GRIZZLY BITES - Last Updated Sunday, 27 August 2006

MY BLUE, BUT CLOSE JUST THE SAME

Troy Little is off and running in the US, debuting unannounced at Ohio’s Sharon Speedway tonight.

The CV sheet will show Little finished in the main event’s top 10 – that’s perhaps the downside of the evening.

Not as well documented is the fact Little and his new #20 Best Hino Eagle qualified on the front row and led the first 15 laps of the feature race.

“I couldn’t have hoped for a better start,” Troy told us today.

“Bill Roberts told me Sharon Speedway was a difficult place to run because the track changes all the time,”

“You can two wide in the first and second turns, but after that it’s single file around the pole, leaving no gap between the track and the inner guard rail,”recalled Troy.

“I came up Ed Lynch Jnr to put a lap on him and when he bobbled I swung to the outside and looped it.” he added.

Little said he, Doug Keckich and their team, chose to debut at Sharon because it has a tough track reputation and he wanted racing laps before Ohio Speedweek action next Wednesday.

Little and Keckich will be joined by their Aussie crew of Bill Roberts, Brett Swanson and Christopher Soloman for their Speedweek series opener.

“The objective is experience on a variety of tracks and surfaces which is important back home in reading tracks, preparation, gearing and tyres – nothing more or less,” commented Roberts.  

FRED BROWNFIELD KILLED IN MODIFIED MISHAP

Fred Brownfield, the man who took over the National Sprint Tour earlier this year, was killed at his beloved Grays Harbor Raceway in Washington when struck by a modified.

The Modified Nationals was one of Fred’s big promotions and had attracted the best modified drivers in the US for night one qualifying heats.

Brownfield, 53, was a doer in short track racing.

A former driver with impressive credentials, he assumed the role of Promoter with a driving passion to create and succeed.

Skagit and Grays Harbor were two tracks to feel  his brush of professionalism and when the split between WoO and the fledgling NST faltered, in stepped Brownfield to give it the direction it never reached under the Petty group.

It has been a tough ride this year, but Steve Kinser always believed it would work given time and he has stuck to the NST like glue where others have ducked in an out of the WoO and NST sanctions.

What will happen to the National Sprint Tour given   Fred’s tragic passing is not known at this time.

Fred Brownfield is survived by wife Debbie, three daughters and two sons.

They clearly understood racing was a tough game with associated risks and have been quick to accept no individual was at fault on Wednesday night when the accident occurred.

TROY GEARS UP FOR AMERICAN TOUR WITH NEW TOYS

Posted 12 June 2006

Troy Little is headed back to the United States where he will campaign as a privateer on the World of Outlaws and All Star championship trails over the next two months.

The accomplished Sydney-based driver will not base himself at one particular track and will roam the mid-west picking up major meetings, including the Ohio Speed Week which includes four major shows in five  days.

Little based himself at Knoxville, Iowa a few years ago, but wants to work at car set up on a variety of tracks which guarantees he will benefit enormously from the experience.

Awaiting his arrival in Ohio will be two new Eagle cars complete with Chad Kemenah team Kistler engines breathed over by Bob Hampshire, the legendary horsepower and set up king.

Hampshire is Chad’s father-in-law and his record of achievement is staggering.

Grizzly boss Bill Roberts has helped Troy seal the deal and will join him at  their team base at Sharon, Ohio with Doug Keckich, Brett Swanson and Christopher Soloman also helping with the new #20 Eagles from Jerry Russell.

“We could not have put this together without the help of Brian and Chad Kemenah,” said Troy this morning.

Little remains the only driver in history to win separate Australian main events in the 360, 372 and 410 sprintcar categories

He achieved the hat trick at Parramatta, Bacchus Marsh and Mildura last summer.

“Troy wanted to go back to the States with good equipment and do his best on a variety of tracks, surfaces and shapes,” commented Bill Roberts of Grizzly Racing.

“This racing tour is all about learning new things and we are deliberately playing it low key which is the way Troy likes to do things,” he added.

