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Featured interviews from SpeedwayMedia.com

Gary McLean reflects back on championship, looks forward to OSCAAR Mod season ahead

Last year, Gary McLean had an OSCAAR season to remember, winning the first ever OSCAAR Modified Championship with eight victories in 12 starts. McLean had only one finish outside of the top five, which came at Sauble Speedway after suffering a flat tire early in the race and then contact later on.

McLean was one of the early season favorites, having raced Modifieds for a long time and being Varney Motor Speedway’s all-time Modified race winner.

There was some uncertainty going into the season as there were tracks that McLean hadn’t raced yet. That didn’t faze him as he won at some of those, including the season opener at Sunset Speedway after a battle with Barry Newman.

“We weren’t worried,” McLean said at this past weekend’s Canadian Motorsports Expo. “The other guys were coming in and we were more experienced than they were.”

Throughout the season, there were many memorable battles, including battles McLean had with his cousin Brent.

“He ran second to us every night, if he didn’t hit the wall trying to get to us,” McLean commented. “Overall, all the guys in that series are good racers and I’m looking forward to next year.”

Many note that the Modifieds have always produced this solid racing, but it was OSCAAR’s backing that added the final touch to the product.

“It was a huge success,” McLean said. “Brought a lot of people out to see the modifieds. They can put on good races and a lot of people didn’t think that and OSCAAR brought everything out there, laid it out for us and it worked.”

Heading into the second season for the OSCAAR Mods, McLean sees the racing being even better.

“With the racing that went on, a lot of guys have bought cars for this year,” McLean said. “Those guys are talented and I think you’re going to see good racing.”

For his efforts, Gary McLean was listed in the 10^th spot in Spencer Lewis’ 2012 Inside Track Motorsports News Ontario Asphalt Short Track Power Rankings. He was recognized for his success as part of the 2013 Canadian Motorsports Expo on Saturday February 9^th.

February 12, 2013
Denny Hamlin Taking Lessons Learned Into New Season

Photo Credit: Gary Buchanan

Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, has learned plenty of lessons from last season as well as the off season. And he intends to take every bit of that new learning right into the 2013 season.

One of the biggest lessons that Hamlin learned last season was the need for consistency as a race team. And Hamlin definitely wants to banish any inconsistency to the past and focus so that he can focus on that coveted championship prize.

“We’ve won a lot of races year after year,” Hamlin said. “We’re always in the hunt and then something mechanical happens to our cars and it takes us out of the championship.”

“You can’t have any DNFs,” Hamlin continued. “There are no mulligans.”

“Our key in the offseason has been reliability and coming up with a system to make sure our cars are bullet proof when they hit the race track.”

“Things that went wrong with our cars or things that fell off or got loose or whatever, it was human error,” Hamlin said. “You need to take that out of the equation.”

“Hopefully those bugs have been fixed,” Hamlin continued. “We’re working on a new process to make our cars more tough and rigid and making sure they don’t fall apart.”

“To do that, you have to have more than one set of eyes working on your cars,” Hamlin said “We’re hopefully working on some things to make sure that our cars are reliable as the planes you fly in the air.”

Another lesson Hamlin learned, perhaps the hard way last year, is the need to do a better job in his qualifying efforts.

“I always have to learn and keep up with what I need to do,” Hamlin said. “One thing I know I have to work on is qualifying.”

“We greatly improved that last year and Darian (Grubb, crew chief) helped with that a bit,” Hamlin continued. “I’m getting better but the results haven’t always shown that.”

“It’s just a matter of time before we are in the number one spot.”

Hamlin is also hoping to learn some lessons from both of his new teammates, including current teammate Kyle Busch and especially his new teammate Matt Kenseth, in the upcoming season.

“When I knew Matt was coming to Gibbs, we started talking and chatting through text messages quite a bit,” Hamlin said. “I’m so excited to have us on the same track together.”

“I think he’s going to bring a ton of experience,” Hamlin said of his new teammate. “I can’t wait to compare data.”

One other area that Hamlin acknowledged that he needed to pay attention to was learning how to better handle his emotions. And he definitely wants to take that lesson into the new season.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned would have to be not letting my emotions get to me when something bad happens that I cannot control,” Hamlin said. “I think it’s very important to let your emotions be kept at an even keel and not let things get to you.”

“It’s very hard, especially when I wear my emotions on my sleeve as to my performance,” Hamlin continued. “When I run well, I’m happy and when I don’t, I’m not.”

“That’s tough for all of us as competitors when you have a bad day and not letting it affect you when you are on the race track,” Hamlin said. “I wear my performance on my sleeve.”

“It will be all about managing those emotions and not to get down on the bad days,” Hamlin continued. “That’s another thing that Matt Kenseth will bring because he doesn’t let the bad things get to him.”

In addition to handling the emotions on the track, Hamlin has a whole new set of emotions to deal with in his newest role, parenthood. And Hamlin intends to take those lessons with him on race day as well.

Hamlin and his girlfriend Jordan Fish welcomed daughter Taylor James Hamlin to their world last month. Baby Hamlin, weighing in at six pounds, five ounces, made her arrival during Hamlin’s Daytona testing.

