Allentown, PA: CARQUEST Gasoline Alley Welcomes Robby Josett, Shane Cottle, Jerry Coons And Davey Ray Direct From The Chili Bowl On Monday Night's Show
By:Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

The extremely popular and nationally acclaimed CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Internet Show will make connections from the floor of the Quick Trip Arena as the Gang cranks up the airwaves on Monday evening with another fabulous edition of their show on Monday evening, January 10th as they play host to another blockbuster lineup of talented racing stars and personalities who join the Gang for the fastest, funniest, and most informative racing show in the country today. The show airs from 6 to 8 PM every Monday evening on channels 103 and 137 and worldwide on the Internet. The Gang has been serving the racing world for the past eight years on the airwaves and is well noted for their well noted "theme" show format and will host the 507th edition of their show since they hit the airwaves and their 295th show since joining forces with the party channel at WALN Digital Cable and "Happy Jack" Burns on Channels 103 and 137. The Gasoline Alley Team of Ed and Steve Pados is looking forward to more of the same great format they have been following since the inception of their show back in 2002.

With this edition of the show the Gang will welcome a very diverse and talented group of driving stars who have made plans to compete at the upcoming 25th Annual Edition of the running of the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The prestigious event now has 264 entries for the upcoming indoor spectacular that will pit the best of the best drivers in the country against each other for a run to victory lane and the coveted Golden Driller trophy. With practice for the event going on all day Monday, the Gang will be challenged to make it happen but are hopeful all of the interviews can transpire. The young gasser from California Robby Josett joins the Gang for the first time to talk about this third place finish in the points run in 2010 with the USAC Western Midget Series. Josett is another of the great California talents who is making his mark in the very competitive Midget ranks today. "The Throttle" Shane Cottle revisits the Gang to talk about another great season of wingless 410 racing in the Midwest as well as his solid runs at the Chili Bowl where he has finished in the top ten in four of the last five seasons with a high of third place coming in 2008. Cottle was 6th in the event one year ago. The talented and versatile USAC triple crown winner Jerry Coons rejoins the Gang to talk about a great season in 2010 that saw him finish in third place in the National Driver's standings, 2nd place in the Midgets, 4th in the Sprints and 5th in the Silver Crown points. Jerry has scored fourth place finished in the past two Chili Bowl events and would like nothing better than to land in victory lane on Saturday evening. The stand on the gas Davey Ray rejoins the Gang to talk about his recent win in Australia in the "Magic Man" 34 to the tune of $12,000.00 and will come into the Chili Bowl with full head of steam as he tries to better his best performance at the event which was an 8th place finish back in 2004.

Miss WALN Cable Radio Vickie Kidd will join the Gang for this edition of the show.

The Gang will also be providing all of the updates regarding the upcoming Phillipsburg Mall show that will run from March 6th until the 12th.

The popular award winning TV/Internet show offers a live internet video feed to all of the Internet subscribers to view the wide assortment of the many racing videos that are played while the show is in progress and to enjoy the chat sessions with the many great personalities from within the racing community who pay the Gang a visit to discuss racing. As always, a surprise or two will be expected as the Gasoline Alley Gang continues to bring the racing community the fastest, funniest and most informed racing show on the airwaves today. All shows produced by GA Motorsports Media are carefully researched, authenticated and fully scripted to produce for our loyal sponsors, guests and racing fans the best show on the airwaves today.

CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Radio/Internet Show continues with its outstanding line-up of talented guests with this week's edition of the show. The Show's programming on WALN Digital Cable Radio, Internet www.walncableradio.com for the Audio portion and: livestream.com/walncableradio/old for the video portion. The Show is available on Service Electric Digital Cable TV, Channels 103, and 137 and is live from 6 to 8 PM and later tape delayed on Channel 50 at 11 PM.

Join the Gasoline Alley broadcasting team of Ed and Steve Pados on Monday evening January 10th as they take you on a two-hour circular journey with their well documented, very informative and extremely funny show.

Should you have questions on how to be a part of the show through advertising, appearances or remotes, please contact Steve Pados at: 610 573 9706; Ed Pados at: 610 739 0391; or the WALN Studios at: 610 791 1818. You may also email: steveswp@ptd.net

RACING NEWS THE WAY IT IS MEANT TO BE

Camargo, IL
By Brian Liskai
The O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champion Sprint Cars are less than a month away from embarking on an exciting 2011 season that will include a new regional points system that will pay out more money to more participating teams.

“America’s Series” will kick off the 2011 dirt track racing season with its annual Winter Nationals swing in Georgia and Florida. The All Stars will compete in five races at three different tracks between Feb. 3 and Feb. 10.