The trip has been supported by All Star Performance of Watervilet, Michigan, (the Motor State Parts People), Intense Fabrication, American Race Tires, Pro Shocks, Eagle Chassis and McCroskey Chevrolet

Stay tuned for the latest developments.

THE BATON CHANGES AS KING KEVIN CAPTURES CHARLOTTE

Posted 25 May 2006

Rain continues to be the victor at most outdoor events in the US – and that goes from Indianapolis to World of Outlaws, the rival National Sprint Tour, ASCS 360 and the All Stars.

The split between WoO and NST has done little for the long term good of the sport – then there is the arrival of 17 year-old Kevin Swindell.

The son of former WoO multi titlist Sammy, young Kevin opened a few eyes during his Australian tour last year.

On Wednesday night he simply blew them all away for 25 laps on the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, taking the $10.000 winner’s cheque from Eagle drivers Chad Kemenah and Australian champion Brooke Tatnell.

Tim Shaffer finished fourth in Terry McCarl’s Eagle while series leader Donny Schatz was a deserving fifth.

From the front row young Swindell, driving the white #1 machine, dictated the pace throughout the event and was like a bolt of lightning on every re-start.

Things should get a little easier now for Kevin who has carried the Swindell legacy like an anchor around his neck.

The kid is sharp and is likely to follow Tony Stewart across to the open wheelers and stock cars, but he’s got time to burn and plenty of places to visit.

The previous Saturday night Tim Shaffer stepped into the Casey’s General Store #6 and won the NST main at Dodge City Raceway Park.

Paul McMahan, driving the Stewart Motorsport’s Bass Pro Shops Eagle, took second with Tim Kaeding third aboard Steve Kinser’s Slick 50 entry.

The King once again finished shy of the podium himself which is a pity in itself.

When he won the WoO for a 20^th time last season he could not have predicted how season 2006 would unravel.

LITTLE UNBEATEN IN 360 SPRINTCAR NATIONALS FINAL AT MILDURA

Posted 16 April 2006

Troy Little created a little slice of history tonight in the Best Hino #20 Eagle when he ran away from the field to win the Mildura to Knoxville sprintcar national in frigid conditions at the Timmis Speedway in Mildura.

The Sydney hot shoe had his machine in the groove from the moment they dropped the green and with plenty of power up front in the Harold Brennan supplied 360 motor, there was no stopping the boy.

Not too many drivers have won 360, 372 and 410c.i. main events in the same season in Australia – none in fact with the exception of Little.

The two night race meeting was conducted in fairly artic conditions, but as Little streaked across the line to beat Adelaide’s Jamie Cobby and Victorian Stephen Bell, he was a straight clear.

It was suggested Little might be underweight on the scales, but Little and crew chief Billy Roberts silenced all the knockers as the St George Landscapes sponsored machine made the 1625lb weight limit with 15lbs up his sleeve.

“We ran the car as Bill had set it up and it was perfect,” said Troy.

Apart from prize money and other awards Troy also picked up two tickets to Knoxville for the 360 Nationals, accommodation and rental car.

Stephen Bell acknowledged Little and Roberts had their race faces on and remarked “I’ve finished third to worst blokes than these,”.

Cobby, who looked good throughout the event, paid tribute to the winner.

“Troy was way too quick for all of us and congratulations to him,” said Jamie.

Little knocked off the fastest lap on the hard slick track with a 13.072 which probably explains why he was so fast.

Troy, with a smile from ear to ear, thanked his crew for their hard work, along with his mum and dad who are his best supporters.

“Having Bill Roberts, Lyndal and their kids Keeley and Grady with us was just terrific and made for a wonderful family weekend with a happy ending,” he added 

SWINDELL CLEAN SWEEPS ELDORA AS KINSER CARS MAKE WoO RETURN

Posted 9 April 2006

Nobody is writing too much into the weekend two night show, but the familiar Kinser #11 cars were in the pits at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway, attracting almost as much attention as Sammy Swindell.

Swindell not only decimated the opposition both nights around the legendary half miler, he led all 55 laps of competition to snare Friday’s 25 lap preliminary main and Saturday’s 30 lap grand final to collect $17.000 in prize money.