“The experience has been great,” Hamlin said of being a new daddy. “Your outlook changes when you have to leave home and when you have to get home and how excited you are to pull in the drive knowing that you get to see your daughter.”

“So that part of it is cool.”

“She’s sleeping most all the time and in between feedings,” Hamlin said. ““It actually hasn’t been too bad.”

Hamlin, however, admitted that it will definitely be a difficult lesson to bear when he leaves this week to head to Daytona International Speedway for Speedweeks and the start of the 2013 season.

“Leaving the house for sure will be hard,” Hamlin said. “I have solace in knowing in just a few months I’ll get to see her all the time every day.”

Hamlin’s last lesson learned is his strong desire to carry his charitable and philanthropic endeavors into the new season. For the third time in a row, Hamlin will be organizing the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown during the Richmond race weekend.

The race raises funds for the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

Last year, Hamlin, through the Foundation that bears his name, gave a multi-year grant of $150,000 for the Children’s Hospital. Funds raised at this year’s race will help train the next generation of CF research scientists.

“The Showdown has had some of the best late model racing in the past,” Hamlin said. “This year will be no different.”

“We’ve invited the region’s finest drivers to compete against some of my Sprint Cup Series friends,” Hamlin continued. “It’s going to be wild.”

“Every dollar we give to cystic fibrosis makes a different,” Hamlin said. “You never know. This could be the year we find a cure.”

So, how does Hamlin sum up all of his life lessons learned as he heads into the brand spanking new season?

“My life is very different now,” Hamlin said. “It’s one of the most gratifying times.”

February 11, 2013
Ron Fellows excited about bringing the NASCAR Trucks to Canada

Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin

As part of the reveal of the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule, Canadian fans had their spirits boosted when it was announced that the trucks would be running the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park road course on September 1st.

Getting one of the top three divisions to come to CTMP has been a process that Ron Fellows began two years ago with the first batch of renovations after buying the track formally known as Mosport.

In the span of two years, Fellows has improved certain turns, built a tunnel so you can easily get to the inside of the track, while also building a new event center to host VIPs and media.

While Fellows continued improving the historic track, the goal was always to attract NASCAR. However, while some have come out and said it, biting their tongue later, Fellows kept quiet, keeping the negotiations behind the scenes with the head brass.

The discussions began three years ago, though as Fellows noted, NASCAR moves slowly in their decisions. They need to make sure that the product they are putting out there for the fans is top of the line.

While it marks a special race for Canadian fans, the race at CTMP also marks the first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series road course race since 2001. Fellows knew of NASCAR wanting to the trucks back on the road courses, since the other two divisions compete on them. There was talk of it happening in 2012, however NASCAR had concerns about a lack of budget.

“They felt like it was too soon and too much for the teams,” Fellows noted. “So they loaded them up in 2013 not only turning right, but also turning left on dirt. It should be interesting, but again, NASCAR is very methodical about the process of adding dates and making sure it would work.”

The experience is all new for the drivers as many young talented stars have yet to run road courses in heavy vehicles yet.

“Since we’ve made the announcement, I’ve got about nine Chevy truck drivers signing up for my school, who have never road raced,” Fellows commented. “So that means they weren’t around when the last road race at Walkin’s glen in 2001 so very cool.”

There is talk of the star stuttered line-up, including Chase Elliott making one of his truck starts at CTMP, along with the usual cast of characters.

Speculation has already began as to watch NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver could land a ride for the race as they race there in their cars twice this season. Shortly after the announcement, J.R. Fitzpatrick tweeted that he wouldn’t mind doing. Defending series champion D.J. Kennington said he would – if the right deal comes together.

There is also talk that possibly Andrew Ranger, Derek White or Dexter Stacey could jump behind the wheel of a truck as they have ran some races in Truck and Nationwide in the past.

Paul Cooke, Fellows’ partner at CTMP, made mention that Montreal was always interesting with the Nationwide Series guys going head-to-head with the Canadians.

“What was entertaining about watching the race in Montreal is its gets a little touchy feely from time to time and that’s part of the attraction of watching that race,” Cooke said. “So you’re watching and people start beating up our Canadians and you get involved in watching the race.”

Responding to Cooke’s comments, Fellows doesn’t expect the same bumpy chaos to occur with the trucks at CTMP because CTMP is a wider track than the city streets of Montreal. He also added that last year’s race at Montreal in the Nationwide Series was like a hockey game without any referees.

“The difficulty of Montreal is you got long straights, heavy breaking and it’s hard to get these cars stopped because they have so much power,” Fellows said. “Going from over 100 mph right down for these chicanes to 45 mph, that creates chaos. It breeds that type of racing and the vehicles have proven that they can take it.”

Now with Montreal off the Nationwide Series tour and CTMP on for the trucks, the focus of this epic Canadians vs. the regulars battle will shift to Labour Day weekend.

Fellows was asked as part of the Canadian Motorsports Expo powered by Inside Track Motorsports News as to whether he would be running a truck for the event. He said only if the right deal comes together – but plans to run Road America and Walkin’s Glen in the Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports.

February 11, 2013
Brian Vickers and Trevor Bayne Look for Healing in Nationwide Series

Photo Credit: brianvickers.com

Two NASCAR stars, Brian Vickers and Trevor Bayne, were sidelined due to serious illness just a few years ago. Now both drivers are looking to heal their careers in the Nationwide Series this season.

