Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/8KxTK1zv7Xo/
Saturday
With Saab in Bankruptcy, Here?s How Dealers are Handling Discounts and Warranties
“OVER $17,000 OFF!” a Boston-area dealer proclaims on its web site. ?UP TO $16,000 OFF REMAINING 2011 SAAB MODELS? a Michigan Saab dealer yells in a mass e-mail. Even for folks who watched the mega-discounts roll in during 2009, that’s a shocking number. Glassman Saab of Southfield, Michigan, is hardly unique: Many other remaining Saab [...]
Which driver could take over for Kurt Busch in the #22?
Did Kurt Busch jump or was he pushed? In the end, it doesn't really matter; Busch is out at Penske, and that suddenly gives NASCAR that rarest of gems: an open seat in a Chase-level organization. (Albeit one without a crew chief, of course.) The question now from Penske's perspective is, who's in line for the seat? It's not going to go away, of course; business connections between Penske and Pennzoil will keep the car on the track. But since we assume there won't be ghost-riding, let's consider some candidates:
David Ragan: The Thrilla from Unadilla is getting the most early buzz as a replacement driver. He had one victory earlier this year, and was a bad restart away from possibly winning the Daytona 500.
Brian Vickers: Out of a job thanks to Red Bull's departure from the sport, Vickers brings undeniable talent but also, as recent weeks demonstrated, a few personality issues of his own.
[Related: Kurt Busch's future looks bleak after being ousted by Penkse Racing]
David Reutimann: On the far edge of a NASCAR career, he may not be the best long-term fit for the team.
Sam Hornish Jr.: He and Penske have a history, but that could work to his disadvantage, as he didn't exactly tear up the Sprint Cup circuit while driving for Penske. Reportedly not in the running.
Elliott Sadler: A solid choice for a return to Cup given his success in the Nationwide series last year. He's a proven commodity and knows how to take care of a sponsor.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Coming off a Nationwide-championship season, Stenhouse faces sponsorship difficulties. He'd have to leave the Roush umbrella, but Penske lured Brad Keselowski out from Hendrick Motorsports a couple years back, so it could be done.
Justin Allgaier: Also still under contract, but also a former Penske employee, a victim of the Sprint/Verizon sponsorship brawl. Another potential young talent that could be groomed alongside Keselowski.
These are your most likely candidates. (Aside: How do you think Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin are feeling right now? Not that they could have anticipated this, but still ... wouldn't a Penske seat, all things being equal, seem a more likely Chase contender than a Michael Waltrip Racing one?)
Got any early favorites? Make your best guess below.
For more motorsports news, follow us on Twitter at @FTMNASCAR and @jaybusbee.
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Hudson Scores Chicagoland Win
Tyler Hudson made a rare 2011-12 GSRacing.net Truck Series appearance on Thursday night and wasted little time reminding the competitors of the series who he is. Hudson captured the victory in the Exlander Designs Solutions 150 at the Chicagoland Speedway, his first of the season in only his second start of the campaign. Hudson took the point for the final time with 15 laps to go in the 100 lap, 150 mile online race and never looked back en route to the triumph. Brad Wright returned to the series with a second place run as he held-off a hard charging Ray Alfalla for the spot. The podium run for the 2011 NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Champion was his first top five of the GSR season. Completing the top five were [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/hudson-scores-chicagoland-win/
Paddon switches to S2000 for 2012
Reigning Production Car World Rally Champion Hayden Paddon will switch to the Super 2000 WRC for next season. The New Zealander confirmed on Tuesday that he will drive a Skoda Fabia S2000 run by Spanish team ASM Motorsport
Hiroshi Fushida Beppe Gabbiani Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard
Friday
NASCAR Fantasy Racing Experts Picks: AAA Texas 500 at texas Motor Speedway
Expert
Website
Pick to Win
Finish
Experts Avg
Josh Lobdell
Carl Edwards
2
12.68
Jerry Lagger
One and Done Game Winner
Carl Edwards
2
13.38
Dennis Michelsen
RaceTalkRadio.com
Kevin Harvick
13
12.62
Steve Wronkowicz
On Pit Row
Carl Edwards
2
12.88
Eric McClung
KFFL
Matt Kenseth
4
13.85
Eric McGuire
free agent
Matt Kenseth
4
15.15
Dan Beaver
Fantasy Racing Games
Carl Edwards
2
13.18
Matt Mercer
On Pit Row
Carl Edwards
2
15.44
Adam Ansell
Roto Experts
no pick
Chris Leone
On Pit Row
Kevin Harvick
13
13.03
Bob Ellis
NASCAR Ranting and Raving
Carl Edwards
2
13.15
CharlieTurner
On Pit Row
Jimmie Johnson
14
14.18
Jordan McAbee
On Pit Row
Matt Kenseth
4
12.71
Jon Rodgers
Gillette Young Guns Challenge Winner
Carl [...]
