Author: SM

College degree graduates turned NASCAR driver heroes are few and far between, but there are a few characters who managed to spend time out of their racing careers to achieve their online MEBME degree by using an online MEBME program. Many top NASCAR racers didn’t have the time to concentrate on their college years because racing took over. However, the below NASCAR racers still managed to obtain a degree that they could fall back on if their NASCAR dreams didn’t become a reality.

Jennifer Jo Cobb

Jennifer Jo Cobb isn’t just a pretty face with a knack for beating men on the race track – she has also earned her degree in journalism. Jennifer took her love for NASCAR and journalism and mixed them together when she became a professional sports reporter while still racing. She wasn’t just a success in front of the camera either – she also earned a 6^th place finish in the 2011 Camping World Truck Series, which makes her one of the most successful ladies on the track.

Bill Lester

Bill Lester is a former NASCAR driver who started out as an engineer & project manager for Hewlett-Packard. He’s well-known and respected as the first African-American to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Series as a full-time job. Before he began his career at Hewlett-Packard and became a full-time NASCAR professional, though, he managed to achieve his bachelor’s degree in both computer science and electrical engineering. He wasn’t a huge success on the track, but he knew full well that because he had his degrees and an interest in EECS (Electrical Engineering & Computer Science) – he would always have something to fall back on if his NASCAR career didn’t work out.

Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman still plies his trade in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, working under his team, Richard Childress Racing. The 39-year-old, known to NASCAR fanatics around the world as “Rocket Man”, isn’t just a genius in the hot seat. Before he took up his love for racing, he studied engineering at university, where he managed to land himself a bachelor of science. So, Rocket Man isn’t just a hero behind the wheel thanks to his over 50 pole finishes; he’s also a hero when it comes to his teammates because of his love and knowledge of engineering.

Brett Bodine

Although Brett Bodine is a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver, he still makes his presence felt in Cup Series events. Bodine wasn’t a huge success on the track like his brothers, Geoff and Todd, but he still managed to get to the pole on five occasions during his NASCAR career. Luckily for Brett, he had the skills in mechanical engineering where he earned his associates degree at Mitchell Community College in North Carolina.

College is sometimes at the back of the mind for some of the current NASCAR drivers because their racing events take up too much practice and travel. However, the above NASCAR legends have all managed to leave college with something to fall back on, knowing the NASCAR industry is far from easy to make a living from.

People might be interested in the 5 things you didn’t know about the MotoGP, at least. This is a sport that a lot of people are very passionate about, but it does not have the extensive popularity of a sport like football. However, for the people who do tend to follow Moto GP, some of the facts might be really surprising.

Whether people know a lot about Moto GP riders or not, they might be surprised to learn that a Moto GP rider will often travel at the rate of 100 mph during the actual races. The fact that it’s possible for them to reach speeds like this will shock a lot of people, and it certainly makes for a compelling and potentially dangerous spectacle. The bikes will travel so quickly during the races that they’re going to look like a blur, and people might be blown away by what’s happening.

Some people tend to think that doing any sort of race on a vehicle means that the actual athletes don’t have to worry about their diets as much. After all, they’re not really relying entirely on their muscle power in order to move and in order to get everything done in the first place. However, diet still really does matter when it comes to Moto GP riding.

A Moto GP rider is not going to want to risk stomach cramps at any point. It still takes energy to conduct a race like that. The wrong meal is going to be a source of stress and not a proper source of energy. Prior to the race, a Moto GP rider will typically eat tuna or chicken with brown rice or whole grain pasta. The focus is on lean meat and complex carbohydrates, which is the case for most racers.

If people want to know what it’s actually like on the bikes during the races, they should know that it’s extremely hot. A Moto GP rider will lose a shocking amount of sweat during these sorts of races, and that’s one of the toughest parts of actually being involved with the race. Staying hydrated is probably one of the toughest parts of being a Moto GP rider today.

Lugging around those bikes is going to be just as difficult. A Moto GP bike will weigh around 350 pounds. The overwhelming majority of riders are going to be significantly smaller than that, and the weight of a Moto GP bike can be something of a strain for them. Still, at least these are very solid and effective vehicles that people are really going to be able to enjoy from a distance and nearby.

A Moto GP rider will be just as good on a regular bike. They do this in order to stay in shape. Riding on a regular bike will also help to give them the skills that they need to handle a bike that is traveling at such an alarmingly fast pace. This is a sport that requires a lot of dedication, even though the races seem to be over in a flash.