In May of 2010, Cup driver Brian Vickers was visiting Washington, DC when he began to experience chest pains and trouble breathing. Initially, Vickers downplayed his symptoms, especially since he was young and in great shape.

But when the pain persisted and even intensified, the driver of the then No. 83 Red Bull Racing Toyota sought emergency medical treatment. It was then determined that Vickers was suffering from blood clots in both lungs and also in his leg.

Vickers knew almost immediately that this would impact his racing career. In fact, he almost delayed seeking treatment because he was fearful of losing his Cup ride.

“I didn’t want to go to the doctor because they were going to take me out of the car,” Vickers said at the time. “Going through the CT scans, they found the blood clots in both lungs and my left leg.”

Because Vickers was put on Coumadin, a blood thinner, to treat the clots, it was determined by his medical team that he indeed did have to step out of the race car and focus on his physical healing. Vickers ended up being out for the remainder of the season, watching only as a supporter of his beloved race team.

But Vickers health challenges continued after a clot was discovered in a finger in his left hand. At that time, the driver underwent further testing to be diagnosed with May-Thurner Syndrome, a rare condition causing clots, as well as having a hole between the right and left atrium in his heart.

Vickers then decided to undergo heart surgery to fix the hole, as well as have a stent placed in his left leg to assist with his circulation. Vickers made the difficult decisions about the surgeries after learning that he was at high risk for stroke without it.

“I would rather die than have a stroke,” Vickers said at the time. “I don’t want to run the risk of living like a vegetable.”

This additional surgery ensured that Vickers would not be ready to get back on the race track until the 2011 season. Unfortunately, Vickers dreams of returning in triumph were not to be, starting with involvement in the ‘big one’ at Daytona and then having issues and run-ins with several drivers, most notably Matt Kenseth.

Vickers finished the 2011 season in the 25^th position in points, with just seven top-10 finishes. The year ended even more dismally when his team, Red Bull Racing, folded up their NASCAR tent and left the sport.

For the 2012 season, although Vickers started without a ride, Michael Waltrip snatched him up and put him in the No. 55 MWR Toyota for several races. Vickers showed his talent in the shared ride with Mark Martin, with three top-5 and five top-10 finishes in eight races.

With redemption and career healing in mind, Vickers will be back behind the wheel of a race car full-time for the 2013 Nationwide season for Joe Gibbs Racing. He will also return to MWR for nine Cup races in the car shared again with Mark Martin.

“I’m looking forward to being back in the Nationwide Series and in NASCAR,” Vickers said. “I learned a lot over the last three or four years, from being taken out of the car being sick to not being full-time this past year with everything that happened leading up to the season.”

“My perspective on life changed through all these events,” Vickers continued. “There are no guarantees in life.”

“I’ve learned that the hard way,” Vickers said. “My focus is on 2013 and I think the success this year will lead to great opportunities next year.”

Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America

Like Vickers, Trevor Bayne is also looking to heal and rejuvenate his racing career by competing in the Nationwide Series full-time in 2013. But Bayne, like Vickers, went from being on the top of the world in 2011 as the Daytona 500’s youngest race winner to being hospitalized with double vision a few short months later.

Bayne’s medical drama began just as suddenly as Vickers’ issues when he complained of numbness in his arms while competing in the Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Bayne initially thought his problems were due to an insect bite but he continued to experience nausea, fatigue and vision issues and was hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic for further testing.

Although his doctors never officially confirmed it, the young Roush Fenway driver said that Lyme disease had been causing all of his problems.

“They wouldn’t confirm it because it’s such a hard thing to define,” Bayne said. “Lyme is something that hides in your bloodstream.”

“It is hard to diagnose,” Bayne continued. “But if they treat it and it goes away, to me that seems like a pretty good answer.”

Sadly for Bayne, however, his illness caused him to be sidelined just enough so that others were behind the wheel of his race car. And he had to stand by and helplessly watch while his rival and teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. catapulted to fame after clinching the Nationwide title.

Bayne’s 2012 season was not much better as the youngster had just six Nationwide starts, all because of lack of sponsorship. With no funding, Bayne had just one more start before the season ended, again with his teammate Stenhouse Jr. holding the 2012 championship trophy.

“If you would have told me it would look like this, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Bayne said. “It’s been a little bit of a roller coaster.”

Bayne is especially ready to start the 2013 season, knowing that he can not only compete full-time with sponsorship but that he now has a chance at the Series championship himself.

“I still want to make it in this sport,” Bayne said. “And I want to be a top name that is contending for championships.”

“This is my opportunity to do that.”

Bayne will be working with Stenhouse’s former crew chief Mike Kelley, as well as one of his sponsors, Cargill. The youngster will also be running a part-time Cup schedule for the Wood Brothers, with whom he won that unforgettable Daytona 500.

After both drivers’ medical battles, there is no doubt that both Bayne and Vickers are beside themselves with hope for their 2013 healing season prospects.

“I think as a person, you grow and evolve through life experiences,” Vickers said. “Every day is an audition.”

“I think we’ve got a lot to show here,” Bayne said. “I’m competitive and I want to be a part of the championship at the end of the year.”