This will also begin the All Star’s new regional points system, which will feature approximately 20 race dates from Georgia and Florida to Central Pennsylvania and east including New York and Canada. The region will pay a champion $20,000 to win the points and will pay back to the 10th place driver.

The action heats up at the three-eighths mile Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga. on Thursday, Feb. 3 for a big $10,000 to win event. It marks the first ever All Star appearance on the red clay oval.

Joining the All Star sprints will also be the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Late Model Series.

Two-time All Star Sprint Champion Tim Shaffer – the Steel City Outlaw – will be looking to continue his phenomenal 2010 season which saw him capture 16 All Star wins in addition to sprint car racing’s biggest jewel, the Knoxville Nationals. However, with the All Star’s new regional point system, Shaffer could have his hands full with the likes of Pennsylvania Posse members Lance Dewease, Fred Rahmer, Stevie Smith, Chad Layton, Greg Hodnett, Justin Henderson, Mark Smith, Todd Shaffer and more. Throw in the All Star regulars like two-time champion Greg Wilson, Ohio Sprint Speedweek Champion David Gravel and 2010 All Star Rookie of the Year Cap Henry, three-time All Star Champion Dale Blaney and some World of Outlaw teams, and this opening season event has the makings of a classic.

The All Stars will then continue south to the Sunshine State for a two-day event at the three-eighths mile oval of Ocala Speedway in Ocala, Florida. The Feb. 4 and 5 events marks the third straight year the All Stars will compete at the facility, which kicks off the 28th Annual All Star Winternationals in Florida. Friday night’s feature will pay $3,000 to win and Saturday night is a $5,000 to win race.

Last year Danny “The Dude” Lasoski” held off Shaffer in an epic green-white-checkered finish after early leaders Cale Conley and Brad Sweet made contact on the last lap battling for the lead, with both getting upside down.

The unique D-shaped 3/8th mile track produces some exciting racing with its sweeping turns 1 and 2 leading to an almost continuous turn down the backstretch to a tight turns 3 and 4 and a very long, fast straightaway. This will mark the track’s 59th year of racing, making it the oldest track in the State of Florida

After a brief pause the drivers All Stars return to action for their yearly stop at the Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., as part of the 40th Annual DIRTcar Nationals. On Wednesday night, Feb. 9, action heats up with a $5,000 to win event and then one night later on Feb. 10 the Sprint Car feature will pay $5,000 as well.

For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com or www.volusia speedwaypark.net, www.ocalaspeedway.com or www.screvenmotorspeedway.com

Ian Cumens Aims To Keep Streak Alive In Upcoming Indoor TQ-Midget Series Events
By JERRY REIGLE

TRENTON, NJ – Ian Cumens has an amazing streak and it’s one he doesn’t want to see end.

He has yet to sit on the sidelines for a Saturday night indoor racing program at either Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., or the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I.

He wants the streak to continue again as the indoor racing TQ-Midget racing series continues again in a few weeks as the 10th annual Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City on Jan. 27-29 and the Coffee Cup in Providence on Feb. 5.

“We want to see that streak continue,” Cumens, 18, said. “I love racing indoors. You get to run with the best in the businesses. There is top Midget car driver like Joey Payne and Lou Cicconi at both events. Plus, you get the drivers from other classes too. Stewart Friesen has become a contender every time we go indoor racing.”

Cumens is carrying some major success himself.

The Downingtown West (Pa.) High School senior claimed the ATQMRA title, a year after his older sister Alison won it.

“The experience you get from racing indoors definitely helps in outdoor action,” Cumens said. “Indoors, you are so close lap after lap. I know of a few situations where it came into play this past racing season.

“There was a night at Bethel Motor (N.Y.) Speedway. We started 13th and ended up winning that night. That close-knit racing you get from racing indoors definitely helped us out at that event. The same can be said for the close racing at Mountain (Pa.) Speedway and Wall (N.J.) Speedway.”

Cumens will drive a family-owned Colin Martin-built Spitfire Chassis TQ-Midget. It’s the same car he drove the past few seasons in indoor racing action. The Spitfire Chassis is a bulkier car in comparison to the more compact TQ-Midget designed cars.

“It has bigger tubing, but I feel safe and comfortable in it,” Cumens said. “I know we’re just as competitive with the TQs as well.”

Also, this year marks the first time in history that the indoor races will be held on consecutive weekends.

“If it was up to me, we’d race indoors all winter,” Cumens said. “The good part of going back-to-back is you don’t have to wait for month until you race again. You go from Atlantic City right to Providence. On the bad side, if you get crashed in AC, then you have to rush to make the repairs for the next weekend.”

