Backstretch Burners with Tony Solorzano

Dan Wheldon RIP 1978-2011

2011-10-16T15:27:00.000-07:00

Today was supposed to be a celebration for the end of the IndyCar Season in Las Vegas today. With Danica's final race before her move to NASCAR, Will Power and Dario Franchitti battling for the Championship, and Dan Wheldon attempting to win a $5 million payday for him and an IndyCar fan if he could win from the back of the field.

But that all changed 13 laps in when a major crash involving 15 cars stopped the race, but it got worse as Wheldon was severely hurt in the crash that launched his car into the catch fence. He was airlifted to UNLV's University Medical Center, who has one of the best trauma centers in the West, but despite all the efforts of the doctors there, Dan did not survive his injuries.

Randy Bernard, the head of the IndyCar Series, had to announce both Dan's passing and the cancellation of the race, then announced a five-lap tribute by the remaining drivers in his memory. The racetrack piped a version of Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes as the 19 remaining cars took to the track for the tribute. One of the most heart-wrenching images was of Franchitti, who ended up winning the championship after Power's car was caught up in the crash, crying uncontrollably in the cockpit of his Target Chip Ganassi Racing vehicle, as he prepared for the tribute laps.

I've covered racing for a decade, going back to my time doing the weekly races at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, races at the Auto Club Speedway and as far as Phoenix and Sonoma. I had to report on the death of driver John Baker in 2002 at Irwindale, when he died during a then-NASCAR Featrherlite Southwest series race. It was one of the hardest things to do when someone dies, the sadness and memory of the incident never leaves you, no matter how many years pass.

My colleagues who were there when Paul Dana died still recall every detail. My late mentor, Mike Hollander, to the day he died, could remember every detail he saw when Dale Earhardt died at Daytona 10 years ago. It haunts you.

I am posting the following press conference from April at the Long Beach Grand Prix when Dan and Bryan Herta, the owner of Bryan Herta Racing, announced that Dan, who wasn't participating in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, would be driving with the famous Agajanian paint scheme on his car at Indy, which he would win just a month later.

Rest in Peace, My friend, Pit lane is open, bring it in...

BROCK SAMSON SPEAKS!!

2011-04-18T00:20:00.000-07:00

So Today was the big Day, as the Long Beach Grand Prix finally got off. We'll get to that later, but first, earlier in the day, one of the best actors out there on TV joined the media to talk a little about his work.

Patrick Warburton is currently starring as Jeff Bingham on the CBS hit show, "Rules of Engagement," and is the voice of two classic cartoon Characters, Joe Swanson on "Family Guy" and Brock Samson on the Adult Swim hot show, "The Venture Brothers." He is probably best known for his portrayal of David Puddy on "Seinfeld" and the starring role in the short-lived cult classic show, "The Tick."

You will excuse a couple of extraneous sounds, my blackberry went off twice while I was filming it. Enjoy

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach: Race Day 1

2011-04-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Good morning from the Dan Gurney Media Center at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. We've got an exciting day of racing ahead of us, as always, you can follow along here as well as catch the stories over at the Mid-Valley Sports Website. on Today's menu is qualifying for both the IZOD IndyCar and Firestone Indy Lights series, while the American Le Mans and the Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race will highlight the races today.

We'll be back in a bit with a report from a press conference featuring Bryan Herta, who is announcing a new sponsorship for his race tema with 2005 Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon.

Stay Tuned!!

RACE REPORT: American Super Bike Race 1 From Fontana

2010-03-27T15:23:00.001-07:00

Josh Zemke(Left), Larry Pegram and Aaron Yates meet the media after

Saturday's AMA American Superbike race at Auto Club Speedway in

Fontana. Pegram held off Zemke for the win with Yates close behind in

third. Photo by Tony Solorzano/Mid-Valley News

So we've gotten through the first race of the day, which just finished a few minutes ago, and Larry Pegram, riding his Foremost Insurance/Pegream Racing Ducati, came from behind to overtake Jake "Earthquake" Zemke to win the 21-lap American Superbike feature race at Auto Club Speedway.

