|
|
Hammmerdown USA website - September 10, 2007
http://www.hammerdownusa.com
Positivity - By Bobby Gerould -
...Gold Cup TV Business: We had to show the end of the B-Main - or Last Chance Showdown
because it was too exciting to just hit the edit room floor. The feature will take up the
majority of the show. But Tim Kaeding's performance in the B-Main was the kind of stuff
that best captures the beauty of sprint car racing. The crowd was as hyped as anytime I've
ever seen it at any race track. Only Kings playoffs games and some concerts have provided
more of a rush of collective energy in my own personal experiences. It really reminded me
of a come from behind basketball game where the home team hits the game winner at the
buzzer. ...(I don't expect you to understand - but i am feeling the new Talib Kweli CD as
I write tonight.) ...From the TV standpoint - I was trying hard to pay more attention to
the monitors and less to what was happening on the track (which may not be on camera). I
left our guys in the truck hanging on the first night at Skagit as I called a great battle
that wasn't on the screen. ...I will admit to a feeling of gratitude to be blessed to
announce the Gold Cup on the Speed telecast. There was a time when TV gigs had dried up
when I wondered if I would ever get to be in that zone again. It's hard to explain but I
actually feel like I am doing what I was born to do when I lose myself in the excitement
of a great race. That feeling was flowing Saturday night. ...I disappointed myself by not
getting the Joey Saldana two-year contract information into the show - especially when I
had a golden opportunity to do so in the time between him getting out of the car, and him
being interviewed by Sean Buckley. I also screwed up a Danny Lasoski stat. I corrected it
but the flub is on tape. Nothing you can do about now. ...The Glamorous Life: It was cool
to have my wife Kim with me this weekend at Chico. We didn't have to get on a plane - so
that was great! It is about one hour and twenty five minutes from my doorstep to Silver
Dollar Speedway. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Chico which was fine. They had high-speed
internet for free, and a mini fridge in the room. Bathrooms were clean. ...I had chili
from the Chili Feed on Friday which was good. We hit KFC on the way to the track Saturday.
Yuck - but the Mountain Dew was cold and we were in a hurry. The TV catering was a mexican
fiesta of enchiladas, fajitas, and chips and dips. ...One of the highlights of my weekend
was getting a big hug from Jimmy Boyd. The first winner in World of Outlaws history and
former Gold Cup champion was there with his boy Jan. Kim told me Jimmy Sills was in the
house as well. Another memorable moment was seeing the golf cart wheelies post Chili Feed.
Andy Forsberg was wiping his memory of a tough night - which seemed like the perfect cure
for the "39th fast blues". There were California Highway Patrol officers
basically just observing the 500 or so revelers in one concentrated area on the
fairgrounds. As Jell-O shots were consumed by the masses things remained remarkably under
control while being completely out of control. You understand? No fighting. No drama
(other than some un-named boyfriend-girlfriend ish that I quickly mediated and mended).
Just lots of happy people when we left at about 2:22 am. ...I enjoyed the fellowship of
longtime friends Steve Turnross, and Greg Yannazzo after Thursday night's show. We watched
a DVD of Alissa Geving's first win at Petaluma Speedway. We also
spent time with Tim Kaeding and friends, and Jac and Patty Haudenschild. 'Haud'
was quick to praise Kyle Larson
for his driving ability. I saw TK non-wing on DVD in the Tom Rolfe #10
prepared by the McMillen's. His heat race win at Greenwood, NE. was entertaining. ...I
caught up with Mitch Sue Friday night. The "Doctor" is farming and editing web
logs at present. ...Thanks again to Walt and Gaye Carmichael for saving seats for me and
my crew. Larry Shelton sat with Kim and I on Friday while Mike Zieske watched the Thursday
show with me. My Dad sat with Kim on the final night while I was in the booth across the
way. ...Brooke Tatnell and I chatted about his first drives for DuWayne Starr. Tatnell
reminded me it was Calistoga where he first drove for the late car owner of the
beautifully simple gold-yellow and navy #18. ...Joey Saldana did a fantastic job this
weekend at the Gold Cup Race of Champions in Chico, CA. The Brownsburg, Indiana driver
used the top of the track Friday to win his preliminary race, and then he did whatever it
took to lead virtually wire-to-wire in the Saturday final. The final box-score will show
Saldana leading all 40 laps but Jon Allard did pass him and lead lap 21 - but officials
said the red flag came out before the #0, and #9 crossed the stripe to complete the lap.