Cumens is hoping that there is no need to make those repairs. If history proves correct, he should be a contender in the A-Mains.

As for the future, Cumens, who was scheduled to test in the ARCA stock car series at Daytona International Speedway last month, will defend his ATQMRA title.

In addition, Cumens plans to enter a few North Eastern Midget Association-sanctioned events in ’11.

Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton, N.J. at 609-888-3618
Activity in Atlantic City will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m.
Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials. The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 29, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
Tickets for the Coffee Cup are available at the Dunkin’ Donuts box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
TQ-Midgets and Champ Karts will share the one-day card which begins at 7 p.m.

JANUARY 7, 2011
Former USAC Executive Vice President Roger McCluskey has posthumously been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and will be honored along with fellow inductees Donnie Allison, Sid Collins, Ed McCulloch, Augie Pabst, Bruce Penhall and Ed Winfield when the organization stages its annual induction celebration on August 23 and 24, 2011 in Detroit.

“This class is an extraordinary group of pacesetters,” says Ron Watson, president of the Motorsports Hall of Fame, “not only on the track, but in the engineering department and the broadcast booth, as well.”
Donnie Allison, a member of the famed "Alabama Gang," compiled nearly 400 short track victories before joining the NASCAR Cup circuit in 1968. He won 10 Cup races and captured 17 pole positions. In 1970, he scored three wins and had 10 top five finishes. Allison, who earned the Rookie of the Year title in the 1970 Indy 500, will join his brother Bobby in the Hall of Fame.
Sid Collins was the original broadcast voice of the Indianapolis 500 and launched the IMS radio network in 1952 shepherding its growth from 26 to 1,200 radio stations. Listening to his dramatic, often poetic, race descriptions became an established tradition for families at holiday picnics and homesick members of the armed forces at remote locations around the globe.
Roger McCluskey won Sprint Car championships in 1963 and 1966, National Stock Car championships in 1969 and 1970, the Indy Car title in 1973 and competed in all but one Indy 500 between 1961 and 1979 when he retired from driving to become USAC’s vice president and director of competition.
For 30 years, Ed “The Ace” McCulloch split his time between drag racing's two most powerful divisions, notching 18 Funny Car victories and four Top Fuel wins. He was named Driver of the Year in 1973 and 1988, was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2000 and continued in the sport as a tuner and crew chief between 2001 and 2010.
Augie Pabst was one of the brightest and most versatile stars of road racing in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. He won USAC and SCCA road racing titles in 1959 and 1960 behind the wheel of the Meister Brauser Scarab. During his career he won 13 major races including the Road America 500 three times and the GT category at Sebring in 1963.
Bruce Penhall was considered to be America’s greatest speedway motorcycle rider. After establishing himself in the U.S., he won several important European motorcycle racing titles and led the U.S. comeback in World Championship speedway racing in the early ‘80s, winning the World title in 1981 and 1982. In doing so, he was the first American to win that crown in 44 years.
Ed Winfield was regarded as one of the all-time great mechanical minds motorsports has ever known. He was an expert in engine design and carburation and played a major role in the development of the famed Novi engine with his brother, Bud. He is generally recognized as the “Father of the Racing Cam Business,” making his first performance camshaft in 1914 at age 13 and is credited with creative cylinder head designs and other engine advancements.
The new inductees will unveil their permanent Hall of Fame sculptures at the “Heroes of Horsepower” Reception to be held at the Detroit Science Center on Tuesday, August 23, 2011. The black-tie Twenty Third Annual Induction Ceremony will take place at the historic Fillmore Detroit Theatre on Wednesday, August 24, 2011. Tickets for the events can be purchased by calling 313-577-8400, ext. 482 or by visiting the Hall of Fame website www.mshf.com.

The Motorsports Museum & Hall of Fame is operated by the nonprofit Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation Inc. Currently housed in the Detroit Science Center in the Motor City’s Museum District, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America features the compelling stories of 188 Heroes of Horsepower along with the display of a wide variety of racing and high performance vehicles. The constantly changing collection features racers from the world of Indy cars, stock cars, Can Am, TransAm, sprint cars, powerboats, truck racing, drag racing, motorcycles, air racing and even snowmobiles.

Dick Jordan
USAC

The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 4, 2011; 6:36 PM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Former NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham has signed on as a consultant for one of Rick Hendrick's companies.

Evernham won three championships in the 1990s as crew chief for Jeff Gordon with Hendrick Motorsports. Now, his company Ray Evernham Enterprises, will consult on special projects for Hendrick Companies.