Website
Pick to Win
Finish
Experts Avg
Josh Lobdell
Carl Edwards
2
12.68
Jerry Lagger
One and Done Game Winner
Carl Edwards
2
13.38
Dennis Michelsen
RaceTalkRadio.com
Kevin Harvick
13
12.62
Steve Wronkowicz
On Pit Row
Carl Edwards
2
12.88
Eric McClung
KFFL
Matt Kenseth
4
13.85
Eric McGuire
free agent
Matt Kenseth
4
15.15
Dan Beaver
Fantasy Racing Games
Carl Edwards
2
13.18
Matt Mercer
On Pit Row
Carl Edwards
2
15.44
Adam Ansell
Roto Experts
no pick
Chris Leone
On Pit Row
Kevin Harvick
13
13.03
Bob Ellis
NASCAR Ranting and Raving
Carl Edwards
2
13.15
CharlieTurner
On Pit Row
Jimmie Johnson
14
14.18
Jordan McAbee
On Pit Row
Matt Kenseth
4
12.71
Jon Rodgers
Gillette Young Guns Challenge Winner
Carl [...]
Power Rankings: The best drivers under 30
Sure, it's the offseason, but that doesn't mean we can't throw out a few Power Rankings now and then. Today, we focus on the young bucks, the drivers under the age of 30 who will be dominating the sport for the next 15 years or so. Most NASCAR drivers don't seem to hit their peak until their early 30s, so we've got plenty of time to watch these cats in action.
1. Kyle Busch (26): His constant struggles in the Chase notwithstanding, Busch is far and away the best driver in this crew, and one of the top handful now in NASCAR. Love him or hate him, he'll be around for a long, long time,
2. Brad Keselowski (27): Kes�probably would have struggled to make the top five on this list as recently as July. But his hot streak vaults him almost to the top, and he actually beat Busch in the 2011 season standings. Now, what does he do for an encore?
3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (23): The 2011 Nationwide Series champ is very, very close to the big time. Question is, where's he going to drive on the Sprint level?
4. AJ Allmendinger (30). He turned 30 last Friday, so we're bending the rules a bit to let him in, but what the heck. Dinger is this offseason's unquestionable hard-luck case, with rumors running rampant of him getting pushed out of his car by Kurt Busch and now�losing his primary sponsor in Best Buy. Shame, too, because his on-track career is definitely on the upswing.
[Related: Power rankings: AJ Allmendinger to drive No. 22 for Penske Racing]
5. Joey Logano (21): We're getting close to a make-or-break year for Logano. One more season outside the Chase competition and he may well become expendable for the Gibbs organization. Still, he's shown the ability to reel off strings of strong finishes, and perhaps a new crew chief will invigorate him.
6. Trevor Bayne (20): He's got himself a Daytona 500 win, and they can't take that away from him. Not even Tony Stewart has one of those. But now it's time to see if he's a legit Sprint Cup-level driver, or the world's luckiest right-place, right-timer.
7. Brian Vickers (28): His stock took a sharp hit in the wake of several on-track incidents later this year, but he's still talented enough to run with (and into) the leaders. Perhaps a year in Nationwide will settle him out; he ought to be challenging for the championship if he's there.
[Related: Happy Hour: When is it time to find a new favorite driver?]
8. David Ragan (26 on�Dec. 24): Another Sprint Cup-level driver who's way too young to write off completely. He too will benefit from some time at a lower level to let things shake out at the Sprint Cup level; his days at NASCAR's highest level probably aren't done.
9. Justin Allgaier (25): Still a bit of an X factor; it'll be interesting to see what he can do once he gets up to the Sprint level and gets some reliable equipment. Strong enough to run with the Sprint regulars in Nationwide, but can he do it in the show?
