That was a strange finish today, gremlins popped up for everyone. We're gonna need a "W" Spydie to make up for today, this put a big dent in the 8.7 average.
Everybody gets a Mulligan. One need look no further than next week to see how one race can turn around the fortunes of any driver. Things could have turned out much worse. Even with a part failure, Gordon finds himself only 120 points out of the championship lead. He finished 39th today. Thirty-nineth!! Any other week, and he doesn't recover. In an odd turn of events, Gordon gained 2 points positions in the final laps (due to those Gremlins) - while sitting in the garage! Before half the field started running out of fuel, Gordon sat 8th in the championship race. After the checkered flag, Gordon sits in 6th. Amazing. If you see the need for a 'W' soon, not a problem. Setting aside the dice roll which is Talladega for a moment, we have Martinsville not to far down the road. How many Grandfather Clocks does Jeff own?? He can always use another. - Spydertrader
Police officer shot during robbery attempt at track Sporting News NASCAR News Wire October 2, 2006 12:36 AM EDT (04:36 GMT) KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- An off-duty police officer, in full uniform on a private security detail at Kansas Speedway, was shot and critically wounded about 9 p.m. ET on Sunday while intervening in a robbery attempt at the racetrack. The officer, described as a 25-year veteran detective of the force by a spokesperson for the Kansas City, Kan., police department, was transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital. Her name was not released, pending notification of family. Her condition was described as life-threatening, with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers chased two suspects from the scene and apprehended them near the speedway. At 11:30 p.m. police were still investigating the incident, trying to determine the nature of the robbery attempt and the events that precipitated the shooting.
K.C. officer's condition upgraded to fair By Greg Engle, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service October 2, 2006 04:28 PM EDT (20:28 GMT) Doctors upgraded the condition of a Kansas City police officer to fair condition Monday after someone shot her several times Sunday as she tried to break up a robbery at Kansas Speedway. Paramedics airlifted the 25-year veteran officer to a hospital, where she was in critical condition Sunday night with what police officials described as "life-threatening" wounds. Police said that a few hours after the race had ended three people tried to stage a robbery at a small secure building where vendors take the day's receipts. The building, known as the "bank", is located near the main grandstands. The robbery occurred about 8 p.m. CT as speedway workers were preparing to close the facility. Witnesses reported hearing up to seven gunshots. One man said he heard the whole thing over the police radio. "I heard this lady screaming. We heard that she was shot several times," Dennis Lyons told the local FOX affiliate. Police chased and arrested two of the robbery suspects. According to witnesses, there were three people involved, but police haven't yet apprehended a third suspect.
Speed Channel plans to broadcast Qualifying for The UAW-Ford 500 Nextel Cup Series Race from Talladega Superspeedway - on Saturday at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Time. This weekend's racing schedule: Formula One Grand Prix of Japan - Speed Channel Sunday 1:30 AM Eastern Time Nextel Cup UAW-Ford 500 - NBC Sunday 1:30 PM Eastern Time Busch Series Off Week Craftsman Truck Series John Deere 250 - Speed Saturday 2:30 PM Eastern Time IRL Season Completed - Sam Hornish Jr. Champion "No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you... he *rubbed* you. And rubbin', son, is racin'. " - Spydertrader
Suspects charged in speedway shooting The Associated Press October 4, 2006 02:51 PM EDT (18:51 GMT) KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Two men accused of trying to rob the Kansas Speedway amid a hail of bullets were charged Tuesday with trying to kill an off-duty Kansas City, Kan., police detective and rob her. Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman charged Frederick Douglas and Nolden Garner with attempted capital murder in the attack Sunday on Detective Susan Brown. Brown, a 25-year veteran, was working security at the track for a NASCAR race. Authorities said in court documents that the two men fired several shots at Brown, even after she had fallen to the ground, and took her handgun. Gorman also charged the men with aggravated battery because a track employee suffered minor wounds from either being shot or being hit with bullet fragments. Douglas and Garner, both with long criminal histories, also were charged with aggravated robbery for taking Brown's gun, aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated robbery. In addition, Garner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Wimmer out, Bodine in No. 4 Chevy at 'Dega Get ready for the wreck-fest. A Bodine plans to make the field at Talladega! - Spydertrader
Formula One News Davidson shines at wet Suzuka 06 October 2006 Anthony Davidson made the best of wet conditions at Suzuka on Friday morning to set the fastest first practice time for Honda in 1m 45.349s, as only 10 other runners ventured out. Neel Jani got closest to the Englishman in his Toro Rosso, impressing with 1m 46.138s, while Sebastian Vettel was his usual speedy self with 1m 46.585s to take third for BMW Sauber. Michael Ammermuller likewise did well on his first visit to Suzuka to claim fourth place for Red Bull in 1m 47.162s, and then came a cluster comprising Red Bullâs Scott Speed (1m 47.814s), Spyker MF1âs Christijan Albers (1m 47.838s), Super Aguriâs Franck Montagny (1m 47.918s), Williamsâ Alexander Wurz (1m 47.919s) and Super Aguriâs Takuma Sato (1m 48.042s). Montagny was actually fastest for a while for local heroes Super Aguri, before dumping his SA06 in the gravel at Degner, while Wurzâs best lap was spoiled when he got the chicane wrong having set green times in the first two sectors. These were the only incidents of the session. Adrian Sutil was 10th for Spyker MF1 in 1m 48.610s, and Sakon Yamamoto was 11th for Super Aguri in 1m 50.479s. All the others did only installation laps apart from the Ferraris, which stayed in their garage all morning.
More Formula One News Ferrari, as expected, annexed the front row of the grid at Suzuka for Sundayâs Japanese Grand Prix, with Felipe Massa just edging out Michael Schumacher to take the second pole position of his career, with 1m 29.599s to the Germanâs 1m 29.711s. The American, Scott Speed, rolls off the grid in 19th position. <img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1224837>