Pegram started on the front row alongside Tommy Hayden, John Hopkins and pole sitter Aaron Yates. However, Pegram started to make his moves midway through the race, moving from third up to first with about five laps to go, passing both Yates and Zemke on an outside pass.

After the race, all three came into the media center to talk about the weather conditions that forced the delay in the day's schedule and how the series has included the riders in the decision-making process with regards to the race delays. Larry Pegram made an interesting observation during his portion of the press conference, in mentioning a recent article that highlighted the Yoshimura racing team and the specialized staff the team employs, but still wondered how his, in essence, one-man operation still manages to beat them every race.

Spring Rituals and Super Bikes W/ UPDATES

2010-03-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

A member of Martin Cardenas' crew prepares his bike for the first of two Daytona Sportbike races at Auto Club Speedway. Photo Tony Solorzano/Mid-Valley News

Aaahhh, March. The start of the inexorable slide towards Summer. The month when the dreaded Daylight Savings time rears its ugly head, and for 64 schools across the country(and their fans), the annual onset of March Madness. But it also means something to me as well, it's the annual arrival of not only the Swallows down to the San Juan Capristrano Mission but also the arrival of the AMA Super Bike series out at Auto Club Speedway.

I've been going every year since the first time it arrived in town about five or six years ago. Every March or April it's been an awesome display of power on two wheels. Now I know there are readers out there who are saying, "rice rockets? Really, Tony?" but you know what? Motor sports isn't limited to four-wheels, not that I'm not excited about the fast-approaching Long Beach Grand Prix.

However, as is my now annual trek out to the Speedway, I'm all set to watch three divisions of bikes take the 21-turn, 2.38 mile circuit that's built into the infield of the two-mile oval. Already today, the series' tire provider, Dunlop, introduced a new racing compound that gear heads will appreciate. The video is below.

Dunlop Introduces the new Sportmax GP-A racing tire

UPDATE 1: Well, it's just after 1 pm and we're under Red Flag conditions out on the track. The winds are blowing like mad right now and the series is naturally concerned about the safety of the riders. We're supposed to get started at 1:30 with the American Superbikes, however, there is a wind advisory for the area until at least 5 pm.

UPDATE 2: It's just after 1:45 and we're getting word that there will be a Superbike practice starting at 2:30. They're going to evaluate the track conditions and see fi they can get the races in.

POST-MORDEM: Danica Patrick's NASCAR Experiment, Part 1

2010-03-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

Well, it's March which means two things: First, Daylight savings is about to rear its' ugly head for the next few months, which always pisses me off. Second, college basketball is about to go nuclear with March Madness as a new national champion is crowned for both the men and women. But is also means that the IRL season is ready to kick off down in Sao Paolo. Of course, this year's edition of American Open Wheel racing will feature two big names who have, according to a few "purists," gone over, "to the dark side," AKA driven in NASCAR.

Before I get further into that, let me address this seemingly constant sniping between fans of stock car and open wheel racing. If you;re a fan of racing in general, you've heard the insults thrown back and forth on both sides: "high-falutin', wine-and-cheese eatin' snobs trying to be Formula 1," "Left-turn only, in-bred, mullet-wearing rednecks," etc. etc. What both sides are missing is that racing is racing, whether it's a dirt-gouging sprint car going around the quarter-mile at Eldora, a turbo-charged Dallara chassis going around the second turn at Indianapolis or a Chevy body with a restrictor plate taking the high banks of Talledega or Daytona. there are a number of tracks where both series run together, like Texas and Indy and Sonoma, bu you don't see people not come out to those tracks because the other series is in town, they come out because they love racing.

Anyway getting back to the topic at hand, This year's edition of the IRL will feature the title defense of Dario Franchitti, one of the recent IRL drivers who jumped over to NASCAR but ended up on the outside looking in, not because of his racing acumen, but because of sponsor problems, namely the lack thereof. Of course, along with Dario comes his better half, Kentucky basketball's #1 Fan, his wife, actress Ashley Judd. And of course, there's Ashley's "favorite" driver, Danica.

