Newsmaker of the Week

Newsmaker of the Week // Erick Rudolph

There was a time when Erick Rudolph could be a hard guy to interview. But not any longer. This talented wheelman was in charge of Saturday night’s Gamblers Classic inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, a high profile race that’s hard to win. He was eager to talk about the winning car Mark Lafler built for him, about his dirt track …

Read More »

Newsmaker of the Week // Jeff Gordon

Since he burst upon the racing scene as a pre-teenager, Jeff Gordon has excelled.  And when his career began at NASCAR’s upper echelon, Gordon became an instant star.  Wins and championships seemed to come easily to a driver who outran those previously up front often.  Along the way, Jeff Gordon changed racing. Parents at quarter midget tracks nationwide imagined their …

Read More »

Newsmaker of the Week // Rico Abreu

The chant was said to have been the most raucous in the twenty-nine year history of the Tulsa, Oklahoma’s the Chili Bowl.  And the chorus in unison heralded the efforts of one man.  “Rico!, Rico!, Rico!”  That man was Rico Abreu, who is among the most popular drivers in the country right now after winning Saturday’s Chili Bowl.  Abreu is …

Read More »

Newsmaker of the Week // Aaron Reutzel

A southwestern ASCS 360 Sprint Car driver, a proverbial  big fish in a little pond, rocketed to the top of the collective national Sprint Car awareness by winning the climactic 410 Sprint Car race of Winter Heat in Copopah, Ariz.  Saturday.  The big guns were all there – Steve Kinser, Christopher Bell, Danny Lasoski, Dale Blaney. But in the end,  Aaron …

Read More »

Newsmaker of the Week // Andy Jankowiak

Andy Jankowiak fought the ‘Battle Of Trenton’ in the mid-December Indoor TQ Midget main event and did so with a perfectly driven race. This was a textbook job. Sure Jankowiak went into this battle with an advantage by starting on the pole position. But he had to survive eighteen double file restarts, lapped traffic and some of the hardest chargers in …

Read More »

Newsmaker of the Week // Dan Harpell

Dan Harpell has been involved in short track auto racing for all of his adult life.  He worked for the DIRT organization in its formative years, has had a hand in the administration of Five Mile Point (NY)  Speedway for decades and most recently took over and rechristened Yates County (NY) Speedway.  He knows behind-the-scenes racing operations, is acknowledged as a …

Read More »

Newsmaker of the Week // Eric Mauriello

With a high powered field of field of Series and track champions invading Wall Stadium for its annual Turkey Derby last weekend, all eyes were focused on the Tour Type Modified 150-lap main event.  One by one. challengers for the checkered flag came and went, stymied by wrecks, mechanical problems or badly planned race strategy.  Second year Modified driver Eric …

Read More »

Newsmakers of the Week // Bill & Kim Shea

Bill and Kim Shea of Oneida, N.Y, were wholly unknown to the world of auto racing – until last week.  That’s when the couple announced tthey had purchased Utica Rome Speedway from previous owner Gene Cole.  The sale ended almost constant speculation over the last several years about who was going to buy a place rich in history and held …

Read More »

Newsmaker of the Week // Rick Laubach

 Wild Card Weekend at the always tough Bridgeport (NJ) Speedway had a $4,000 prize on the line Friday for a 358 Modified win and $5,000 on the nose for a Saturday Big Block Modified score.  With quality-laden fields on hand both nights. the prospect of of a two-race sweep was hard to even contemplate.  But that’s exactly what happened.  Rick Laubach, …

Read More »

Newsmaker of the Week // Howard Commander

 So much of the news concerning speedways this season  has been disconcerting.  Some tracks have closed abruptly.  Others have been offered up at sheriff’s sale. Still others are coming off seasons that had reduced schedules.  ‘Special shows only’ is a commonly forecast future business model.  That’s why when someone steps up to the starting line and buys a track, it’s …

Read More »