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Glen Ferguson came out of the gates flying in 2009 with divisional and national event victories as he secured his spot in the Tournament of Champions rather early in the year. Ferguson’s tournament-clinching victory came in the second national event of the year in Rockingham, N.C. with a win over Doug Ramsey at the IHRA Spring Nationals.

With a ticket to the tournament already in hand Ferguson was on cruise control the remainder of the season, picking up a few more divisional wins here and there. He came close to picking up a second tournament qualifier in the Patriots divisional points race, but was edged out of the top three by Keith Mayers. Ferguson finished in fourth. Ferguson will now look to add to his four world championships when the Tournament of Champions gets underway at the Rockingham Nitro Jam in April of 2010.

NAME: Glen Ferguson Jr.

DOB: March 31, 1970

HOMETOWN: Greensboro, NC

CLASS: Hot Rod, Super Rod, Quick Rod

DIVISION: Patriots, Raiders

CAREER: Three-time Hot Rod World Champion (1994, 2000, 2008), 2000 Super Rod World Champion

2009: Won 2009 Spring Nationals in HR; Finished 4th in Patriots Division in HR; Finished 14th in Raiders Division in Super Rod

To find out MORE about Glen Ferguson Jr., please read the FULL article from IHRA at:
http://www.ihra.com/article/5361.html

Felipe Massa was back behind the wheel of the Ferrari F60 on Sunday, his first outing in the team’s 2009 machine since his life-threatening crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix meeting back in July. Massa wowed the crowds at Spain’s Valencia circuit, where Ferrari were celebrating the end of their motorsport season with the annual Ferrari World Finals.

It may not have been his first time back in an F1 car - he tested an older machine at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track last month - but it was a very special day for the Brazilian, back in front of his beloved fans less than four months after his skull was fractured by a loose spring from a rival car.

“I am very happy to be here, that I can work with the team,” said Massa. “It’s true that I’ve been with them in Sao Paulo and in Abu Dhabi, but driving is really extraordinary! Today I also want to thank all the fans, who were really close to me over the last months. The messages I received were wonderful.”

Massa drove around 20 laps, first with his test driver team mates Marc Gene, Giancarlo Fisichella and Luca Badoer and later on, after a couple of pit stops, alone - an experience he described as almost as good as a race win.

The Memphis Nationals Race at Memphis Motorsports Park on November 7th, 2009 is now available for veiwing on Racin Boys TV.

Click on this link to view the Memphis Race. We look forward to working with Racin Boys TV in broadcasting all the USST National Races in 2010.

In truck camera shots will be part of the package they will offer and more information on this will be available soon. If you have any questions in regards to our Racin Boys TV broadcast plans for 2010 please do no hesitate to call me. Stay tuned to www.usstracing.com for more exciting announcements during the off season as we diligently prepare for the 2010 USST National Series Season.

I think the thing I like best about traveling for races and other sporting events is what happens before and after the race. The travel, meeting people - other fans - and getting out to see local sights and sample local restaurants.

This time around we headed out to Fort Worth’s infamous Stockyards. We had dinner @ Billy Bob’s (awesome steaks!!!) and stuck around to hear Country singer Travis Tritt (yes, he’s still singing and touring! lol). It really was a blast. I have to say that the people in the Dallas/Ft Worth area are just great. Real friendly - we had an awesome time.

The track was great - it always is. The NASCAR propaganda and other things… well, you know how I feel about that. However, it was a great time and this time around I went with friends instead of family and that added a whole new tilt to the event. Not that my family isn’t awesome, but it was nice to go with friends from work and really just do whatever - not on some planned schedule like usually happens with spouses and kids along for the ride. I was designated driver so it was also fun to see my friends get drunk and stupid after the race. Now THAT’S entertainment!

Will be posting photos on CarRacing.com later today so be sure to check it out. Didn’t get too much because of the cloudy/overcast day and the day-into-night race schedule that NASCAR sure seems to love, but the pics I got were pretty awesome.

So we’re getting ready to head out tomorrow morning - Texas Motor Speedway for our last NASCAR race of the year, well MY last NASCAR race possibly ever. The rest of the family already has plans on going to Daytona which I said I’d never miss, but after the 2009 racing season I’m not so sure. I may give Daytona one last look, but if things don’t change in this series EARLY on in the 2010 season I think I won’t be the only one planning my exit.