Ah yes, Danica, AKA Mrs. 105-pounds of mouth, AKA Mrs. "Stupid Idiot," AKA Milka Duno's Number 1 fan (Did you REALLY Think I wouldn't mention Milka-licious at some point in this story?) So she's run three Nationwide Series races and all three times, she either finished close to the back, or crashed out. Now, normally, you know I love any opportunity to take down "Mrs. Mouth" a couple of pegs, but wait for it, in this case, I think people are getting way too freaked out over her less than stellar showing.

First of all, it's ONLY been three races, Three, Daytona, Fontana and Vegas. If you know anything about NASCAR, you know that the first three races of the year are as diverse as can be, not just because of the tracks, but because of the set-ups for the cars. Everyone knows Daytona's restrictor plate racing is unique to the series. Please, no rebuttals about Talladega at this time, allow me to make my point. Daytona is the "Crew Chief" race, because they have most of the work to do to get the car ready for the high-banking and drafting opportunities that open up because of the plate. Fontana, on the other hand, is the first opportunity for the DRIVERS to test out their abilities, as the two-mile oval at the Auto Club Speedway and the lack of a restrictor plate now gives the drivers the chance to use their skills to achieve a win, which we saw with the current 900-pound gorilla of the series, current champion Jimmie Johnson in his win. As for Vegas, it's the speed track, where fuel mileage and strategy play a factor on the mile-and-a-half. Plus, it's Vegas, need I say more?

So what does this have to do with Mrs. Hospenthal? Simple, there is only one sure way for her to get better in stock car racing: seat time. Rob D'Amico, co-host of the Fox Sports Radio show "Race Day on Fox," has been saying the same thing since February, The way she learns how to handle a stock car is with seat time. Now, if the people at JR Motorsports had more time with her, they would have gotten her a part-time ride in the K&N Filter Series, either running in the East or West Series. It would give her the seat time she needs, and we've already seen drivers from this series make the move up to the big show, i.e., David Gilliland and Joey Logano.

There are a number of races that the series run on tracks that would open up depending on Danica's obligations in the IRL. Maybe she takes on the race in Iowa that pits the drivers in both series together in one race. Maybe she can hop over to Sonoma during the NASCAR weekend and run in the West Series' support race on that Saturday. I doubt that she would be free for the Fourth of July race at Irwindale, but still, that would pack the stands.

Of course, right now, Danica's prepping for the season opener in Sao Paolo next Sunday, which means that if you're a DirecTV subscriber, you won't get to see any races until they cut a deal with Versus, which isn't very likely. But anyway, When June rolls around, Danica is back in the seat of her Nationwide series ride, gaining that precious seat time she needs. So until the season is finished and she's done her 12 races, then I'll make a pronouncement on her ability to transition from open wheel to stock cars. But for now, I'll take a wait and see attitude on her season.

UPDATE: As if it wasn't enough that Danica had trouble in her first three Nationwide series races, but now, guess who's gonna be at EVERY SINGLE RACE this season? That's Right!!

My favorite IRL driver, Milka Duno, FINALLY got a full-time ride with Dale Coyne Racing, which means no more occasional races for Milka-Licious, every race, every opportunity to do the same thing Danica needs in NASCAR, Seat Time. But how long before the Mouth loses her cool? My over/under is four races before she blows up, assuming she's not busy texting in the middle of her ride...

Has F1 spent itself into oblivion?

2009-05-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'm hearing a lot of things from across the pond about the Formula 1 series, and the sounds coming from the world's Top motor sports series is not good. Like every sport, F1 is facing trouble from the global economic meltdown that's been affecting more countries than the H1N1 flu virus. But this season, which was supposed to be one of the most exciting ones in the tours recent history, has, according to one report, "a farce."

So far this season, the Brawn GP team, which was formed out of the ashes of the Honda team that disbanded after the 2008 season, has become a virtual juggernaut, winning four of the five races held so far, the only race not won by the Brawn team was Sebastian Vittel's win at the rain-plagued Chinese Grand Prix. But aside from the seemingly improbable domination by the Brawn team, other incidents have plagued the series.