10. Austin Dillon (21): The trucks champion is already the heir apparent at Childress, and the big "3" on the side of his car is a target. So far, though, he's kept moving. He'll be one of the most fascinating on this list to watch over the next five years, for many reasons, and could well be at the top within a half-decade.
Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
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All right, your turn. Who's your pick for the best of the young guns?
Oscar Alfredo Gбlvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley Frank Gardner
Official: New Kia Ray is Korea's first production EV
Filed under: Wagon, Technology, Hatchback, Kia, Electric, South Korea
Kia has unveiled the automaker's very first production electric vehicle. The Kia Ray EV will offer buyers a range of around 86 miles depending on driving conditions and will include a fast-charge option that should top off the cells in around 25 minutes. Otherwise, expect the 16.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to take around six hours to charge on a 220-volt circuit. A 50 kW electric motor provides power to the front wheels, which is good enough to get the EV to 62 mph in 15.9 seconds. That may seems slow by most standards, but its worth noting that the internal combustion Ray with its 1.0-liter gas engine makes due with significantly less torque.
Kia says that Ray EV boasts 123 pound-feet of torque, which is 77 percent more than the 1.0-liter machine. The boxy EV also uses a new type of regenerative braking system in which the electric motor generates boost for the hydraulic brake assist - just like on an internal combustion vehicle. The automaker says that the result is a linear brake that still manages to recuperate energy that would otherwise be lost during deceleration. As wonky brake feel is one of our chief sticking points with all EVs, this comes as welcome news.
Kia will manufacture 2,500 Ray EVs for government agency use in Korea, so don't expect to be able to get your hands on one anytime soon. Click past the jump for the full press release.
Continue reading New Kia Ray is Korea's first production EV
New Kia Ray is Korea's first production EV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/new-kia-ray-is-koreas-first-production-ev/
ESPN2 to Air NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series Season Reviews
ESPNWith one of the most competitive NASCAR seasons in history now in the record books, ESPN2 will take a look back at the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series seasons in a pair of programs to air later this week. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, which ended with Tony Stewart winning his third...more»
Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears
Thursday
Saab Is Actually Dead This Time, To Be Sold Off in Pieces
Saab is actually, finally finished. The company filed for bankruptcy in Sweden today?and not the kind that American Airlines currently is using to reorganize and shed some debt. Essentially the Swedish equivalent of what we call Chapter 7 in the U.S., Saab’s filing� means that the company will be liquidated so that its creditors get [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/DVCe189zgGc/
Create-a-caption: ?That?s the guy I beat.? ?Hey, me too!?
Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, cuttin' up at the NASCAR banquet. What are these two fine gentlemen saying? You know, don't you? Have your say, friends.
After the jump, a Smoke fan is overcome with emotion.
Richard R:
Race Ticket - 100 bucks.
Old Spice outfit - 125 bucks
Beer - 200 bucks
Missing the end of the most exciting race season ever....Priceless!
Shawn S:
Don't drink the Old Spice!
Razz:
An exhausted Tony Stewart waits on mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from the Sprint Cup girls.
Wednesday
Kimi R�ikk�nen injured in a race. A snowmobile race.
Kimi R�ikk�nen is no longer an official member of NASCAR, but that doesn't mean we can't still have a little fun at his expense now and then.
The newly-minted Formula One star-to-be was in an accident in a snowmobile race in Austria, but apparently walked away with only a sore wrist. Lotus Renault, his F1 team, informed fans via Twitter that "he's absolutely fine." Good news: "We just spoke to Kimi. There's nothing to worry about, he only has a sore wrist. He might have it checked again on Monday, but that's all."
Well, that's a bit disappointing. Racing has a proud tradition of drivers injuring themselves doing insanely stupid off-track things (Jimmie Johnson surfing atop a golf cart, for one). Shame this one won't add much to that legend.
R�ikk�nen was the 2007 world champion but left the sport temporarily in 2009. He dabbled a bit in NASCAR but recently signed a two-year deal to drive for Lotus Renault.
Richard Petty Motorsports interested in hiring Kurt Busch
After his release from Penske Racing, it seemed that there would be a slim chance that Kurt Busch would be in a competitive ride in 2012.