“It’s what keeps us going.”

February 9, 2013
Kyle Larson, Chad Hackenbracht and Matt Tifft Get Chance at NASCAR Dream

Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

The future young guns of NASCAR, Kyle Larson, Chad Hackenbracht and Matt Tifft, all have one thing in common. The trio is getting their chance to achieve their NASCAR dreams.

Just a short time ago, about a year in fact, Kyle Larson stepped into a stock car to race for the first time. Now, the 20 year old up and comer has scored a full-time Nationwide Series ride through a partnership between Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Turner Scott Motorsports.

Larson’s quick rise in the NASCAR ranks came after winning the K&N Pro Series East title. Then, in just four races in the Camping World Truck Series, the youngster finished top-ten three times and was runner up at the Phoenix race.

Larson will be paired with crew chief Trent Owens, who posted the following message on Facebook, “Very excited about the announcement that I’ll be the crew chief for Kyle Larson in Nationwide at Turner Scott Motorsports this year!! Also back to the number 32 that has a special place with me. Hoping this season will be a great one. So pumped!!”

Although quite not so effusive, Chip Ganassi, a champion owner in his own right, is looking forward to the continuing development of his newest young talent.

“We feel that he’s certainly capable of it,” Ganassi said. “I don’t think we’re rushing him along or anything like that.”

“Like I said, he’s shown great ability in anything he’s driven so far.”

Larson, on the other hand, knows that with the spotlight and the opportunity comes quite a bit of pressure.

“I know I have a lot of pressure on me,” Larson said. “I try not to pay attention to it at all.”

“Every week, I just try to go out and do the best I can,” Larson continued. “I try to finish in the top 10 in each race an log as many laps as I can.”

“Each lap is just going to help me develop as a driver,” Larson said. “I’m going to need that since I’m really young and hopefully will be in a sport a long time.”

“I will just try to develop as much as I can this year and do better in the future.”

Joining Kyle Larson in the Nationwide Series will be another young gun with a very interesting last name. TriStar Motorsports announced that Chad Hackenbracht will join the team for at least five Nationwide races.

Hackenbracht has raced most recently in the ARCA Series for his family’s team, scoring one trip to victory lane, two poles, five top-five finishes and 12 top-ten finishes. He completed the ARCA season top five in the championship point standings.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Hackenbracht said. “I have not run any NASCAR events and I’m excited to make my debut in the Nationwide Series with an established team.”

“My expectations are to finish every race I run this year, qualify in the top-20 and pull off top-15 finishes,” Hackenbracht continued. “The Nationwide Series is going to be very competitive this year but I’m ready for the challenge.”

Hackenbracht’s team owner is also excited with his new addition and with being a part of the youngster’s development in the sport.

“We are really looking forward to having Chad join our team,” Mark Smith said. “He has already shown that he has a lot of talent behind the wheel of a stock car.”

“We are excited to help him develop his skills and give him his first opportunity to race in NASCAR,” Smith continued. “He will have some veteran guidance, which should help him as he takes the next step in his racing career.”

The youngest up and comer of the bunch is Matt Tifft, who at just sixteen years of age will be moving up this season from the ARCA Midwest Tour to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Tifft will be racing full-time in that Series, which has catapulted other drivers such as Martin Truex Jr. to the highest level of the sport.

Tifft will partner with Shane Tesch, a NASCAR veteran, to compete for the Rookie of the Year honors behind the wheel of the No. 89 Chevrolet Impala.

“In the last couple months we have been working on this deal,” Tifft said. “The K&N Series is the next thing we wanted to do so when it came together with Win-Tron, it was a really good fit.”

Tifft started racing young as his father owned a dirt late model and raced in Michigan. In 2007, when he was eleven years old, Tifft jumped into a go kart and fell in love with racing in his own right.

“I always watched NASCAR, but I was hooked at that point,” Tifft said.

Since then, Tifft has run in several karting series, as well as late model racing, before racing on the ARCA Midwest Tour. The teen scored Rookie of the Year honors in that series in his first ever points series season and finished fifth in points.

“It’s the right time to move up to the K&N Series,” Tifft said. “It’s better to get more experience in the bigger, heavier cars in a NASCAR series.”

And just who might some of Tifft’s heroes be in the racing world? One of them is a driver that is joining him in the move up in his NASCAR career.

“I’ve watched drivers like Kyle Larson and watching him go through and get the experience in the K&N Series is what helped attract me,” Tifft said.

“It’s a really cool deal to build up that experience.”

Tifft, like Larson and Hackenbracht, is all about learning, growing and just fine-tuning skills behind the wheel. He summed it up best for himself and his fellow racing compatriots who will be racing at the next level this season.

“I know I have a lot of learning to do,” Tifft said simply. “But I’m up to the challenge.”

February 7, 2013
Pete Rondeau Doing What He Loves In Brand New Way

Pete Rondeau has loved racing since he was old enough to hold a wrench working on his father’s car. Now he is continuing his passion in a brand new way, with his recent promotion to Director of Competition at Furniture Row Racing.

Rondeau has been affiliated with Furniture Row since 2010, first as the team’s car chief and then as crew chief. He has also worked closely with Furniture Row’s partner Richard Childress Racing.