Putting powerful stereo systems in racecars have always been a controversial subject. Some say that racecars should be as pure as possible, and that means taking out everything that doesn’t contribute to performance.

If you’re lucky enough to have a vehicle that you only use for the track, that approach might make sense. But for a lot of us, our track car is also the vehicle we use to drive to work and back. If you’re using a car on a daily basis, it’s certainly nice to be able to listen to music.

But – and it’s a big but – to my mind, you should never fit a powerful audio system to your racecar. A small, lightweight system is great, of course, but don’t make the mistake of loading your performance machine down with heavy, expensive, and potentially dangerous amplifiers and subwoofers. Here’s why.

                        Hearing Damage

That’s right, having a powerful amp in your car can cause permanent damage to your hearing. A lot of car audio enthusiasts report permanent damage to their ears after pushing their stereo too high for too long. Though some claim that their hearing has recovered after a period of taking it easy, medical opinion still maintains that any noise above 98 dB will cause permanent damage.

Of course, it’s possible to have a powerful audio system and use it carefully, at a reduced volume. Equally, it’s even possible to wear ear-plugs when it’s turned up loud. But what’s the point?

                        Weight

The above warning – that powerful audio systems can cause hearing damage – applies to anyone who is into modifying their car, whether they are seeking performance or style. For those of us who are primarily concerned with building racecars, however, there is another big reason why a powerful audio system is not a good idea: they weigh you down.

If you’re the kind of person who stripped the carpets out of your car in order to “reduce weight”, it’s a bit stupid to then stick 20 pounds of amplifier and speakers in the back of the same car.

                        Distraction

And lastly, if you’ve set up your racecar to give you the best possible performance, you should be focusing on that rather than what your sound system sounds like. If you’ve done it correctly, the sound of your engine should be all the music you will ever need!

Tinkering with car audio can be distracting at another level, as well. If you start to worry about amplifier voltages and impedance ratings, you are going to have less time to focus on what matters, at least to me – performance.

Take a look at some of the absurd lengths that audiophiles go to in building audio systems into their cars to get an idea of what I mean. Troy Irving, currently the owner of the most powerful car audio system in the world, has a Dodge caravan that is virtually undrivable and weighs 10,000 pounds. While I’m sure it makes him happy, I can think of nothing worse than a car you can’t even drive.

So take my advice, and take that stereo out of your racecar.

Manual or automatic – which should you choose when you are learning to drive?
Parallel parking, changing lanes, obeying road signs; it seems like there is more than enough to think about during a driving test without having to manually change gear as well. This is certainly the way many people think. After all, there are so many things you need to remember when you take your test, just click here and you can see how much you need to know. It makes sense that you would want to streamline the process as much as possible, so learning to drive in an automatic makes sense.

However, it’s not quite as simple as that. Choosing the right vehicle to learn in, is down to personal choice. But, there are some things you should think about when you are making your decision.

Should you choose manual or automatic for safety?
There are different points of view when it comes to this question. One is that it’s safer to drive a car with a manual transmission because you must be more focused while driving. You are in control of the entire driving experience. Many people believe that driving a manual car also gives you greater knowledge of how the car works, and how it reacts to certain situations. This can help you to remain safe on the road.

On the other hand, driving a car with an automatic transmission gives you less to think about. This means that you can give more of your attention to other important considerations, such as braking and changing lanes in the correct manner. It could be argued that this helps you to drive more safely.

As you can see, it’s not easy to choose between manual and automatic, when it comes to safety. It depends on your point of view. There are other factors you should also think about.

What else do you need to consider?
Although manual transmission cars are becoming less common in the US, this is not the case around the world. In countries such as the UK, manual transmission cars are still in the majority. This means that if you intend to travel it’s useful to be able to drive a manual car; although you should be able to find a rental car with an automatic transmission most of the time.

Another positive of driving a car with a manual transmission is that this type of vehicle can often be purchased more affordably. Once you have made the purchase you will usually also end up spending less money on gas.

There are advantages to be had from being able to drive both a manual and an automatic vehicle. If you have an aptitude for driving, it can be a good idea to learn to drive in a manual vehicle. You develop better overall driving knowledge as a result. If you find driving difficult to pick up, there is nothing wrong with opting to learn, and pass your test, in an automatic vehicle. You can always learn to drive a manual car once you have more driving experience.