Those chances may be a lot fatter than initially figured. Richard Petty Motorsports COO Robbie Loomis said Tuesday that the team is interested in the 2004 Sprint Cup champion.
"Best Buy has been a great partner for a long time, and AJ Allmendinger has done a fantastic job for us. He's coming off his best season yet, but I can tell you there is a lot of interest on our part in having Kurt Busch in the fold. It makes sense to have Kurt with our team, if we can make it work."
And he added this:
"I would mortgage my house to make Kurt a part of this team," said Loomis. "We value what he has done on the race track. He has won a [Sprint Cup] championship and worked for a first-class operation like Penske Racing. Guys like that don't come along every day."
According to the report from Sirius Speedway, Busch would be a candidate to replace AJ Allmendinger in the No. 43 Ford in an attempt to keep sponsor Best Buy with the team. Allmendinger was one of the better performers in the Cup Series over the final weeks of 2011. Since RPM was a two-car operation with Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose last year, they would have room to expand for Busch, but�? and stop me if you've heard this before ? sponsorship would have to be found.
Interest in Busch from RPM seems a little odd on the surface given the relationship between Busch and Jack Roush. Roush's team is the flagship Ford operation and provides chassis and Roush-Yates engines to RPM. Busch was fired from Roush in 2005 after a traffic stop outside Phoenix International Raceway. And when he was asked who he wanted to win the 2011 championship, Busch picked Tony Stewart�? a man who he's had on-track run-ins with before�? because of Roush, Carl Edwards' co-owner.
If Busch does join RPM, it would be yet another instance of how uber-talent can earn multiple chances. Yes, Busch has acknowledged his actions in the cockpit and how his attitude affected his professional relationships, but we haven't yet had a chance to see that Busch's actions match his words. Will it happen? His future employer will find out soon enough.
Happy Hour: Steve Addington, glutton for punishment
Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us with your best rant/ joke/one-liner at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com (note new address) or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.
Remember, even though the season's done, we're not. Usual nonsense here every day of the week. And hey, if you want to get a letter printed, NOW IS THE TIME. We'll need plenty o'material for this feature each week.
For now, we start by considering the sanity of one of the offseason's central figures ...
Does Steve Addington have a fetish for the undercarriage of multi-passenger conveyances? Why else would he sign on with a third straight driver that WILL throw his crew chief under the bus?
? JT
Ah, undercarriage fetishes. The reason why the internet was invented. Tip: do NOT do a search on the phrase "undercarriage fetishes." Some things you just can't unsee. Anyway, where were we? Oh, yeah, Addington. Yeah, you do have to wonder a bit about his sanity in dealing with the three most notorious hotheads in NASCAR today. Shoot, I'd put them in the top 10 all-time.
But look at it this way: Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart are also three of the most talented drivers in the sport. And if you happen to be the type of person who can let torrents of rage roll off you like rain off a roof, hey, you're going to be running up front all season long. It's a small price to pay for getting the top layer of your skin peeled off over the radio every Sunday.
Plus, have we established that Addington is not, in fact, deaf? Because if he were, that would explain an awful lot.
____________________
I'm a pretty hardcore Tony Stewart fan, and I'm absolutely ecstatic over his championship win (and particularly the fashion in which it was won), but a question troubles me after reading your last mailbag post. One reader thought it suspicious that the top 2 in points were so much faster than the rest of the field. I don't personally think that any funny business was going on (after all, the 48 crew wasn't involved) ... but say that there was. Tony wins the race, and wins the championship on a tiebreaker, then his car fails post-race inspections ? we just had a huge celebration, trophy presentation, the works, and now they take it all away? How would this be handled? Does any inspection occur before all the celebrating to make sure everything is legit? This would be my worst nightmare!
? Tom
Saint Clair Shores, Mich.
Congratulations to you, Tom, and to all the other Smoke fans out there who weathered a drought of six long years between championships. Now, to answer your question: NASCAR did inspections pre-race, bringing Stewart's and Carl Edwards' cars in for a thorough look-over several days before the race.