"Hendrick Performance parts and cars will have a racing pedigree, and Ray is someone who will help ensure that on behalf of our customers and dealers," Hendrick said in a statement Tuesday.

"He's assembled a terrific group of people at REE, and I see a lot of opportunities for them to be a valuable resource for our organization on projects like this. I know the kind of high standards Ray sets."

Rick Hendrick formed Hendrick Companies in 2005 to oversee his strategic initiatives. Evernham's role will be to help with the development of the Hendrick Performance retail brand of high-performance parts, vehicles, products and related services.

"Rick and I have had many conversations over the years about our passion projects, and there's so much crossover with what we enjoy working on," said Evernham. "We both sense an opportunity to do some unique things, whether it's with performance parts and cars, his dealership business or other ways to build the Hendrick brand."

Evernham left the Hendrick organization in 1999 to form his own NASCAR team. He's most recently been a television analyst for ESPN.

The network said Evernham is leaving ESPN for his new role with Hendrick.

"Ray has been a valuable member of our NASCAR team for the past three seasons and we wish him all the best in his new role," said Rich Feinberg, vice president of motorsports for ESPN.

"If he ever wants to come back, we'd be happy to talk to him."

Allentown, PA: CARQUEST Gasoline Alley Rings In The New Year With Racing Stars Daryn Pittman, Jimmy Owens, Cole Whitt And Tyler Walker To Monday Night's Show
By:Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

The extremely popular and nationally acclaimed CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Internet Show will ring in the New Year as the Gang cranks up the airwaves on Monday evening with another fabulous edition of their show on Monday evening, January 3rd as they play host to another blockbuster lineup of talented racing stars and personalities who join the Gang for the fastest, funniest, and most informative racing show in the country today. The show airs from 6 to 8 PM every Monday evening on channels 103 and 137 and worldwide on the Internet. The Gang has been serving the racing world for the past eight years on the airwaves and is well noted for their well noted "theme" show format and will host the 506th edition of their show since they hit the airwaves and their 294th show since joining forces with the party channel at WALN Digital Cable and "Happy Jack" Burns on Channels 103 and 137. The Gasoline Alley Team of Ed and Steve Pados is looking forward to more of the same great format they have been following since the inception of their show back in 2002.

With this edition of the show the Gang will welcome a very diverse and talented group of driving stars who have made plans to compete at the upcoming 25th Annual Edition of the running of the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The prestigious event now has 258 entries for the upcoming indoor spectacular that will pair the best of the best drivers in the country against each other for a run to victory lane and the coveted Golden Driller trophy. Daryn Pittman, who enjoyed a sensational season of competition on the Central Pennsylvania circuit, will join the Gang to talk about the Chili Bowl as well as his pairing with the Lehigh Valley based Heffner Racing Team. Daryn will share his 2011 plans with the fans in the interview. "The Newport Nightmare" or the "O-Show" Jimmy Owens will join the Gang for the first time to talk about his maiden voyage in a Kenny Brown owned Midget race car at the Chili Bowl event. Jimmy is one of the top campaigners in the Late Model ranks in the country and should adapt very quickly to the light-weight Midget race cars. Cole Whitt, the sensational Californian who was a standout rookie in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East ranks in 2010, returns to the Chili Bowl to try to improve upon last year's runner-up finish to winner Kevin Swindell. Cole will be taking his first ride in a Midget in a year but the talented young racer would like nothing better than to capture the prestigious victory. Cole will once again pair with noted car owner Keith Kunz in his quest for the win. Recently returning from Australia "T-Dub" Tyler Walker rejoins the Gang to talk about his solid season in Pennsylvania and his recent experiences in Australia where he captured a win during his stay. Tyler will talk about the recent addition of Crew Chief Kirk DeWease to the Keen Transport team for the upcoming 2011 racing season.

Miss WALN Cable Radio Vickie Kidd will join the Gang for this edition of the show.

The popular award winning TV/Internet show offers a live internet video feed to all of the Internet subscribers to view the wide assortment of the many racing videos that are played while the show is in progress and to enjoy the chat sessions with the many great personalities from within the racing community who pay the Gang a visit to discuss racing. As always, a surprise or two will be expected as the Gasoline Alley Gang continues to bring the racing community the fastest, funniest and most informed racing show on the airwaves today. All shows produced by GA Motorsports Media are carefully researched, authenticated and fully scripted to produce for our loyal sponsors, guests and racing fans the best show on the airwaves today.

CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Radio/Internet Show continues with its outstanding line-up of talented guests with this week's edition of the show. The Show's programming on WALN Digital Cable Radio, Internet www.walncableradio.com for the Audio portion and: livestream.com/walncableradio/old for the video portion. The Show is available on Service Electric Digital Cable TV, Channels 103, and 137 and is live from 6 to 8 PM and later tape delayed on Channel 50 at 11 PM.

Join the Gasoline Alley broadcasting team of Ed and Steve Pados on Monday evening January 3rd as they take you on a two-hour circular journey with their well documented, very informative and extremely funny show.

Should you have questions on how to be a part of the show through advertising, appearances or remotes, please contact Steve Pados at: 610 573 9706; Ed Pados at: 610 739 0391; or the WALN Studios at: 610 791 1818. You may also email: steveswp@ptd.net

RACING NEWS THE WAY IT IS MEANT TO BE

NEWS FROM…
EASTERN MOTORSPORT PRESS ASSOCIATION
CONTACT: LENNY SAMMONS, PRESIDENT, 609-888-3618
RON HEDGER, VICE PRESIDENT, 518-885-7481
JOHN SNYDER, MEDIA OFFICE, 845-225-3560
ROBIN ERWIN, WEBMASTER, robinervin1@comcast.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDY 500 VICTOR AND IZOD INDYCAR SERIES CHAMPION DARIO FRANCHITTI NAMED EMPA NATIONAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Canadian Stewart Friesen chosen Northeast Driver of the Year

TRENTON, NJ (December 31).…..Dario Franchitti, winner of the 2010 and 2007 Indianapolis 500 and the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, was chosen by the members of the Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) as their 2010 Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the Year. Driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Franchitti is only the 17th driver in the history of the 500 to win it more than once.

Among other special awards, Stewart Friesen, 27, of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, was voted the Richie Evans Memorial Northeast Driver of the Year. Friesen won 24 dirt track Modified feature races during the year, including the Syracuse 200. He was the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour champion and won weekly track point titles at both Five Mile Point Speedway and Utica-Rome Speedway, both in New York.

Also honored by the EMPA was multi-faceted team owner Floyd “Chip” Ganassi who was named the T. Wayne Robertson Newsmaker of the Year. Under the Target Chip Ganassi Racing banner, the Pittsburgh native’s team won the IZOD IndyCar Series including the Indianapolis 500 with driver Dario Franchitti, and with co-drivers Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series championship. In NASCAR, the Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team won the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400, and the October Bank of America 500 with driver Jamie McMurray.

Austin Hubbard, an 18-year-old Late Model stock car driving sensation from Seaford, Delaware was chosen by the EMPA members as the winner of The John Blewett III Young Guns Award Presented by New England Fuels. As a rookie driver, Hubbard won twice on the national World of Outlaws Late Model Series tour and finished seventh in year-long series points.

Each year, the EMPA Board of Directors chooses the recipient of the Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport Award. This award goes to a person who best represents grass-roots and die-hard perseverance in participating in the sport they love. This year’s award winner is Pennsylvania 410 Sprint Car owner/driver Rick Lafferty.

Former EMPA president Ernie Saxton and his wife, Marilyn, who served as EMPA’s executive secretary have been unanimously named to the EMPA Hall of Fame. Also in the 2010 Hall of Fame class are NASCAR driver Geoffrey Bodine; the late Lindy Vicari, Reading (Pennsylvania) Fairgrounds promoter; and the late John “Ace” Lane, Sr., a pioneer motorsports photographer.

The Hall of Fame inductions and award presentations will be made Saturday, January 8, during the NASCAR/EMPA Hall of Fame Banquet, part of the weekend’s annual EMPA Convention, being held at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

A gathering of professional motorsports photographer, journalists, and electronic media specialists, the EMPA Convention includes press conferences, seminars, presentations by track and racing series promoters, writing and photography member contests, and social interaction with all types of American motorsports personalities. This year’s keynote speaker is Don Miller, co-author of the highly-acclaimed Miller’s Time with EMPA member Jim Donnelly. Best known as a former executive with Roger Penske’s NASCAR teams, Miller also worked with Goodyear and Sears in their motorsports programs. In his younger days, Miller was an accomplished drag racer.

“We’re really looking forward to Miller’s address,” says EMPA president Len Sammons. “He’s a tremendous motivator, and I know the members will get a great deal from his talk.”

Sponsors of the EMPA Convention include NASCAR, NHRA, IZOD IndyCar Series, World Racing Group (DIRTcar/WoO), and Brice NAPA.

Sammons also invites speedway and racing series operators who cannot be present during the convention to make their printed 2011 schedules and other information available. Please contact him at 609-888-3618 to facilitate this matter.