Whether you are looking to save some money by buying a used bike, or are just in the market for a vintage model that can’t be purchased new, you should know a few tips about how to make a safe decision.

Before you start looking at used motorbike sales, you need to have some information under your belt. Don’t let yourself fall in love with the first bike you see, or you could risk getting a lemon or even taking on a hazardous machine that puts you in danger once you’re on the road.

Know Your Bike

This is just a general tip that you should be aware of the details and specs of any motorcycle you’re going to look at. You don’t need to be an expert, but having some familiarity is key. If you’re a complete novice, take some time to browse new bikes at the local shop first. What should they look and sound like? What parts are standard?

Look for Damage

A bike that’s been in some sort of crash isn’t a smart purchase. Though major dents and scratches are very clear signs of an accident, there can be more to it. Take a look at the brake levers and the footpegs. Are they bent or scuffed up? They are the first parts to meet the pavement when a bike goes down, and are often overlooked when it’s time to fix up the damage.

Granted, sometimes people will replace the levers with after-market parts just for looks so it’s not a sure thing that new parts means that there has been an accident. Still, take a look and decide for yourself. Consider it to be one piece of the bigger picture.

Check the Fluids

What do the oil and brake fluid look like? Dark or dirty fluids usually means that regular bike maintenance hasn’t been done, and there can be a lot of neglect that you can’t see. Problems aren’t always a result of damage. A bike that is not cared for can be in even worse shape than one that’s been in a crash. Dirt, rust and an overall poor finish are all signs that the care hasn’t been there.

Check Under the Hood

Or under the seat, to be more accurate. The wiring should be relatively tidy, with proper connections, multi-colored (organized) wires and no debris. If you find a rat’s nest of wiring with cobbled-together DIY connections then you know that the owner has been doing a lot of their own amateur tinkering. Not the end of the world, but it should put up a red flag for you when examining the rest of the bike.

These are just general guidelines to help any riders who are new to the world of used motorcycles. If you are able to take care of repairs or replacements on your own, then you are in a better position to take on a bike that needs a little more work.

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, May 16, 2017 – Chart-topping singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha will perform the national anthem before the start of the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 28.

Rexha, on an international tour following the release of her album “All Your Fault, Pt. 1,” will sing on Race Day in the traditional spot before the 33 drivers are called to their cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the largest single-day spectator sporting event crowd in the world.

“This will be my first time attending the Indianapolis 500, and I can already feel the electrifying energy that comes with it,” Rexha said. “I couldn’t be more excited and honored to perform the national anthem and am looking forward to seeing everyone there and experiencing my first big Race Day!”

Rexha, a native of New York, has accumulated more 10 million overall single sales, 1 billion Spotify streams, 1.3 billion combined YouTube/VEVO views and a radio audience of more than 8 billion.

She hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Pop and Rap charts with her platinum-selling smash single “Me, Myself & I” with G-Eazy. Her single “No Broken Hearts,” featuring Nicki Minaj, has more than 180 million YouTube/VEVO views to date.

Rexha is featured on Martin Garrix’s recent single, “In The Name of Love,” which already has more than 265 million YouTube/VEVO views. “I Got You”, the first single from her “All Your Fault, Pt. 1” debut album, is quickly climbing the charts.

“We welcome Bebe to IMS on Race Day to sing the national anthem for a packed crowd and millions of viewers across the globe,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “She is a fantastic performer with an amazing voice that has been streamed around the globe, and she’s going to deliver a memorable rendition befitting such a monumental day and iconic sporting celebration.”

Rexha burst onto the scene in 2013 when she wrote “Monster,” which became a worldwide hit for Eminem and Rihanna and went RIAA quadruple-platinum in the United States. She wrote and featured on Cash Cash’s “Take Me Home” and Pitbull’s “This Is Not A Drill” in addition to writing Tinashe’s “All Hands On Deck” and Selena Gomez’s “Champion.”

Her 2015 debut EP, “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up,” boasts the singles “I Can’t Stop Drinking About You” and “I’m Gonna Show You Crazy,” which racked up more than 52 million Spotify streams in only six months. That same year, she co-wrote and carried instantly recognizable hooks for the double-platinum “Hey Mama” by David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Afrojack, which was nominated for a Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song, as well as the Billboard Hot 100 smash “Me, Myself, & I” with G-Eazy.