Rondeau’s new responsibilities will include the building and preparation of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet race car driven by former Series champ Kurt Busch.

“I’ve been working with Furniture Row and RCR and know the ins and outs of the company here,” Rondeau said. “It will be a challenge and I look forward to working with Kurt (Busch, driver) and Todd (Berrier, crew chief), as well as Mark (McArdle, Executive Director of Competition) at RCR.”

“It should make things pretty decent here and we’re looking forward to a good start,” Rondeau continued. “We just keep plugging away and hope that the big things we are working for come through.”

So what exactly will Rondeau be doing in his new role as Director of Competition?

“It’s different from the crew chief side where I’m used to being,” Rondeau explained. “It’s managing the day to day operations at the shop, not only the building of the cars but the scheduling of the cars.”

“And also I will be overseeing the race teams on a daily basis to make sure that Todd gets everything he needs to do his job,” Rondeau continued. “I’ll be working the engineering in so that the race team gets everything they need.”

“I’ll be the overall person that looks over the big blanket of the company and guides things in the direction we need them go.”

Rondeau, a native of Saco, Maine, is also racking up the frequent flier miles in his new role, traveling from the team’s base in Denver, Colorado back and forth to North Carolina.

“My full-time place is in Colorado and then I just go back and forth to the east coast,” Rondeau said. “We have a lot going on at RCR and the communication is pretty fluid.”

“We get free upgrades whenever we travel now.”

Rondeau’s Maine accent has also been a bit puzzling to not only the North Carolina crew but also his new team in Colorado.

“They just weren’t sure where I was from,” Rondeau said with a laugh. “I still get ‘Where are you from, Australia?”

While Rondeau has enjoyed every minute of his racing career, both behind the wheel, under the car and in the management arena, he is most excited about this next challenge in his own racing development.

“This is the next level for someone like myself who has done everything on a race car and other parts of the business,” Rondeau said. “The hard part of the job will be basically steering everyone in the same direction.”

“We have a great group of guys here at Furniture Row,” Rondeau continued. “We’ve come a long way in the past three years.”

“It’s time for us to take it to the next level with the experienced people that we have here.”

Rondeau feels that the sky is the limit for his race team this year. He also sees his strength as understanding the strengths of his fellow team members and playing to them for maximum achievement on the track.

“That was the whole reason coming out here in 2010 was for the possibilities of this team,” Rondeau said. “You can just see that this place was a little gem waiting to shine.”

“We’ve had a victory at Darlington and the company is growing as we speak,” Rondeau continued. “I’m really looking forward to performing at that next level.”

“The racer in us wants to do better each time we go out and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”

“I’ve been behind the wheel, the set up guy, the mechanic on my own stuff,” Rondeau said. “I’ve run the strategies and built all of my own stuff.”

“I owned and drove so I had to take care of my stuff and I’ve had to make budget and figure out how to spend the money,” Rondeau continued. “Being behind the wheel, you learn a lot of patience so that’s how we’ve learned to work through.”

“The key will be to get those strong points to the forefront to perform at the level we need to this year.”

Rondeau is most excited about working with his team’s driver Kurt Busch, especially with the head start with him in the seat in the last few races of 2012.

“The jump we’ve had last year with Kurt in the car for the last few races has been huge for us,” Rondeau said. “We got the basic learning curve out of the way with how Kurt and Todd will communicate and the things we need to get the driver comfortable.”

“ We’ve worked through how we operate and the things we do different from the last team Kurt worked for,” Rondeau continued. “Kurt has a lot of his own ideas on how things should operate so we’re adapting to him and he’s adapting to us.”

“There will still be a little bit more adapting but we’ve been able to get a lot of that out of the way.”

Rondeau has a clear definition of what success will look like with his new driver. And for him, it is all about making the Chase in 2013.

“Success will be that we made the Chase,” Rondeau said. “If you get in the Chase, that’s a pretty big deal.”

“Making the Chase and winning a few races with Kurt will be success,” Rondeau continued. “I’d consider that a successful year for us.”

Rondeau’s other major challenge, as it has been with every team in the sport, is getting the new Gen 6 cars ready for the race season.

“It has been crazy,” Rondeau said. “We’ve tested every time NASCAR has tested the Gen 6 car and we’ve also tested out her in Colorado at Pike’s Peak.”

“It’s been a little bit of a task in building these cars and we’re waiting on some of the parts and pieces and the templates,” Rondeau continued. “But NASCAR has done a good job at getting the things out to us in a timely manner.”

“There are a few things that we’re waiting on right now but they are making sure that they have all details in place,” Rondeau said. “Anytime we have to build new race cars we have a crazy, crazy winter.”

“The fans think that when we stop at Homestead that’s our off-season but unfortunately that’s the busiest time for us, particularly getting ready to go to Daytona,” Rondeau continued. “We’re two weeks from loading and going to Daytona so we’re on seven day weeks, 12 hours per day right now.”

“That’s what it takes to get it done in the best possible way.”

So, is the Director of Competition Pete Rondeau’s dream job? Well, perhaps but just in a whole different way than he ever anticipated.

“I dreamed years ago of driving a race car for a living, but that wasn’t going to happen,” Rondeau said. “So, I moved to North Carolina and continued to move along.”