The recent rift between Steve Kinser’s NST and WoO has been responsible for plenty of ink, but nobody in racing believes the National Sprint Tour will see out the current season.

An interesting article in the Dayton press mid week suggested many of the big names in sprintcar racing would forget their differences and support Tony Stewart and Eldora Speedway.

That prediction was spot on as Kraig Kinser and Tim Kaeding were in the pits while Steve Kinser himself did not race after flipping the previous night in a rough IROC race at Texas World Speedway.

It is becoming fashionable for drivers to now say they are ‘not aligned to either series’ and intending picking the eyes out of the WoO and NST schedules this summer in the US.

Swindell’s uncanny dominance on the Eldora half mile was stunning.

In Friday night’s main his brakes checked out and a sticking throttle meant the tough as nails campaigner just lifted his elbows and got on with it.

Lasoski finished second in Denis Roth’s #83 Eagle with Donny Schatz taking third and Tim Kaeding fourth aboard Steve Kinser’s Slick 50 sponsored machine.

Tonight Swindell blitzed them again to beat Kaeding, Lasoski and Jac Haudenschild.

WoO has a number of short track sanctions through Indiana and neighbouring States over the next 10 days which may lead to the familiar Quaker State #11 car being in the pits with a 20 time national champ at the wheel.

The time to bury the hatchet is close at hand.

GREEN WINS TPCR SPRINT TITLE AT PARRAMATTA

Posted 9 April 2006

Trevor Green won the Tyrepower Parramatta Raceway track title with a great drive from the second row in the main event last night.

Green started from position four in the main and held out West Australian Ryan Farrell and Troy Little over the distance.

On the way to the feature race Green set fastest qualifying time of 12.045s to Little’s 12.052 and Max Dumesny who timed in at 12.081s.

The secondary dash premiership series resulted in a win for Little in the Best Hino Eagle who led Green and Mark Blyton to the flag.

Little was one of the first to congratulate Green on his track premiership after dominating main events and point score awards at Parramatta for the past two years.

“We crashed and smoked a couple of motors early in the season from which we didn’t recover quickly enough,” recalled Troy.

“My crew has worked so hard this season to get on top of things as has Bill Roberts who got us pointed in the right direction,”

“But mum and dad have been the silent strength behind the team and I’m glad we were able to come storming back from behind to give Green something to think about,” he concluded.

TROY LITTLE BACK ON COURSE AT PCR AS HE BEATS DUMESNY IN MAIN

Posted 1 April 2006

It might have been April Fools Day but Troy Little took no prisoners, or anything for granted, as he blitzed the pack to win the sprintcar main tonight at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway.

Little, driving the Kimbo Transport -Best Hino Eagle#20, timed in 13^th fastest and finished second in the fourth transfer heat to Trevor Green while Max Dumesny, Marty Perovich and Queenslander Allan Woods tasted victory in the opening contests.

A second to Grant Tunks followed in the first dash as Mark Blyton took the second to set up a competitive from half of the field in the main.

Little started from the second row behind Tunks and Dumesny and beat a path to the front to hold off the Valvoline driver and big improver Ian Madsen who came from seventh to share the podium.

Green was listed as 23^rd placegetter in the 25 car field which narrows the track point score margin, not that Troy is counting marks.

“We’ve had a terrible season what with crashes and failures, but I’m not going to make any excuses because it feels just great to get back on top of our game again,”said Troy

“Our sponsors have never wilted, nor have my folks, our crew and Bill Roberts in particular,”

“Going home with a trophy, some money and a straight car is a nice feeling – and all of it on April Fools Day too,” he quipped with a smile from ear to ear.

SCHATZ AND SWINDELL SPLIT LAS VEGAS BUCKS AS KAEDING KICKS IN NST PRELIMINARY AT NEW MEXICO

Posted 11 March 2006

The planned two nighter at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was split into twin $10.000 to win main events – bad news for Donny Schatz, but a welcome invitation for Sammy Swindell.