Joey re-started in the lead and was never headed despite a late challenge from Jac
Haudenschild. ...Brad Sweet looked really sharp in the Gary Perkins #6P. The 21 year-old
who has been racing midgets for Keith Kunz proved he hasn't lost anything behind the wheel
of a winged sprint car. Sweet finished third on Saturday night. I'll stand by earlier
predictions of greatness for Sweet. He mashes enough to win and is smart enough to finesse
a car when need be. For the record - Rod Tiner was tuning on the #6P. You know you are
going to get a good chassis set-up when Rodney is spinning wrenches. ...Steve Kinser's TV
jinx continued on Saturday night when he lost a motor in the #11. His car would not
re-fire following the lap 21 red flag period. He was running in third spot at the time.
I've seen guys have bad luck before but I really can't recall seeing anything like the
rash of mechanical failures endured by Steve this year. ...Danny Lasoski came through the
B-Main to finish eleventh in the feature - maintaining his streak of top 15 Gold Cup
A-Main finishes. He now has eleven straight years in the top 15. ...Bud Kaeding was in the
pits watching the action. Bud said he was leasing one of his engines to Matt Mitchell and
he didn't want to hurt the piece because that would screw up his deal with Mitchell.
...Robert Ballou added excitement to the Gold Cup with his hard driving style. Ballou was
in one of two Mike Stallings cars. ...Sam Hafertepe Jr. made the Gold Cup A-Main in his
first try. ...Tim Kaeding is good for sprint car racing. We need Tim full-time on the
World of Outlaws tour. His run in the Last Chance Showdown Saturday night was incredible.
We've seen it so many times with Tim now that we can testify to his rare ability to carry
a car. Stop and think about how many times - not just in sprint car racing - but in any
form of motorsports you have seen someone with the skill, determination, and ability to
will a car to a transfer spot or win. I see it maybe a couple times per year. The point is
- it is rare. Off the top of my head - I saw it with Donny Schatz early this season at
Charlotte. A couple years ago - Schatz at Calistoga did it. Kinser with a bent chassis at
the Gold Cup comes to mind. Tony Stewart in a midget at Calistoga. Brent Kaeding - years
ago on a rough track at the Mini Gold Cup in Chico. Dave Blaney at the Kings Royal at
Eldora. ...Greg DeCaires' #24c earned the “Best Looking Car” Award. ...Some
quick Chico tidbits from the Thursday night portion of the Gold Cup Race of Champions. (I
won't be updating further until after the Saturday night final.) ...Jon Allard was
impressive in his dominating win on a low groove, one lane racetrack. It was Allard's 31st
career win at Silver Dollar Speedway. ...Sammy Swindell was equally as impressive in the
Fauver #64. Sammy was aggressive on the bottom and he muscled his way to a runner-up
finish in his first action since April at Eldora (I believe). According to our spies,
Swindell hot-lapped on Wednesday night during the 360 Civil War race. ...I had my first chance to see Kyle Larson in a 410 sprint car live. I'll stick with my prediction that the kid is a
hero / star very soon. At age 15 - he rolls the corners at Chico better than 75% of the
guys out there. His car was too tight in his heat race from where I was sitting yet he
transferred to the preliminary feature with no problem. ...I also thought
Mason Moore did an excellent job. Moore is another kid that has recently graduated from
the outlaw kart ranks straight to sprint cars. Moore is 16 years old but he never looked
out of control all night. ...Jason Sides had quick-time at 11.774. He attacked the track
and was rewarded for doing so. Sides night got jumbled in the feature when he, Danny
Lasoski, and Chad Kemenah all tangled in turn four. The trio was running solidly in the
top ten at the time of the deal. Sides finished 18th while Lasoski was 16th and Kemenah
was 23rd at the checkered flag. (More)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