Rexha recently released her debut album, “All Your Fault: Part 1,” in February 2017 and just wrapped her first headlining North American tour. The second part of her EP, “All Your Fault: Part 2,” will be released this summer.

Follow Rexha on Twitter @BebeRexha, on Instagram @beberexha, on Snapchat at beberexha, on YouTube at youtube.com/beberexha and on VEVO at vevo.com/artist/bebe-rexha . Her music is available on Spotify and all other major streaming services.

Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for the 101st Indianapolis 500 Presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 28 and for more information on the complete Month or May schedule at IMS.

The race also will be televised live on ABC, with the pre-race show starting at 11 a.m. (ET) and check out NetBet Sport for more information.
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Have you ever dreamed of being a pro race car driver the likes of which the world has never seen? While there are always going to be famous drivers out there that every young man and woman wants to be compared to, or break those unbroken records of, but for a number of reasons they never seemed to be able to break into the circuit. All is not lost! You can enter the wonderful world of amateur rally car racing, set records, break records and before you know it, you just might be pro as well. But how do you get your start? Here are some steps to take.

It All Begins with a Vintage Car – The Rally Car!

The first thing you need to do is find rally cars for sale. Not many local shops will carry the kind of vintage car you need to modify for a rally race, but you can find them online. There are some modifications (mods) you will need to do, but in the end, if you find the right car at the right price, you’re in like Flynn as the saying goes. Oddly, some rally cars although roadworthy, aren’t great on public roads due to the mods they’ve gone through. Although they started as a passenger automobile, they no longer resemble one and they handle like anything but! Looking to rally? Be prepared to jump on board for the ride of your life.

The Ultimate TSD

Usually a rally is referred to as the TSD, which means Time-Speed-Distance, of which these are the deciding factors in a race. Some are timed, some are set on winning the distance and others still are speed. Vintage rallies are all the rage and have been for a number of years and oddly, now there are literally tens of thousands of young drivers turning their sights on rallying. Where once they wanted to be the next US Dale Earnhardt, Sr or UK Jackie Stewart, they now simply want to join the crowds and fun of rallying that actually provides even more entertainment that the F1 in many cases.

Prepping Your Ride

Once you’ve chosen a car and have it at home in the drive, it’s time to start those mods that will have your car rally-ready by the time the next event is held. What you will do if you are one of the select ‘smart’ few, is take ample time on your preparation. This stage is vital for more than just the win. Your safety could count on making the right mods correctly so that you aren’t going to be subjected to any unnecessary dangers. Some of the more popular Post-War cars include:

• Porsche
• Shelby GT
• Ferrari
• Aston Martin DB
• Corvette Stingray

And the list goes on, but those are amongst the most popular cars for modding. You can see they were all sports cars in their own right when they were on the road as transport and not vintage rally. It is advised that you give careful attention to any particular issues that may lead to problems and do your mods carefully based on safety first, rally race second. Brakes are a high priority as are the driveshaft and transmission. Remember – safety first!

Getting that Rally and Personal Equipment Read for the Rally

Some people like to invest in a number of hi tech products that help you work towards the victory. A digital stop watch is always nice – remember the T of the TSD – time really is of the essence here. Clipboards, pens markers in an assortment of colours, two-way radios or mounted intercoms will work nicely as well. Then there’s your personal gear. You mustn’t forget a top-of-the-line helmet to protect that lovely brain of yours and don’t forget to install some kind of navigator along with your other hi tech gadgets and gizmos. Some drivers say that warm boots are a must and we can probably figure out why that is. Many of those old cars had a lot lacking in the heat department and sometimes road conditions will be on the wet side. If you need to step out for a moment, you’ll be well covered and protected.

Getting Team Mates – Vintage Rallying Is a Team Sport After All

This may be one of the most difficult tasks you have set before you but with social media, you can quickly make the ‘rounds’ of various pages, get a feel for those who you feel would be a good match and then network, network, network! Show up at events, rally car shows and keep your face out there. Within a short time you’ll be able to ‘collect’ people who are like you, looking for that rally team, and once you’ve the proper number of mates, there you go! Or, there are teams with drivers dropping out all the time. What may be great is to find a sponsor early on who loves your car and what you’ve done to it. With a sponsor backing you, finding a team is easier than you can imagine. In fact, some sponsors might even add you to their team if they have one already.