Schatz blitzed everyone the first night at Vegas as the temperature dropped and wind picked up.

Conditions were testing for the racers, but Schatz, who has a magnificent winning record on this half miler, stretched out the Parker Stores #15 to win the A main comfortably from Jeremy Campbell, Randy Hannagan and Terry McCarl.

The Altoona, Iowa Eagle driver led the qualifiers with a single lap at 14.419 while Schatz led the Friday night qualifiers from Brooke Tatnell, Joey Saldana and Chad Kemenah.

Tonight Swindell made the front row in company with Jac Haudenschild who led the opening 10 before Sam the man in Guy Forbrook’s macine took over the lead and ran away.

Schatz placed third with McCarl not far behind in fourth, Saldana was to finish fifth and Hannagan sixth.

Across at Las Cruces, New Mexico the NST opened a two night show with Kraig Kinser joining dad Steve and regular sidekick Tim Kaeding in a three strong Kinser entered team of cars.

Danny Lasoski set the qualifying pace with a lap of 11.346 in the Bass Pro Shops Eagle, edging Kinser junior and Jason Sides while Kaeding came from behind to win his second NST main event of the current season.

The second night at Las Cruces is likely to present some additional challengers tomorrow evening.

EAGLES AGAIN AT TUSCON WoO AS McMAHAN LEADS 1-30 IN MAIN

Posted 5 March 2006

Paul McMahan, the young driver chosen by Tony Stewart to replace Danny Lasoski in his #20 Bass Pro Shops Eagle this season, came up trumps in the 30 lapper at Tuscon’s Raceway Park tonight.

After last night’s Eagle 1-2-3 in the main, Altoona’s Terry McCarl set a new track record of 13.127s in qualifying at the controls of the #24 Big Tree Stands Eagle.

Johnny Herrera, a former outlaw regular, joined the trail blazers and did well with victory in his heat before taking the first dash from Jeremy Campbell and Sammy Swindell.

McMahan won the second over Justin Henderson and Sammy Swindell to advance to the front row of the main event.

One can just imagine the nerves he was trying to control before the start, but the moment they threw the green Paul hauled.

One yellow caution period was recorded which allowed Donny Schatz, Johnny Herrera and Chad Kemenah to close up, but he streaked back to the front to win comfortably.

It was McMahan’s first main event victory for Tony Stewart Motorsport and one has the distinct feeling he won’t have any trouble finding his way back there many times this season.

EAGLES SOAR 1 2 3 AS LASOSKI TAKES MANZANITA WoO MAIN

Posted 4 March 2006

It was the all singing and dancing Jerry Russell Eagle show at Manzanita Park, Phoenix tonight as the Dude, Danny Lasoski, returned to the WoO ranks to take a hotly contested main from Australian champ Brooke Tatnell and Iowa’s Terry McCarl.

Lasoski ran smoothly in the Denis Roth #83 Eagle and despite a strong challenge from Donny Schatz, he was able to pull away from his pursuers.

Schatz broke something and had to ease out of the throttle while fast timer and early race leader Tatnell, in the Garlic Jim’s Castrol Eagle, waged a four wheel war with Terry McCarl in the Big Tree Stands Eagle.

The Arizona swing by the WoO takes in Tuscon Raceway Park on Saturday night before the crew heads to Las Vegas for two big shows on Friday and Saturday.

Lasoski is a committed NST driver, but dropping in to steal a $10.000 winner’s cheque from WoO obviously appeals to him and his car owner.

It might not do much for inter group relations between NST and Woo this year, but Lasoski, Joey Saldana and Sammy Swindlell have clearly indicated they are only too happy to pick and choose in 2006.

KINSER MAKES IT TWO FROM TWO AT TULARE THUNDERBOWL

Posted 26 February 2006

Twenty times WoO champion Steve Kinser picked up where he left off last night by winning the NST main event from position five tonight at the Tulare Thunderbowl.

Californian local Justin Meyers in the Elite Landscaping #14 car started one spot ahead of the King, but just couldn’t hold him out. He placed second to get his season off on a good start.