Now, if you want to get all JFK-conspiracy theory, you could say that Stewart and Edwards could have done work between that inspection and the race, or ? oh, here's an even better one! ? NASCAR let Stewart slide to give Rick Hendrick and Chevy another championship! You know, because they could predict that Stewart would be able to finish just one second ahead of Edwards! Alas, NASCAR does post-race inspections, as well, and Stewart passed.�
Anyway ... boy, we have a tendency to wander in the offseason ... don't sweat it, all's on the up-and-up. Or all's totally rigged. Whichever makes you feel better.
____________________
Jay, Jay, Jay, you still don't get it. You said, "Seriously, Obama could go door-to-door handing out candy- ...
Nope. Sorry. Not going to be taking any more Obama/booing emails. (And oh, I've got plenty.) We've ground that topic into a fine, chewy paste, and we won't be revisiting it again. (Though I have been invited to appear on a couple of conservative radio talk shows; that ought to be fun.) Moving onward ...
____________________
I do have ESPN with my cable package, but if you were ESPN would it not make sense to put the Chase races on ABC? I mean, they are putting movies on ABC Sunday afternoons. It seems the NASCAR race would generate much greater interest than these movies and I am not for sure about those movies' ratings, but they have to be much lower than they would be for NASCAR. At ESPN, is there a reason they give why they will not put the races on regular television?
? Jacob Stotz
Ida, Mich.
Another Michigan writer? We're stomping on the Upper Midwest like Ndamukong Suh! (Sorry, Detroit.) Anyway, here's the deal: ABC/ESPN has made the decision to consolidate the Chase races on the World Wide Leader, with the exception of the Saturday night race, as a way of consolidating the coverage. It does tick some people off, yes, and I agree that there's some kind of cachet that's lost by going to a cable network and not a "broadcast" one ... but we're still very much in a transitional period in sports broadcasting now. Ten years from now, you'll be able to watch Joey Logano and Trevor Bayne on any device imaginable, and the idea of "broadcast networks" will seem as quaint as music on little thin strips of plastic on spools. (And no, Junior Nation, I won't make the obvious next joke. You owe me.)
And those freakin' Sunday afternoon movies do a much better than you'd expect. You'd think pretty much anybody out there who wanted to see "The Mummy Returns" would have done it by now, but yep, it still runs every weekend. There are affiliates out there who won't run certain late-night talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel because two-decade-old M*A*S*H reruns get better ratings. America: when we find something we like, we don't ever let go of it!
____________________
It seems to me that after the Kurt Busch/Dr. Jerry Punch encounter at Homestead that NASCAR and team owners need to take some significant steps to curb the profanity problem. �The bleeps over the radios and in car cameras seemed to have reached record proportions. We try to teach our kids to deal with anger in constructive ways and then they see their heroes in NASCAR breaking all those standards of appropriate behavior. Kurt Busch has been a real poster child of the profanity problem both in and out of the car. I can't understand how Penske allows it and Shell does not take some action.
It is becoming evident that NASCAR is not going to address this problem. I would suggest that if you are offended like I have been that you write to advertisers directly and let them know that this has to be brought under control.
Sponsorship is so hard to come by these days. I guess that I don't understand how drivers and teams can allow anything to happen that could result in negative feedback to a sponsor.
? Richard Lewis
Richard wrote this letter before the $50,000 fine against Busch was announced, so that might soften his stance a little bit. Here's my thing: I don't have a problem with Busch cursing over the radio. Those are in-team communications we're hearing. But I can understand how certain sponsors might not be thrilled with the idea of their poster boy teaching everybody a few new words and phrases. (I'll never look at a monkey and a football the same way again.)
What concerns me much more are the "secret fines" NASCAR metes out for speech. Look at Denny Hamlin; the poor guy is just about neutered now on Twitter after getting fined for speaking out. If you want to attract people to this sport, you need edgy personalities. And edgy personalities sometimes go farther than you'd like. That's the very definition of "edgy." So, yes, we could have a nice, pleasant little array of sponsor-thanking drones, or we could have drivers who speak their minds and occasionally tick off someone in a position of power. I know which one I'd prefer, and I also know which one NASCAR would, too.
Time to wrap up with a little praise.
____________________
That was the worst article I have read lately. Next time take a little longer to write it.
? Gene
I used to get that exact message on pretty much every English paper I turned in from fourth grade right through college. Sad thing is, I have no idea which article he means, and it could really apply to pretty much anything I write.