At the opening race in Australia, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton, one of the few drivers I follow in the F1, was penalized for lying about an order from his bosses to allow driver Jarno Trulli to pass him while the safety car was out and take third. Then the Brawn teams' diffuser was challenged by the other teams as being an unfair advantage. (See this story from the BBC for more background on the appeal and the controversy over the diffuser.)

But the biggest problem facing the Series right now are the rules that were announced on St. Patrick's Day regarding budgets for race teams that are expected to be implemented in 2010. The rules, which the website pitpass.com covers here, essentially makes the series a two-tier, have or have-not racing series, where the teams can either spend, spend, spend to their hearts content, or if they opt to the 30 million dollar budget cap, getting certain technical allowances with the cars.

Suffice it to say, the teams have gone ballistic. Already, the Ferrari team has announced that unless the budget cap is either eliminated or redone to a more manageable number, They're pulling out of Formula 1. Now think about this. Ferrari, which has been the longest running race constructor in the series, is willing to walk away because they think the budget caps are unfair. Plus they know that their fans will not stick around if they're gone.

But they're not alone in this threat. The Renault team, a long time manufacturer in the series, is also re-considering participating in the 2010 season as well. The teams are not the only ones upset over the rule changes for the coming season. Driver Kimmi Raikonnen, who won the series championship in 2007, says he's not happy with the changes proposed and might go elsewhere if they get implemented. This could be a potentially fatal move for the Series. However, one of the teams that would normally have an opinion, or at least make their opinion known, so far have kept notoriously silent over this, that's McLaren.

The last time the series was threatened, according to an editorial by pitpass.com's Editor Chris Balfe, Formula one pulled out all the stops to make Ferrari's threats go away. This time, however, Balfe puts the blame right on th shoulders of FIA president Max Mosley. Personally speaking, I think he's right.

R.I.P., Dom Deluise

2009-05-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

(Author's Note: I'm cross-blogging this on both the regular page and here, because of his place in Motor Sports Entertainment history, he gets a mention here...)

Boy these last two weeks have been really bad in terms of me losing people I look up to. First, as I chronicled on my racing blog, my dear friend and NASCAR Media colleague, David Poole died suddenly of a heart attack after finishing his daily NASCAR show on Sirius XM Radio.

Then yesterday, while I was out in Manhattan Beach, celebrating Cinco de Mayo with my buddies from KLAC AM 570, I got a text message from my brother that Dom Deluise, the irrepressible comic actor who was one of the funniest actors I ever had the privilege to meet, had died in his sleep the previous evening in a Santa Monica hospital. Yes, that's right I met him. I won't get into the details, but it happened back when I was volunteering at what is now known as the Northern Trust Open, the PGA's annual stop in Los Angeles, at the Riviera Country Club. He was as funny in person as he was on TV and in the movies. I got to tell him that I thought he was the funniest person I had ever seen, thanks to Captain Chaos. I wish I had a camera that day to take a picture with him.

He was in some of my most favorite movies, most importantly, "Cannonball Run," the seminal favorite all-star racing movie out there. Less serious, and deadly, than the David Carradine movie "Cannonball," the first Cannonball Run movie was not only my first exposure to humor like that, but it also would turn out to be the movie my late mentor, Mike Hollander, had a small cameo in, as a photographer at the finish line.

I will always remember him every Halloween for as long as I live, for I will, from this year on, will don the now famous cape and cowl of his "alter ego" int he film, "Captain Chaos."

Farewell, Dom. I was honored to meet you and I know that Dean and Sammy were there waiting for you to arrive.

SPEED Presents the Difference between Open-Wheel and NASCAR fans

2009-05-04T23:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it's the Month of May once more, and as I have stated in previous years, I love this month of the year. It's not just because of the NHL and NBA Playoffs and the first two jewels of horse racing's Triple Crown, which after this past Saturday's Kentucky Derby, madkes me wish I had a $2 Superfecta for that race. I mean come on, $557,000 would be a welcome addition to ANYONE, right? What really excites me is that this is month has some of the greatest racing of the entire year.