So That’s What It Takes

There you have some of what it takes to enter the wonderful world of amateur rally racing. Whether your goal is to eventually enter a pro circuit or stay as an amateur, it’s all in the ‘game’ so enjoy your ride. Rallying is your passion and whether you win the big one or just go along for the ride of a lifetime, make every moment count. So many young (and old!) drivers were too consumed with the win to enjoy the race. Rallying is fun and entertaining with more than a hint of danger.

Take your time and do things right. Make it a social side of racing and you’ll have more fun than you’d ever thought possible this side of heaven. Before you know it, you’ll be spotting kindred spirits and in that moment, that recognition, you’ll know that every step in the journey has been well worth the effort.

Xfinity is one of the leading online streaming companies in the world. The company that is part of the Comcast group has become this big because of the variety of products that they offer. Among the services on offer are high-speed internet and home phone service. Xfinity provides millions of mobile device users with fast and secure internet through their hotspot network. This makes it super easy to watch the latest shows and movies on the go which is mobile streaming.

Mobile The Future Of Entertainment

There is no doubt that the convenience offered by mobile devices is changing the way that services are being offered and delivered. A lot of industries that are resisting the move to mobile are fast becoming obsolete. Xfinity is not among those firms. The company has a fully responsive mobile site on which clients can access all the best services on the go.

The fast pace of society dictates that we be able to multi-task including the pokies (slots) industry. Therefore even the devices that we carry round have to be multi-functional. The best mobile devices enable users to communicate on all the available platforms. From voice calls, instant messaging through to email. The devices have essentially become moving offices.

However, the uses of these devices are not restricted to work. They are also very competent as entertainment avenues. That is why Xfinity provides mobile users the same streaming service that is available on desktop. And what a service it is. There are several of your favorite shows and movies that can be streamed on mobile devices. Turning your device into a mobile cinema.

The mobile revolution is not restricted to streaming. The top online casinos at online casinos canada are also offering the best online casino games on mobile. Truly contributing to the initiative of making entertainment accessible on the go. Some of the top games available at mobile casinos are based on popular TV shows and movies.

One of the most asked questions is that, what are the differences between a normal car and a racing car. Actually, there are a lot of differences, but the principle is the same.

In the case of racing cars, there are a lot of aspects, which are quite different from a normal car, and the biggest difference lies in its speed. If everything is good for a racing car, but not the speed, it will not be fruitful, and it will turn to a normal car. Apart from it, there are a lot of differences between its new ability, tires, combustion chambers, mileage, and many others. Everything is optimized enough, such that a car becomes suitable for racing. Here are a few differences between a NASCAR car and the normal car, which is taken from Amazingly Cool Car Accessories.

Combustion chamber

Combustion chambers in case of racing or NASCAR cars are comparatively larger than that of production cars. If you do not know the importance of a combustion chamber, you should know that it is the place where the fuel of the car enter, which either can be petrol or diesel, and it is a place where the fuel burns, which is in turn used in order to drive the car. The more the amount of well that enters the combustion chamber, the better will be its speed or vice versa. Where a normal car has a combustion chamber of 1000 cc 2000 cc, in the case of NASCAR cars, it is almost close to 5000 to 6000 cc, which is quite huge.

Shape of the car

Another important aspect of racing or NASCAR cars is the design. In most of the normal cars, a lot of importance is not given to the design of the car. But in the case of NASCAR or racing cars, importance is given to the design, such that it seems to be lightweight, and can run fast. Thus, the designs of the racing or NASCAR cars are made aerodynamically, such that it feels minimum pressure due to air, and it can glide easily through the air.

Lightweight chassis

In the case of NASCAR racing cars, you can find the chassis of the cars are quite lightweight and strong enough to overcome all kind of forces and pressure, whatever may be the magnitude of it. The Axle of the will is also made long enough, such that the wheels are quite stable, even if the car is running at a very high speed. Thus, the chassis is also a lot modified compared to that of normal production cars.

Different interior

The interiors are also a lot different in case of racing or NASCAR cars, from that of normal production cars. In the case of NASCAR cars, the interior of the cars is not that polished enough, and they are not even insulated from external heat and sound, and thus, the riding experience of NASCAR car will not be that good. Everything is done, such that the weight of the car is not that high, and it can run easily at high speeds.