“This is one of those things that I love doing.”

“There are not too many people in racing that can honestly say that they dislike what they do,” Rondeau said. “They might complain about it but I would hate hate to have go to work for a living.”

“I’m still doing what I love,” Rondeau continued. “And this is what I’ve loved since I was old enough to hold a wrench working on my dad’s car.”

January 31, 2013
Jarett Andretti, Third Generation Racer, Just Enjoying the Ride

Photo Credit: jarettandretti.com

Jarett Andretti may have a famous racing last name and racing in his blood, but for now he is simply enjoying the ride.

And for this third-generation driver, grandson of Aldo and son of John Andretti, the ride not only includes pursuing a college education but also racing sprint cars for the company owned by second cousin Michael Andretti.

“It started last year,” Andretti said. “Me and my dad were talking about what we wanted to do in the 2012 season.”

“And he said we should do dirt sprint cars,” Andretti continued. “And at that point, I had never even been in a dirt sprint car or driven too much on dirt.”

“We acquired different cars and we put together our best car to run,” Andretti said. “We didn’t run as good as we hoped to run.”

“So, this year we really knew what we were going to do,” Andretti continued. “We hired our crew chief, bought cars and a motor and Superior Auto came on board as a sponsor.”

“Everything fell in line to do 30 or 40 races this season in Indiana.”

Andretti’s new sponsor, Superior Auto, is also excited about partnering with the young driver as his career blossoms.

“Jarett is the next line of great racers in the Andretti family,” Chad Melchi, President of Superior Auto, said. “He’s proving himself to live in the footsteps of his great family name.”

“All of us at Superior Auto want to be a part of his journey as he continues to grow.”

Andretti actually has a unique racing resume, especially since he did not even start racing until he was 17 years old. Prior to that, he was a devoted soccer player and would have played in college except for being bitten by the racing bug.

“I played soccer for a long time and then my dad bought a go kart,” Andretti said. “He thought it would be fun to spend some time together but he might regret it after all this.”

“We didn’t know what the next step was but decided to go dirt sprint car racing,” Andretti continued. “I also got an opportunity to run Oswego Speedway in a super-modified class and won Rookie of the Year last year.”

“My career is like my father’s in a sense because I drive whatever I get the opportunity to be in,” Andretti said. “That’s why we wanted to do dirt sprint car too.”

“In Indiana you can run three nights a week,” Andretti continued. “So, when I’m not running on pavement, I’ll just get in the dirt sprint car and that will be great experience for me.”

In addition to racing whatever he can get his hands on, the young Andretti is also a sophomore at North Carolina State University, where he is studying business administration and marketing. And of course, his is all in at school where he participates in the honors program.

“It’s alright,” Andretti said about his classroom career. “On Thursday and Friday, I take online classes so I can go racing on the weekends.”

“But it’s tough to get back Sunday night or Monday morning and go to school and keep up with it all,” Andretti admitted. “There’s homework and studying during the week so I can go racing.”

“It balances out,” Andretti said. “You care about school and you want to go racing.”

“It’s a challenge to make it all work but it’s worth it.”

What also motivates the young racer is the support of his family, especially since they have allowed him to find his own way in the sport.

“There was no pressure about racing from my family,” Andretti said. “In fact, my mom has been quoted as saying “I kept him out of it this long.” So, that was her accomplishment.”

“But my family has been nothing but supportive,” Andretti continued. “My father has been supportive and has given me guidance.”

“My mom is supportive as well with me being away at college and then away racing too,” Andretti said. “She takes care of my two younger sisters and they have been supportive as well.”

“So, it’s a family effort, even with my grandfather Aldo, who comes to the track and is over there washing the car,” Andretti continued. “Mario, Michael and Marco are also supportive as well.”

“Michael let me test in October so it’s all a family effort like most things.”

So what does the future hold for the youngest Andretti racer?

“I think it’s tough to answer because it’s where the opportunity falls,” Andretti said. “I’d be happy to run Le Mans and Daytona and run dirt the rest of the year.”

“I’m not picky about where I go,” Andretti continued. “I think the opportunity will be something with fenders, either in sports cars or NASCAR.”

“IndyCar right now doesn’t seem to have many opportunities for young kids and that’s disappointing,” Andretti said. “But that’s the way it is.”

“Really, I just want to win races,” Andretti said. “And I just like to drive race cars.”

“Right now, I’m just enjoying the ride.”

January 29, 2013
Ontario Short Tracks to Daytona High Banks, Andrew Gresel ready for ARCA race

Photo Credit: Joe Chisholm

From the Ontario, Canada short tracks to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway, Andrew Gresel is looking for success this February in Daytona. The second generation driver has teamed up with Wes Gonder Racing to run the ARCA Series Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on February 16^th.

For Gresel, it’s all about qualifying well.

“Qualifying is a big day,” he said. You want to qualify good there; you don’t want to start mid-pack. If we have to, that’s just something we’ll have to deal with this. But qualifying is a major thing that we’ll have to deal with.”

Running a race at Daytona was a goal that Gresel had and the pieces came together with Wes Gonder Racing through success at New Smyrna Speedway during their Florida Speedweeks event.

“We have been running New Smyrna Speedway the last couple down years down near Daytona and we’ve had quite a bit luck down there, ran good down south,” Gresel said.