The drivers seem to be just as frustrated with the current series plan as the fans do - well, except for Jimmie Johnson who never seems to truly have a bad day, a bad race or any problems. A friend of mine has this theory about Johnson that if ever had to face adversity such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had to this season, or seen his winning streak dwindle as Kyle Busch has this season - or even had to face the challenges of starting up a new team and getting the negative press that Tony Stewart has this year - that he would crack under the pressure. When you think about it - what adversity has California-boy Johnson ever had to face? He never seems to have bad equipment, he’s only had a few “bad races” which really when compared to the crap his teammates have faced - including Jeff Gordon - weren’t really all that bad… how WOULD he cope?

Anyway - enough Jimmie bashing, my problems with NASCAR don’t really have anything to do with him. I miss the old NASCAR - that feeling of “anything can happen @ a race”. Now it feels a lot like the old World Wrestling Federation when you knew that the appearance of Hulk Hogan in the ring either meant a slam-dunk WIN or some major drama to be stirred up for a bigger match in the coming weeks. It feels SCRIPTED, PLANNED, PRE-DESTINED or however you want to categorize it. It just doesn’t feel like the sport I used to know, enjoy and get excited to see.

OK - so I’ll go to Daytona. I’m going to enjoy Texas this weekend because that track is always a blast - the PEOPLE there really just know how to watch a race. So no matter who wins or how frustrated I am with NASCAR I’m going to have a good time and bring some pics back for the CarRacing.com galleries. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Wow - it seems lately like everyone is jumping ship. Is it due to the economic downturn - or something else?

From the Formula One website:

Toyota will be absent from the grid next season after the team’s parent company announced its withdrawal from Formula One racing on Wednesday. The team had been competing since 2002.

“Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces it plans to withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship at the end of the 2009 season,” said a statement released by the Japanese car manufacturer.

“TMC, which had viewed its participation in F1 as contributing to the prosperity of automotive culture, remained dedicated to competing at the pinnacle of motor sports, even in the face of the abrupt economic changes that started last year.

“However, when considering TMC’s motor-sports activities next year and beyond from a comprehensive midterm viewpoint reflecting the current severe economic realities, TMC decided to withdraw from F1.”

Read more…

The fans are making their voices heard. NASCAR is listening. And experts in the field of social media now rank NASCAR No. 1. When NASCAR formed a Fan Council for fan input and advice on important topics related to the sport, the last thing anyone expected was an award – let alone two awards. But in recent weeks, this unique “advisory board” of the sport’s most avid fans has earned national acclaim by winning the Forrester Groundswell Award in the Business-to-Consumer Listening category and the Vision Critical 2009 Panel of the Year Award.

“The outside attention is flattering, but we’re most happy about the inflow of smart and passionate input from a group of our most dedicated fans,” said Brian France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR. “NASCAR fans are known to be vocal about the sport they love. They want to be heard, and we want to hear them. The NASCAR Fan Council is turning out to be an extremely valuable platform that enables NASCAR to consider fan feedback in key decisions about the direction of the sport.”

NASCAR introduced the NASCAR Fan Council in 2008 to gain a better understanding of its fan base. In 2009, regular consultations with the council, an online community of 12,000 avid NASCAR fans, resulted in two important changes to the sport:

Double File Restarts, Shootout Style: When fan sentiment ran high for a new restart format – in which the leaders line up side-by-side following cautions to restart the race – NASCAR picked up the comments, validated and initiated a new double-file restart rule, to overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Earlier and consistent TV start times: When fans voiced their opinions about event start times, NASCAR listened and quantified sentiment, resulting in earlier and more uniform start times for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 2010.
Read more…

Talladega Superspeedway announced a list of HALLOW-DEGA℠ fan activities set for the AMP Energy 500 weekend, Oct. 30 – Nov.1.

“Our plans are coming together for the World’s Largest Halloween Party,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “Best of all, there will be something for everyone. We have activities for the kids and parents too.”

Activities for Saturday, Oct. 31 include:
·The SPEED Scream Contest on the SPEED stage
·The Sprint Costume Contest in the Sprint display
·A haunted maze located in the display area
·A fortune teller that will peer into the future
·A wax hands interactive display
·A Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest in the display area
·Halloween characters roaming throughout the display area
·A hall of mirrors and much more

More activities will be announced soon. To keep up-to-date on all the latest HALLOW-DEGA activities, fans should visit the new and improved www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.

