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

—

(photo courtesy Penske Racing)

Team Penske kicked off the month of May in positive fashion Saturday by recording some of the fastest laps – including the fastest of the day – during the opening day of practice for the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Helio Castroneves, who will attempt to tie the . . . → Read More: Castroneves Fastest on Opening Day]]>

(photo courtesy Penske Racing)

Team Penske kicked off the month of May in positive fashion Saturday by recording some of the fastest laps – including the fastest of the day – during the opening day of practice for the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Helio Castroneves, who will attempt to tie the record of four Indy 500 wins later this month, recorded the fastest lap of the day when he went 226.603 mph in the No. 3T Team Penske Dallara/Honda. Teammates Ryan Briscoe and Will Power also were clocked among the fastest 11 of the 27 cars that practiced Saturday.

Castroneves, who won the pole and the race last year, is attempting to tie the record held by Rick Mears, Al Unser and A.J. Foyt. His performance in the 2010 IndyCar Series season so far – third in the standings with a win at Barber Motorsports Park in April – offer encouragement.

Practice is scheduled to resume Sunday at 12 p.m. ET. Pole day qualifying is set for Saturday, May 22 beginning at 12 p.m. ET and will be televised live on Versus. The Indy 500 will take place on Sunday, May 30 at 1 p.m. ET with ABC’s live coverage beginning at noon.

It is not long til Jim Nabors will be singing, once again, “Back Home Again In Indiana”!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING IN MY REDNECK!