Last night’s fast qualifier Paul McMahan in Tony Stewart’s Eagle finished a creditable third after coming from position 10 in the pack.

Next was Brooke Tatnell, one spot clear of fast timer Danny Lasoski and Tim Kaeding in the second #11 Delco Remy car normally driven by Kraig Kinser who has a season long commitment to NASCAR trucks and Busch racing as he makes his way towards the Nextel Cup.

With two wins to his credit from back to back starts for the NST at Tulare, the mystique of Steve Kinser continues.

He alone was the big name who walked from the World of Outlaws to headline the new group under the NST banner proudly unfurled by Fred Brownfield.

Good luck to them.

LITTLE RETURNS TO TOP THREE AS PCR TRACK PREMIERSHIP WARMS UP

Posted 26 February 2006

A photo finish between WA driver Ken Satori and Ian Madsen highlighted the sprintcar premiership round at Tyrepower Parramatta Raceway last night, but right behind them was defending champ Troy Little in the Best Hino/ Kimbo Transport Eagle.

The Americans have been and collected, the long awaited midget majors are over and there’s been a rain out too, but the bread and butter weekly diet of sprintcars has returned.

Take nothing away from Ken Satori or Ian Madsen (many folks believed he was quick time man on Saturday) but  Little is slowly returning to the big game.

“We lost a complete car, an engine and I got hurt during January and the way back has been a little bumpy,” says Troy.

“My folks, crew and Bill Roberts know how tough it has been, but we have no excuses, just point us towards the next race,” quipped Troy with that cheeky smile.

The season premiership has tightened appreciably with Trevor Green 3470 leading from Adrian Maher 3448 and Little 3432.

Pressure should continue to mount as the NSW title gets added to the mix at Parramatta next weekend.

STEVE KINSER STARTS NST SERIES WITH TULARE 1-2 TEAM RESULT

Posted 25 February 2006

The new National Sprint Tour (NST) opened at California’s Tulare Thunderbowl tonight with 37 cars undertaking time trials and Steve Kinser and Tim Kaeding framing a 1-2 result in the 30 lap feature race.

Kaeding was subbing for Kraig Kinser, who had commitments to the Nextel Cup Nascar show at the California Speedway, so the result was a fairy tale finish with the two #11 machines leading Jason Meyers, Joey Saldana and Sammy Swindell to the wire.

Paul McMahan set quick time in the Tony Stewart Motorsports Eagle 13.107 with Danny Lasoski (13.147), Jason Meyers (13.160) and Ronnie Day (13.254) the next in line.

Steve started from pole and led his part time team mate across the line to start a new page in US Motorsport.

The WoO is already underway and will start a swing through the south in the next week with stops at Manzanita, Tuscon and Las Vegas and with the loss of Chad Kemenah to WoO this year, the All Stars would appear to be the first group feeling the pinch with dates.

Share sanctioning with WoO is a temporary band aid for All Stars, but whether it will keep everyone happy is dubious.

The NST return to Tulare Thunderbowl tomorrow night for the second part of their two nighter with the #11 Quaker State and #11 Delco Remy cars of superman Steve and Kaeding expected to again set the pace.

JOEY SALDANA WINS WoO THRILLER IN KASEY KAHNE #9

Posted 11 February 2006

Joey Saldana has been counting down the days until he stepped in to Kasey Kahne’s new Dodge Curb Records #9 and in took the WoO only two races before the gas ‘em up guy from Indiana struck pay dirt.

Tonight Saldana came out of the pack to run down the leaders in the second WoO main of 2006, nailing Jac Haudenschild in the final corner to win the 35^th Winternationals before a jam packed Volusia Speedway Park crowd.

Fans were treated to another show stopper as fast Freddy Rahmer, Saldana and Haudenschild unleashed a barn burner with Joey the class of the field.

He worked his way inside Rahmer and then took off after Haudenschild in Rick Wright’s #35 machine.

Fast time honours went to Donny Schatz over Chad Kemenah, but these two drivers who dominated the action last night, were not among the leaders here tonight.

Kemenah finished ninth and Schatz 14^th showing the depth of the competition in WoO this season.