And on that note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com, find us on Facebook right here, or hit us up on Twitter at @jaybusbee. Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Tested: Not the Fastest or Priciest, But Still the Most
Really, as a bull trotting into a Spanish fighting ring, the best you can hope for is to someday have a Lamborghini named in your honor. Because after the mules drag out your skewered carcass, your future is pretty much one of minute steaks and dog food. Keep Reading: 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 – Road [...]
Round Six to Berry
The iRacing.com Late Model Tour headed into Iowa Speedway for Round Six of the series and it was a familiar face to the iRacing service that ended-up on top of the standings at the end of seven days of sim racing. Josh Berry, a NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship driver took the overall win on Week Six against 721 others who saw a green flag at the Iowa short track. Berry earned his 208 point total with a win in Thursday’s 3362 Strength of Field (SoF) race. Berry led 29 of the 45 laps in the race and crossed the line ahead of Nick Johnston by three tenths of a second. Jason Fuchs was third, followed to the line by Brian Ewoldt and Rick Ricketts. Berry, Johnston and pole sitter [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/round-six-to-berry/
Tuesday
Penske promotes Todd Gordon to No. 22 crew chief
Penske Racing has promoted Todd Gordon to crew chief of its No. 22 Dodge.
Source: http://www.nascarracinglive.com/nascar/penske-promotes-todd-gordon-to-no-22-crew-chief.html
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo Tested: The Quick and the Soft
It has something to prove. At first blush, this new �Beetle?don?t call it the New Beetle?appears to be a GTI wearing a puffy jacket, packing as it does the same 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and six-speed dual-clutch automatic. And the racy wheels, rear spoiler, and brassy ?Turbo? badge push the image of a car eager [...]
Spindel Snatches Last Gasp Win
In a dramatic 71 laps around the virtual Zandvoort Grand Prix Circuit, Emil Spindel became only the second sim-racer to chalk up a victory in the 2011 iRacing.com Pro Series Road Racing, breaking Atze Kerkhof?s monopoly on wins.� Indeed, Spindel capitalized on a fuel calculation error by the championship leader to clinch his triumph on the final lap of the race. On the face of things, Round Six of the iRacing Pro Series looked set to be another chance for Kerkhof to extended his 100% winning-record in the Williams-Toyota FW31′s.� After all, Zandvoort is the Dutchman’s ‘home’ circuit and he grabbed the� pole-position with a time of 1:12.398.� What?s more, his clean break-away from the line and lead of two-seconds within a handful of laps, was certainly running to script.� [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/spindel-snatches-last-gasp-win/
Monday
Chevrolet: Malibu to Offer Turbocharged Four-Cylinder
During our brief drive in a mild-hybrid Malibu Eco prototype, Chevrolet told us that the car’s engine lineup would be comprised exclusively of four-cylinders, a move we considered questionable. Now, though, the company has confirmed that the car will get an optional turbocharged four-cylinder, which will take the V-6′s place in the lineup. Chevy isn’t [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/6RRzjPXLGPE/
Greg Biffle to Participate in 2012 Rose Parade
Greg Biffle - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty ImagesCONCORD, N.C. (Dec. 14, 2011) ? NASCAR driver Greg Biffle will help Natural Balance Pet Foods make a ?splash? in the upcoming 123rd Rose Parade on January 2nd, 2012. In 2010 the Natural Balance float rolled into the Guinness Book of World records as the world?s longest float...more»
Tony Stewart wins the NASCAR ?Newlywed? Game, of course
Champions Week has begun in Las Vegas, and for a few days your favorite NASCAR drivers plunge into a world where they're both the bringers and the butts of jokes ? you know, pretty much like every day around these parts.
The festivities kicked off with a version of "The Newlywed Game," hosted by none other than Bob Eubanks himself. Teammates (and occasional rivals) paired up to answer questions about the other, in often sick and twisted fashion. The teams were:
? Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman
? Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth
? Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson
? Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch
? Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch
? Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The Stewart-Haas boys won the day by correctly picking what the other would say about them (follow that?). A few of the key one-liners:
? Kenseth said Edwards' most annoying habit was being late. "You're also late crossing the finish line," Eubanks added. Twist that knife!
