Denny Hamlin wins the Bud Shootout
Category: NASCAR / Oval Track Racing | Posted February 13, 2006 by Brian Losness

Denny Hamlin wins the Bud Shoot out at Daytona... That right Denny Hamilin. The 25 year old from Chesterfield, VA who looks like he isn't old enough to ride his bike to the drug store by himself, showed he was
up to the task of taking on the super stars of the Cup world, and held off the two super speedway power houses of Tony Stewart and Dale Jr. Who finished in a dead heat for second. Hamlin who first set foot on the Daytona Speedway just two short years ago as a guest of Jr. Hamlin was running the local NASCAR Late Model Stock Car. His dream was almost snuffed out when Late Model Team ran out of money. "Mom and Dad paid for all of it, but we ran out of money, and had to park the thing for a while." Mom and dad, Dennis and Mary Lou were nearly speechless over come with excitment on pit road after the checker flag flew.

Hamlin gave credit to his pit crew and crew chief Mike Ford for getting him up front when the time came. "On that pit stop the crew beat everybody off pit road, we came in third and came out first and that was the winning move."

Jeff Burton Win's the Pole for Daytona 500.
Category: NASCAR / Oval Track Racing | Posted February 12, 2006 by Brian Losness

Jeff Burton won the Pole for the 2006 Daytona 500. Burton who was determined to make up for last year put the RCR Cingular Chevy on the pole with a speed of 189.151 mph.

Burton who hasn't won a pole in more than five years and hasn't won a race since the event in 2001 Phoenix event, admitted that he got lucky with the wind that pleagued the other competitors as they attempted to qualify. "But we were a little lucky, too. We caught the wind just right. I looked up and saw one flag was almost laying flat and the other one was blowing across the track. I thought, `This could be big.'



Claiming the second spot for the 500 is former Cup and Daytona 500 Champion Jeff Gordon. Jeff Gordon, one of the last drivers to take to the track on the windy afternoon, came close to knocking Burton's Chevrolet off the top spot with a lap of 188.877 in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Satuday Coverage
Category: NHRA / Drag Racing | Posted February 12, 2006 by Brian Losness | Source: Mike Basso, Bobby Bennett

John “Freakin” Force Back to his old Tricks

Funny Car




When Gary Scelzi won the PowerAde Funny Car World Championship it put a giant boil on the behind of John Force and that boil festered all winter and he was able to get some relief from it earlier this year at the Las Vegas Testing when he kicked the hell out of everybody with a very strong 4.67. Came back at Phoenix and ran another 4.68. Now this weekend he was able to lance that boil when he ran the quickest lap ever by a funny car. 4.664. This got the old man fired up as he was again bouncing off the wall during his post race interview.




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NHRA at it Again Part 2
Category: NHRA / Drag Racing | Posted February 11, 2006 by Brian Losness

This time, in my opinion, the NHRA has gone too far. The Glendora Gang has decided, along with ESPN to keep the people from Armed Forces Television Networks (AFTN) from filming at Pomona. This footage, as I understand it, would be used only for AFTN purposes and sent to the troops overseas and on ships, bringing a small piece of home to those men and women who have sworn to uphold our freedoms. As a former service member who served overseas, having any piece of home was super. As a drag race fan having footage of races was almost as good as a three day pass or leave. (Almost)

Have these peopled no sense of loyalty towards the troops who protect our way of life? ESPN and NHRA love to say “we support the troops.” I guess my response would have to be….. BULLSHIT... . They are only worried about control of content and their bottom line profits.

What would it hurt to have AFTN film some of the racing action and sending it over to our troops? I would almost have to bet that the people making the decision to not giving them access, have never served in the military or have been deployed overseas to a combat zone. Had they served, I would like to believe the decisions would be different.

NHRA at it again
Category: NHRA / Drag Racing | Posted February 11, 2006 by Brian Losness

It seems that the Glendora Gang has decided to tinkle on the charcoal of one of its long time supporters, Oakley. The mega sunglass and apparel manufacturer, and retailer have been a long time funny car sponsor and are the sponsor of FC World Champion Gary Scelzi. Oakley has an agreement with the Glendora Gang to be the Official Lifestyle Company of the NHRA, plus the sole retailer of eye wear (sunglasses for those of you in Bakersfield) at the NHRA national events.

Now this year, legend, Don Prudhomme has signed Spy Sunglasses as a major associate sponsor. Spy is a major competitor of Oakley. Starting Friday in “the Snakes” souvenir boutique which is directly across from the Rolling O boutique, they are selling Spy sunglasses. This has put a large burr under Jim Janard‘s (founder and owner of Oakley) saddle.



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The Staff at Nitrophoto Motorsports Photography