The Kahne owned-Saldana driven car is rumoured to be bound for the rival National Sprint Tour series, but tonight’s  $10.000 pay out will be followed by Manzanita Park, Phoenix on March 3, a show the next night at USA Raceway Park in Tuscon and a two nighter at Las Vegas Speedway.

Whether drivers like Saldana pick and choose their events throughout the year is yet to be determined, but it is an alternative.

In other words, drivers who decide to run WoO and the National Sprint Tour will probably be regarded as the genuine outlaws.  

NEW WoO ERA COMMENCES AS CHAD KEMENAH AND EAGLE WIN #1

Posted 10 February 2006

Much has been said and written about World of Outlaws, Dirt Motorsports and the 2006 season.

The National SprintCar Tour with Steve and Kraig Kinser, Danny Lasoski and a number of the old WoO front runners, made a move late last year to break away from Dirt Motorsports this season and one suspects run less shows for more money.

Steve is a 20 time champion of the WoO and is considered the driver to follow.

However, WoO has done a remarkable job in the latter part of 2005 and over the Christmas holidays in putting together a streamlined calendar of major events which include the Knoxville Nationals, $50.000 to win show at Eldora, big money races in Pennsylvania, the Gold Cup in northern California and a grand final at Las Vegas.

Many fans indicated WoO without the Kinsers, Lasoski and company would not make it.

They were wrong.

WoO opened at Volusia Raceway Park in Barberville, Florida tonight and the 2006 season curtain raiser was taken game, set and match by four times All Star champion Chad Kemenah in the UUI #15 blue Eagle.

Chad is just back from Australia where he drove the Formula Motorsports OO Eagle at Warrnambool for Ray Solomon and crew chief Bill Roberts.

He was taken out of play while leading a heat race by a lapped car, flipped backwards into the safety fence, destroyed the yellow machine and returned home after well and truly ringing his bell.

Chad set quick time for the Volusia Raceway Park meeting with a lap of 14.129 to lead the qualifiers.

He finished third in his heat, won the dash and led every lap of the main to beat Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana (in Kasey Kahne’s new #9 machine),

Chad Layton at the helm of the Pennsylvania entered #12 Apple Motorsports car, Brian Brown and newly crowned Australian champ Brooke Tatnell.

Thirty six cars filled the pits for the first of two $10.000 to win shows at Volusia Raceway Park and as expected there was no Steve Kinser, Kraig Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Paul McMahan and Sammy Swindell.

The times are a changing with WoO loaded with new stars and some familiar faces firing the first salvo in Florida, the second tomorrow night at the third at Manzanita Park in Phoenix.

The National SprintCar Tour begins later this month and one can only hope we are not witnessing a repeat of the IRL v CART wars which has decimated domestic single seater racing across the US.

LASOSKI AND SCHATZ SPLIT ALL STAR CHAMPIONSHIP OPENERS

Posted 9 February 2006

The All Stars are off and running in Florida although those running exclusively with the sanction group did not get a sniff of the big money at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park over the past two nights.

That honour was split between Danny Lasoski in the new Denis Roth #83 Eagle and Australian tour dominator Donny Schatz in the #15 Parker Stores car.

Chad Kemenah, driving the #15 UUI Eagle, set a new one lap record for the half mile oval when he whistled around the track in a stunning 13.164 seconds to top the 30 time trial runners.

Lasoski led 23 of the 25 laps in the main but had to fight off a fast closing Craig Dollansky.

When told of Dollansky’s gunshot approach to the leader, Lasoski remarked he was held up by slower cars and would have ‘opened up’ if he had been challenged.

Joey Saldana took third with Lance DeWease, Jason Solwold and the first All Star regular Kenny Jacobs sixth.

Kemenah, Greg Hodnett, Terry McCarl and Jeff Shepherd finished out the 10 with bragging rights going to Lasoski in the new specification Eagle.

The second night Donny Schatz breezed in and worked his way around Chad Kemenah to win the second All Star main.