? Who would Stewart bump out of the way on the last lap to win a race? Stewart said Brian Vickers, while Newman said ... Ryan Newman. (Kenseth added that he wouldn't bump Vickers to win a race, because "he probably wouldn't be leading.")
? What driver would the other drivers not let their daughters date? Gordon answered Hamlin, Newman answered Stewart, Kenseth killed with "Danica."
? Gordon and Johnson shot back and forth at each other, with Johnson mocking Gordon's onetime "cheesy mustache" and Gordon reminding everyone that Johnson shaved his legs in high school for swim meets.
? For the record, Ryan Newman can fart the alphabet. Just thought you'd like to know that.
? Kyle said Hamlin's haircut was straight from "Dumb and Dumber," while Hamlin shot back that you could get a really good laugh by watching Kyle "attempt to play any other sport."
? Whose wife or girlfriend would win a wet t-shirt contest? While Keselowski tried to answer with grace, Hamlin said, "just pick one of my girlfriends." ("I don't know their names," Keselowski said. "I don't either!" Hamlin replied.) Earnhardt offered up a nice one: "Do ex-wives count?"
Oh yeah, we're rolling now. More out of Vegas as it hits, including the Thursday burnouts on the Strip.
Heikki Kovalainen Kevin Harvick Armour Vienna Sausage Kroger Chevrolet Clint Bowyer
Round Six to Berry
The iRacing.com Late Model Tour headed into Iowa Speedway for Round Six of the series and it was a familiar face to the iRacing service that ended-up on top of the standings at the end of seven days of sim racing. Josh Berry, a NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship driver took the overall win on Week Six against 721 others who saw a green flag at the Iowa short track. Berry earned his 208 point total with a win in Thursday’s 3362 Strength of Field (SoF) race. Berry led 29 of the 45 laps in the race and crossed the line ahead of Nick Johnston by three tenths of a second. Jason Fuchs was third, followed to the line by Brian Ewoldt and Rick Ricketts. Berry, Johnston and pole sitter [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/round-six-to-berry/
Sunday
Todd Gordon Picked to Lead No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Team
Penske RacingMOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 14, 2011) ? Penske Racing announced today that Todd Gordon is the new crew chief of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Cup Series. The internal move comes on the heels of a successful 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) campaign, during which Gordon led the No. 22 Discount...more»
Jimmie Johnson brings the truthiness to the Colbert Report
Jimmie Johnson ventured into the unfamiliar (for NASCAR) terrain of The Colbert Report on Monday night, and acquitted himself and his sport quite well. If you're not familiar with Colbert, it can be an acquired taste, but remember: this is a comedy show.
A few notes: check Johnson's reaction when Colbert asks if "there's any doping" in NASCAR; you can almost see the word "Mayfield" flash across his forehead. And Johnson gives us the not-for-the-queasy reason why some drivers pour water on themselves in Victory Lane. Plus, check the move Johnson puts on Colbert to get him loose in the final turn of the office-chair race. Good stuff.
Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson
Donate By Midnight Friday and This Handsome Item Could Be Yours?
Just a reminder: Give to Streetsblog and Streetfilms before midnight and you’ll enter to win a handsome, made-in-America Zero Tweed Bag from Rickshaw. Thanks for supporting us, and enjoy the weekend.
Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven
Report: Mercedes-Benz USA announces Cannon as new CEO
Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz USA has named marketing boss Steve Cannon as its new Chief Executive Officer effective January 1. Automotive News reports that Cannon, who has been with MB for 20 years, is only the second American to hold the post in the luxury brand's long history.Financial boss Herbert Werner had been serving as interim CEO after the departure of MB USA boss Ernst Lieb. Lieb left the company in disgrace after a scandal was uncovered involving improper use of company funds.
According to Automotive News, dealers appear happy with the choice of Cannon. Michael Cantanucci, who runs the Mercedes dealer board here in the States, called the move "a good decision," and added that dealers are "excited and we're pleased."
Cannon, who was a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger before signing on at Mercedes, points out that the company's dealer relations are at a 20-year high, and tells AN that his appointment shows "it wasn't necessary to take someone from the global organization or Stuttgart and parachute them in to run this show."
Mercedes-Benz USA announces Cannon as new CEO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/16/mercedes-benz-usa-announces-cannon-as-new-ceo/
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