In 2009, Talladega Superspeedway proudly celebrates forty years of the most competitive racing in NASCAR. While the track has seen changes made to the cars that circle its high-banks, the surface that they race on and the grandstands that thousands of fans fill twice a year, one constant remains; Talladega Superspeedway is authentic NASCAR racing at its finest.

Race fans should make plans now to experience the AMP Energy 500 weekend, Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. This weekend features the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and Race Number Seven in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the AMP Energy 500. For information on attending HALLOW-DEGA℠, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT, Monday- Friday.

Changes are coming to World Rally Championship racing in 2010… new schedule was just posted on WRC.com last week and rules changes/safety changes will be added in the coming weeks. This PR regarding the new “electronic yellow flag system” was posted this week….

A new electronic version of the yellow flag traditionally waved to warn drivers of hazards ahead will be introduced on World Rally Championship events from 2010.

The new system, developed by Italian automotive company Magneti Marelli, can receive and display information about hazards on the rally stage far more quickly than is possible using the existing method of personnel by the road side waving flags.

The Magneti Marelli Yellow Flag device is mounted inside a car’s cockpit and enables rally organisers to communicate directly with driver and co-driver via a flashing yellow light to warn them of a hazard ahead. The device also sounds a loud alarm to capture the crew’s attention.

By pressing a confirmation button, the co-driver informs the organisers that the danger signal has been received, after which the flashing and the loud noise stop.

The device is also equipped with a wireless connection to a GPS antenna fitted on the car, which transmit the car’s position and allows for further interaction between the crew and the race organisers.

Magneti Marelli boasts a rich tradition in motorsport and has been the Official Automotive Telemetry Sponsor of the World Rally Championship since 2008.

Roberto Dalla, Managing Director of Magneti Marelli Motorsport, said: “The WRC is the ideal scenario in which to improve our products and a market where to present innovative technological solutions. As of today, thanks to the WRC Electronic Yellow Flag System, it also represents a chance to do something extremely useful for the pilots and the fans who watch this exciting sport.

“In 2009 Magneti Marelli feels even more a part of this world and with the awareness that there is still plenty that can be done to improve both fun and safety,” he added.

Find out more about the new warning system from Magneti Marelli in our EXCLUSIVE ‘Electronic yellow flag’ video in the WRC TV section.

Since the 21st Century began, NASCAR’s Sprint Cup teams have been faced with not only overcoming the traditional mechanical challenges presented by Martinsville Speedway, but also trying to figure a way to defeat Hendrick Motorsports at the circuit’s shortest track.

Ever since Jeff Gordon won his first race at the tough paper clip-shaped track in September 1996, Hendrick Motorsports has gained strength at the speedway, similar to that exhibited by Petty Enterprises in the 1960s and ’70s. By the time the 1990s ended, Gordon had three victories at the track. It was 2003, however, when the Hendrick Motorsports domination began.

Gordon swept the track’s two races in 2003. Then, teammate Johnson collected his first Martinsville win in October 2004. However, there was no jubilation as Johnson and the rest of the motorsports community learned after the checkered flag that a Hendrick Motorsports’ team plane had crashed on a foggy Virginia mountain that morning en route to the race. Among the losses were Rick Hendrick’s son, his brother, two nieces and the organization’s engine department head Randy Dorton. Tony Stewart’s helicopter pilot also was on the ill-fated plane. From that day forward, Denny Hamlin is the only driver to have won at Martinsville since that day who doesn’t have a connection to the plane crash.

Gordon swept the 2005 races, while Stewart and Johnson split the 2006 events. Johnson then won three straight before Hamlin broke his string of victories in March 2008. Johnson returned to the victory podium in October 2008 and has been there ever since.

With Johnson winning this year’s spring race at Martinsville, he now has claimed five of the track’s last six Sprint Cup events. His 41st career Sprint Cup victory in March provided Hendrick Motorsports with its 10th win in the last 13 Martinsville races. Overall, Hendrick has collected 18 Martinsville victories, just one shy of tying Richard Petty as the winningest car owner in the track’s history.