Gresel hit the high banks of Daytona in December as part of ARCA’s pre-season testing, which marked a considerable jump up from the 1/3 to ¼ mile short tracks in Ontario.

“Hitting the track for the first time was very intimidating at Daytona,” he said. “Just being in the racecar and hitting the corners at a high speed around 180 mph, super fast and just the corners themselves are real intimidating.”

The 2011 Delaware Speedway Champion got started in racing as a teenager, helping his dad at Sauble Speedway with a pure stock.

“It wasn’t too long after that I had my own car and we were racing against each other,” he said.

Since then, Gresel has become a major threat to win across the province and is a two-time winner of the Beat the Heat 150 at Sauble and won the Great Canadian 200 at Delaware Speedway in 2011.

Beyond running the ARCA race this February, the plan right now for Gresel is keep their open late model program going, traveling to the different invitationals across Ontario. However, if they are also looking to sell the car.

“I’ve got the car – new body going on the car, everything like that,” he said. “Just getting it ready for anybody that is looking for a good car that can go out and win races.”

If they can sell the car, Gresel says the team is looking to step up their program by either running a super late or maybe some more ARCA races.

With regards to long term goals, Gresel says that it’s hard to say where he’ll be in five years.

“I just got to do everything I can do to improve myself and to make my way up to a bigger series,” he added.

To put together a huge program, it does take a lot of support from a lot of people.

“I would like to thank, right off the bat, my dad for supporting us – Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park is his company,” Gresel said. “Without him, we wouldn’t be racing at all. I’d like to thank him and his company. London Recreational, they’re helping us out quite a bit with this ARCA deal. Stewarts Farm Equipment. I also want to thank all my sponsors that help me out on the late model, all my sponsors that helped me out all year so CUSW, McRobert Fuels, Overland Heating and Cooling and Spira Fire Protection. I just like to thank everybody that helps us out.”

Beyond the sponsors mentioned, they are also receiving support for the race from Marvin Freiburger and & Sons, Andy Schmidt, Shear Metal Products and SpeedwayPhotos.ca.

The team is always interested in adding more sponsorship. Any interested sponsors can contact his promoter Joe Chisholm at motorpromotions@gmail.com.

January 25, 2013
David Ragan and Michael Annett Head Home for Pre-Daytona Competition

What do Cup and Nationwide drivers David Ragan and Michael Annett have in common as they prepare to start the NASCAR racing season at Daytona next month?

Both Ragan and Annett will head straight their local short tracks for some preparatory competition prior to the start of their top tier series competition. And both of them are competing at tracks not only close to their hearts but close to home as well.

Ragan will hit his local short track this weekend in the season opener of the CRA (Champion Racing Association) Super Series. The newly-married Sprint Cup driver will star at SpeedFest 2013 this weekend at Watermelon Capital Speedway just a hop, skip and a jump from his hometown of Unadilla, Georgia.

Ragan competed last year in this same event pre-Daytona, finishing third after starting on the pole. He is hoping to top finish that this year, racing in his own No. 77 David Ragan Inc. Ford.

“It’s always a lot of fun to go run a race in January when we have some free time,” Ragan said. “This race always draws a lot of guys from all over, especially up north where it’s still too cold and snowy to go racing.”

“We just have a lot of fun,” Ragan continued. “And running a race that close to home, I get a lot of friends and family in the stands cheering me on.”

While Ragan’s primary job is behind the wheel of the No. 34 Ford Fusion Motorsports, he also loves returning to his short track roots, racing a handful of late-model competitions with his own two car team based in his new home in Concord, North Carolina.

“It’s a chance for me to go race four or five times a year at the short tracks and just have some fun,” Ragan said. “My late model program is two cars.”

“I’ve got one full-time employee who works on them,” Ragan continued. “Other than that, it’s me and my cousin and some volunteer help.”

“Some of the guys from Front Row Motorsports go with us on the weekends to help.”

While Ragan thoroughly enjoys the local competition, he also acknowledges that even when he is having fun, he still wants to claim that checkered flag.

“Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s just for fun,” Ragan said. “I’m a competitor and I admit I can get caught up in the moment of trying to be competitive.”

“I want to spend more money than we should on the cars to make improvements here and there,” Ragan continued. “Then I remember to dial it down a bit and remember why I do it.”

In addition to enjoy the big Cup tracks, Ragan is also very fond of his home track, Watermelon Capital Speedway.

“Watermelon Capital Speedway is a very fun race track,” Ragan said. “It’s D-shaped, where the back straightaway curves a little.”

“It’s not your typical short track,” Ragan continued. “It’s challenging.”

“Last year we sat on the pole and finished third,” Ragan said. “Two years ago we finished fifth or sixth, so we usually run pretty well and have had some changes to win.”

“This weekend, our goal is to go down there, lead the most laps and win the race.”

Fellow Nationwide competitor Michael Annett is right there with Ragan as far as wanting to win in his local short track event. He will compete at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Battle at the Barn, an indoor carting event this weekend that also includes another fellow racer Kenny Wallace.

Annett, Nationwide driver for Richard Petty Motorsports, will compete locally in the 360 and 390 clone classes, as well as the 20-lap feature. This is the fifth year for the Battle at the Barn, which attracts the Midwest’s best kart racers.