Kemenah, Terry McCarl and Brooke Tatnell, all driving Eagles led fifth placegetter Craig Dollansky to the wire and look to be in good shape for the WoO championship series two nighter at Volusia.

Donny Schatz remains the driver everyone believes is ready to step up and win the crown in the absence of Steve Kinser.

The 20 time king of the Outlaws will head the National Sprint Tour line up with son Kraig, and when his off spring is away on NASCAR Bush duty, expect Tim Kaeding to be announced as super sub.

McCARL AND KEMENAH 1-2 AT EAST BAY AS WoO PREPARES FOR 2006 LAUNCH IN FLORIDA

Posted 7 February 2006

The World of Outlaws, without Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski and friends, will launch into a new championship season with two US$51.200 championship races this week at Florida’s East Bay Raceway Park.

Despite the entire chest pumping and associated huffing and puffing, WoO will go in one direction and the National SprintCar League in another.

In the meantime, the ASCS 360 series has taken off with Travis Rilat and Terry McCarl dominating the opening hostilities while McCarl came back to bank $10.000 and a $5000 bonus by beating the opposition in the 410 Winternationals on Saturday night.

The Eagle chassis driver took the 40 lap final from Chad Kemenah and Danny Lasoski to give Eagle chief Jerry Russell the biggest and widest smile you could squeeze on a face.

$5000 of McCarl’s financial take came from Fast Lane Apparel who gave an incentive to any driver who could win the ASCS 360 and 410 Winternational double header.

Kemenah started on pole and led most of the way in his #15 UUI Eagle until passed by the Altoona, Iowa driver.

One yellow flapped and that was for Travis Rilat who stopped with troubles and recorded a 24^th place finish behind Kerry Madsen.

Kemenah, who had flipped violently after being collected by a lap car the previous Friday evening at Warrnambool in Australia, said he carried no ill effects from the accident.

“My head rang like a church bell for two days, but when I got back to LA the noise was gone and my eyes were clear,” he quipped.

With Dirt Motorsports about to open another WoO season it will be interesting to see how many National SprintCar League drivers stay in Florida to drive at the opening two WoO events.

Brooke Tatnell is presently on his way to Florida after picking up his second Australian title win in Brisbane on Saturday and will line up in the Segway Steel Dreams Eagle at East Bay.

The League will open its season in California and continues to seek race dates everywhere while WoO has been inundated with requests for sanctioned events and lacks only the pulling power of Steve and Kraig as the 2006 prepares for blast off .

CHAD FLIES HOME BEFORE WARRNAMBOOL FINAL NIGHT

Posted: January 28, 2006

Four time All Star champion Chad Kemenah is on his way home to Ohio after coming unstuck in a massive shunt on qualifying night of the Classic at Premier Speedway, Warrnambool.

Chad was charging in his heat when John Baynes began to falter and spluttered to a stop on the front straight, catching Kemenah in the process whose Formula Motorsport Eagle, tipped, flipped and over Baynes and into the concrete retaining wall.

Because the Classic is a two night points race, Chad and his team quickly determined that missing the rest of night and playing catch up on night two was never going to advantage the Formula team.

“Sure it’s tough to come over here on a Tuesday and fly home the next Saturday, but that is what we do all year, race and travel,” declared Kemenah.

“My heart goes out to Ray Soloman, Bill Roberts and all the guys who put this thing together, but the crash ruined our game plan and has given me a king sized headache,” he added.

Before his accident Kemenah showed his class and the speed of the Formula Eagle by astonishing the clock watchers.

“We got a special trophy for being the fastest on the race track, but Ray can’t trade it for cash  to repair the damage,” he chuckled 

Kemenah has indicated he would love to return to Australia, but in the meantime he’ll have 10 days up his sleeve before the WoO series begins in Florida. 

ALL STAR CHAMP CHAD KEMENAH ARRIVES FOR THREE BIG NIGHTS

Posted: 22 January 2006

Travis Rilat is on his way home for the start of the ASCS 360 points chase in the United States while Chad Kemenah is due to hit our shores in readiness for three major meetings at Avalon, Mount Gambier and Warrnambool.