Already, I've had a chance to watch some great racing in the now-concluded A1 Grand Prix series, which had to truncate the season due to the ongoing H1N1 flu epidemic in Mexico, but the race at England's Brand's Hatch circuit, which allowed Ireland to claim the series title. Also the day the Derby went off, I was standing outside Anaheim Stadium to witness the return of the D1 Grand Prix Drifting series, as it made its return to the U.S. with a great day of drifting that also coincided with the resumption of the "Gumball Rally" cross-country race, which was the subject of a 70's movie and was inspired by the infamous "Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash," which was the inspiration for the "Cannonball Run" movies starring Burt Reynolds, and my late mentor, Mike Hollander, in a small cameo role.

As I said, the end of the month is when the racing hits overload, with what I call, "The Greatest Day in Motorsports," The Sunday before Memorial Day, when the Formula 1, Indy Racing League and NASCAR All run on the same day. For me it starts early in the morning with the Monaco Grand Prix, then after an early breakfast, the Indy 500 rolls out, complete with Jim Nabors ("Surprise, surprise, surprise, Sarge") singing "Back Home Again In Indiana." Granted it's no, "My Old Kentucky Home," but I'm getting ahead of myself.

So tonight, thanks again to my Google Reader application, I found this from my buddy Iannucci over at the My Name is IRL blog. The people over at SPEED have a great way of pointing out the obvious when it comes to the difference between fans of Open-wheeled racing, Like Formula 1 and the IRL and NASCAR fans. It's another great take-off of the great Mac/P.C. commercials that feature Dustin Long and John Hodgman as the Mac and PC, respectively.

What it reminds me of is something that Larry the Cable Guy said when he was Grand Marshal at what was then the Dodge/Sav-Mart 350, now the Toyota/Sav-Mart 350. If I can find the video from that press conference, I'll share it but he pointed out the difference between FOrmula 1 Drivers and NASCAR Drivers with a very hilarious Ward Burton imitation.

Meanwhile, in that same blog I found a quote from Frankie Muniz, about his continued desire to race in Open-wheeled competition, with an eye to eventually reach the IRL. I'm glad to see he hasn't given up on his racing dream. I know he's got the skills to compete as long as he can find a team that will not only provide him with teh equipment and experience he needs behind the wall, but also has enough faith to give him the opportunity to succeed.

R.I.P. David Poole, NASCAR Media Veteran

2009-04-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

DAVID POOLE: 1959-2009

A Gastonia, N.C., native, David Poole became the Charlotte Observer’s

NASCAR writer in 1997. He became a familiar figure at tracks across

the country and built a national following through ThatsRacin.com and a daily program he hosted on Sirius NASCAR Radio. The National

Motorsports Press Association four times recognized Poole as its writer of the year. (Photo Credit: Charlotte Observer)

I was heading back home after my brother dropped off his car at the mechanic's to fix a persistent link in his BMW, when I heard Fox Sports Radio's Chris Meyers, who anchors the FOX Sports pre-race show for their NASCAR Package that my friend and colleague, David Poole, died after the conclusion of his daily radio show, "The Morning Drive," on Sirius XM Satellite Radio on Monday. He was only 50 years old and is survived by his wife and three children and one grandchild.

Already, the word is spreading like wildfire across the blogosphere, as my friends at the Daly Planet have posted a blog for its' readers to comment on his passing today. His death has made the front pages of NASCAR Scene magazine, as well as SPEED TV, where he was a frequent guest on their various NASCAR Shows. The writers at the new website That's Racin' have also paid tribute to him today with this piece on what everyone else is saying about what a man David was.

Even Sports Illustrated ran the AP story about it, no doubt written by our mutual friend and another writer I consider a mentor, Mike Harris, the outstanding Motorsports Writer for the AP who is retiring later this year. David's friend and sometimes traveling companion, Monte Dutton, provided a special rememberance of David for his hometown paper, and previous employer, the Gaston Gazette.