“This is a really cool event happening right in my back yard,” Annett said. “I’m happy Toby Kruse (the event’s promoter) invited me.”

“I have a deep appreciation for these racers working hard to fulfill their dreams,” Annett continued. “They’re good racers too.”

“I’m looking forward to competing with them and interacting with all the fans that come out.”

Annett, who will be warming up to take his seat in his Richard Petty Motorsports Nationwide car, will participate in an autograph session in the Jacobson building prior to his local short track race.

January 23, 2013
Doc Mattioli, Father of Pocono Raceway, Receives NMPA Hall of Fame Honor

Photo Credit: poconoraceway.com

Just one week shy of the one year anniversary of his passing, Joseph ‘Doc’ Mattioli, father of Pocono Raceway, was remembered in a very special way. Mattioli received one of the sport’s highest honors, induction into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.

“It definitely is a bittersweet moment for our family but it is also a great honor for my grandfather,” Brandon Igdalsky, President of Pocono Raceway, said. “It is a week away from the anniversary of his death and it is a tough week.”

“We all looked up to and idolized him.” Igdalsky continued. “So, it’s nice to honor him in this way.”

Mattioli was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame by Deb Williams, a family friend and an award winning journalist who has covered the sport of NASCAR for over 30 years. Doc’s love of his life and wife, Dr. Rose Mattioli, was also on-hand, as were many other family members, to witness the honor.

“Doctor Joseph Reginald Mattioli Jr. was his formal name,” Williams began as she inducted her friend in front of hundreds of NMPA members and former Hall of Famers. “But we all knew him simply as ‘Doc’.

“The son of Italian immigrants, he called Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania home, moving there after his parents divorced,” Williams continued. “And like many of his generation, he experienced the atrocities of war serving as a Navy corpsman in the Pacific during WWII.”

“Doc’s military service provided him with the GI Bill and the opportunity to attend Temple University in Philadelphia,” Williams said. “While obtaining his dentistry degree, he met and fell in love with Rose, a podiatry student. Of course we all know her as Dr. Rose.”

“After graduation, Doc and Dr. Rose opened their respective practices,” Williams continued. “But he followed a different course with his practice, providing office hours no one else did.”

“They were more like racer’s hours, from early morning to late evening and, needless to say, this was a tiring schedule.”

“So in the 1960’s he cut back his practice,” Williams said. “It was during this time that he became involved in real estate development in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, including Pocono Raceway.”

“During this time, Doc became involved with a group of investors who had an idea to construct a major speedway,” Williams continued. “Doc poured his heart and soul into building one of NASCAR’s most challenging tracks.”

“In fact, he was often found on a bull dozer taking care of business,” Williams said. “His spirit and determination overcame every obstacle he faced and he was a pioneer in NASCAR’s growth in the Northeast.”

“Today, Pocono Raceway’s Sprint Cup events are among the largest spectator sports events in the state of Pennsylvania,” Williams continued. “At 86 years of age, Doc completed his latest project, a three megawatt solar farm that made Pocono the largest renewable energy sport facility in the world and a leader in NASCAR’s commitment to environmental responsibility.”

“Today Doc would be described as a workaholic,” Williams said. “But his generation had come through the Great Depression and a World War, so working hard was merely the way you lived your life.”

“Your word was your bond and you were proud of your family,” Williams continued. “That was a successful life. And Doc was successful not just in business but as a man.”

“He cared about his family, his employees, his community, race fans, competitors and yes, the media,” Williams said. “Everyone was important.”

“Doc Mattioli was the father of Pocono Raceway, a compassionate businessman and without him, Pocono Raceway, might not exist.”

Brandon Igdalsky also remembered his grandfather for his generosity as he, along with his grandmother Dr. Rose, accepted the NMPA honors.

“His philanthropic side was phenomenal,” Igdalsky said. “For a kid who grew up on a farm, if he had it, he would give it.”

“He never cared for any recognition for it,” Igdalsky continued. “We had a cousin who thought my grandfather’s name was anonymous because of all he did for charities anonymously.”

Igdalsky spoke for his entire family when he reflected on the legacy of his grandfather, especially as he followed in his footsteps as President of his beloved race track.

“I always felt that if I could fill a portion of his heel, let alone his shoe, that I’ve accomplished something in my life,” Igdalsky said. “The man is a legend.”

“In our family, he is a legend and in our community, he is a legend for what he has done there,” Igdalsky continued. “He had a lot of ideas and sometimes we looked at him like he was out of his mind but growing up in the business and watching him was amazing.”

“We argued, we agreed to disagree but in the end I understood,” Igdalsky said. “It was his playground and his sand box.”

“And it’s still his sand box and will always be his sand box,” Igdalsky continued. “That’s why when you roll through the tunnel at Pocono Raceway, the sign says ‘Welcome to Doc’s Place.’

“My eight year old daughter decided that we needed to put that sign up this year and that sign will be up as long as we’re around.”

Doc Mattioli joined the other 2013 NMPA Hall of Fame inductees Jim Hunter and Ken Squier. Last year’s inductees included Richard Childress and Ricky Rudd.

January 21, 2013