Kurt Busch the road to NASCAR reinstatement

By Shane Beck

Salt Lake City, UT - Suspended driver Kurt Busch has formally accepted NASCAR's terms to be ​eligible for reinstatement, a spokesman said Monday.

Busch signed an agreement late last week that laid out the guidelines he must follow in order for NASCAR to consider lifting his indefinite suspension, NASCAR vice president of integrated marketing communications David Higdon said in a statement to the press.

Busch lost two appeals to NASCAR to be reinstated and has missed two races so far for Stewart-Haas Racing.

"We understand Kurt Busch has begun the process for reinstatement as a NASCAR member," SHR executive vice president Joe Custer said. "NASCAR has laid out its expectations for Kurt, and while there is no timetable to meet those expectations, Kurt's willingness to embrace the conditions set forth by NASCAR is a positive step that we support."

Busch also is waiting on results of a Dover police investigation into the alleged incident. That information was turned over to the Delaware Attorney General's office before Christmas. Regan Smith has driven the No. 41 car for Stewart-Haas Racing in Busch's absence and will again be behind the wheel Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

I've thought this over for a while and know that Kurt Busch has a history of having a temper. His former girl friend, Patricia Driscoll, has been labeled as assassin! The both don't seem right and one could say that Kurt Busch should be more scared for his security then she should. This being said I don't believe NASCAR had any choice but to suspend Kurt Busch from NASCAR. There is too much at stake for NASCAR, with the domestic violence in the NFL lately, the last thing NASCAR needs it to jump into that pool with the NFL.

Will we ever see Kurt Busch race again? I personally don't feel we will, unless a police investigation clears him of any wrong doing. There are to many good drivers wanting so few seats in race cars. NASCAR doesn't need Kurt Busch, he needs NASCAR.

I personally wish Kurt Busch the best, I hope he is cleared of any wrong doing and can find his way back into a race car. Kurt is a driver who earned his ride on his own merit, no name helping him get there, no money, just pure driving ability.

Sweet 16 for John Force

By Shane Beck 

Salt Lake City, UT - John Force didn't need a paddle to spank the field at the Las Vegas Strip - just a fast race car. Chasing his 16th championship, Force knew it was possible to clinch the title in Las Vegas. His team knew it as well, especially crew chief Jimmy Prock who served up what the doctor ordered. 

Earlier this season things were just not right at John Force Racing, driver Robert Height was struggling to make it in the Countdown to the Championship and John Force felt a change was in store. He decided to move his tuner Mike Neff to Robert Heights team and Jimmy Prock to his team. Robert Height was able to squeak into the Countdown to the Championship and Force continued running well.

John Force received news midway through the season that long time sponsors Ford and Castrol would be leaving at the end of the 2014 season. Castrol has been with John Force since the beginning and Ford has also been with John Force for a very long time. Frustrated, wondering where he would find support in the future, his wife Lori told him that that one thing is certain, winning takes care of everything! This is when John realized she was absolutely right, he focused 100% of himself to winning his 16th Championship. 

With John Force at 64 years of age, one might wonder how long he can continue racing? Not only racing but how long can he continue to win? John Force claims he will continue as long as the good lord will allow but knows that the future of John Force Racing are his girls. 

John Force is living the dream, however he has had to work extremely hard for what he has built over the years. I would say he is a master at marketing, knowing how to not only get a sponsor to support him but defiantly knows how to keep a sponsor happy. He knows the power of the media, he understands who helps him and does everything in his power to give back to his sponsors and his fans. 

John Force will defend his championship in 2014, he will attempt to break "Sweet 16" and fight for his 17th Championship. 

Contact Shane Beck at mshanebeck@gmail.com and follow on Twitter @racingfanradio

NRA Title Sponsor for NASCAR Race at Texas

The National Rifle Association is taking its relationship with racing to a new level as the title sponsor of a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. What better place then Texas? The deal with Texas Motor Speedway comes at a time when the NRA is involved in a renewed debate on gun violence in the wake of the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

"It's not about politics. It's about sports marketing," TMS president Eddie Gossage said Monday after the announcement of the one-year agreement with the NRA that includes a renewal option.

It is about politics and it happens to be in sports marketing now with NASCAR. Who's kidding who? NASCAR is where those who want to promote a produce, political view or even push re-election for the president of the United States of America. 

The April 13 race at Texas, the first scheduled night race in the Cup Series this season, will be known as the NRA 500.

NASCAR said in a statement Monday that "race entitlement partnerships" are agreements directly between the track and the sponsor though NASCAR reserves the right to approve or disapprove those sponsorships.

The sponsorship does seem like a natural. It's been a tradition at TMS that the winner of the Cup race gets to fire a six-shooter in victory lane. And the winner of the pole gets a rifle as a prize. 

Those who support the constitution along with the NRA will embrace the sponsorship and those who oppose it will likely picket, rant and rave! 

 New Chevrolet Camero for 2013

NASCAR Brings A Different Look In 2013

More than two years on the drawing board and countless hours in the wind tunnel came to fruition Monday when NASCAR approved a next-generation Sprint Cup car for 2013.  It's going to be a very busy off season for Ford, Dodge, Chevy and Toyota manufacturing to build its own doors, fenders, hoods and other detailed parts of their new designed race cars.  This is great for the fans, to be able to identify their favorite race car with their favorite manufacture.  A headache for NASCAR to assure no manufacture gets a huge aerodynamic advantage over there other?  Perhaps!  But I say it's worth it!

You would have to go back to the 80's as far a so much stuff being made by manufactures.  NASCAR has wanted parody and have pushed the teams in a direction of the Iroc Series, where every car is almost identical.  The bad part is no one could identify what car was a Ford vs a Chevy.  Oh I guess you could look on the nose and read the logo Chevy, Ford, Toyota or Dodge.  The cars are sleek looking, this should excite NASCAR fans for 2013.  I applaud NASCAR for realizing the direction they were going wasn't the direction their fans wanted to see their sport go.  

Ford Focus Midget Accident at RMR Sends Driver to Hospital

July 21, 2012
West Valley City, UT - One of the biggest nights on the Rocky Mountain Raceway oval track, the NAPA 125 featuring the Spears Southwest Tour.  It was a overcast night at about 87 degrees, the crowd estimated at 3,700 fans.  Approximately 7:40 pm the Ford Focus Midgets began their main event of the evening.  Early in the race there were some bumping and banging happening between veteran driver Jeff Kelly and Guy Sainsbury.  Coming out of turn two and headed down the backstretch the two touched and Guy Sainsbury hit hard into the wall.  The director of Oval racing operations called for a red flag stop.  The RMR rescue vehicles were there within seconds to attend to Guy Sainsbury.  Immediately you could tell something was defiantly wrong with Guy.  The attention he was getting from the safety team and the pace of which they were moving was a definite indicator of trouble.

Guy was transported to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, UT.  Guy suffered a head injury and was medicated to put him into a medically induced comma.  Reports from his son Braxton Sainsbury as of July 26th is that he is alert, they've taken off his neck brace and has been transferred out of ICU to the 11th floor. 

It is certain that Guy still has a long recovery ahead of him but is doing much better.  The family thanks all those who have sent prayers and support.  Also want to thank the quick and professionalism of the Rocky Mountain Safety crew.