Most recently, David did a major mitzvah in helping raise money for the "Pennies for Wessa" foundation. The foundation helps in assisting the family of Wessa Miller, a young disabled girl who, in 1998, gave a penny to the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. before he drove in the Daytona 500, which became his most legendary win at the venerable track. He wrote a story for the Observer last year, revisiting the little girl who helped give Big E his only Daytona 500 win, and chronicled the struggles her family was dealing with due to Wessa's continuing battle with spina bifida. Eleven years ago, Earnhardt Sr. presented the family with a new van to help transporting Wessa to her doctor's visits in Lexington, 175 miles from her hometown of Phyllis, Kentucky.

Charlotte Observer writer David Poole talks during a news conference

in March at Bristol Motor Speedway where he helped create awaremess

for Pennies for Wessa as Wessa Miller and her father, Booker, look on.

Wessa gave Dale Earnhardt a penny before the 1998 Daytona 500,

Earnhardt's one and only win in the Great American Race.

(Photo Credit: NASCAR Public Relations)

At this year's spring stop in Bristol, Tennessee, The Millers were once again in the spotlight as the NASCAR Foundation, Motor Racing Outreach, the motorsports ministry, and a number of teams all helped out the family through a large auction and donations to the Pennies for Wessa foundation.

That was the kind of man David was. When I went through my problems with my heart in 2007, I heard from him. When I saw him after my first hospitalization, he got on me to keep losing the weight I had gained from the heart trouble. Every time he saw me, he always told me to keep up with my health. He never gave up on anyone, and he always would be encouraging towards my continued development as a motor sports writer.

I will miss that hearty laugh and his no-nonesense approach to motor sports. He was a character and he will be missed. I know that he's sitting in a perfect press box with my mentors Mike Hollander and Shav Glick, watching a race at the perfect oval in heaven.

So long, Pal. I know we'll work together again some day.

UPDATE: I found this today on YouTube, it was created by the Performance Radio Network, one of the radio networks that covers the NASCAR series. A number of NASCAR Media members made recollections of David, especially those that saw him this past weekend in Talladega.

In Defense of Milka Duno or Why Ashley Judd and Danica Patrick need to shut the Hell up

2009-04-26T22:53:00.000-07:00

As usual, it was a full day of racing for me today, with Formula 1 in Bahrain and the Sprint Cup in Talladega, I watched the Indy Racing League's first oval race of the season, the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300, at Kansas Speedway, and with it the season debut of my favorite Open-wheel driver, the lovely and talented Milka Duno.

Of course, to hear the talking heads and the tweeter-holics in the blogosphere, you would think it was Mr. Magoo driving a Maxwell instead of a sophisticated Dallara chassis with a Honda engine.

Milka Duno sits on the pod of her SAMAAX Racing CITGO race car before her 2007 Indy Racing League debut at Kansas Speedway.

(Photo Credit: St. Petersburg Times)

For the last couple years, I've heard the same things over and over whenever Milka is mentioned, "Human Chicane," "slow and dangerous," and "she has no business out there." Most of these comments, though, are out of the mouth of Ashley Judd, AKA Mrs. Dario Franchitti, from back in 2007, although bloggerheads like Kurt Van Der Dussen of the Bloomington, IN, Herald Times are proud to be one of the torch carriers when it comes to the Anti-Milka Militia.

Look, I'm going to put this as easy as possible, since most of the Anti-Milka Militia are probably also tea-baggers as well (I mean the morons who Faux News whipped into an anti-Obama frenzy on Tax Day, not the Other kind). Most drivers start when they're young as 9 or 10. Even the Driving Gidget started off young in the karting ranks before coming up to becoming Mrs. 100 lbs. of Trouble.

Milka, on the other hand, didn't get her start until she was 24, about a decade or so ago. So while the majority of her racing peers were getting their time in the seat, Milka was working on her Master's degrees in Naval Architecture, Maritime Business and Marine Biology. She also has a Master's in Organizational Development, so that's a hell of an accomplishment for ANYONE, let alone a woman like Milka, good looks and brains are always a rare combination. Hell, Personally, I'd kill to get my Master's in anything, or even just finish my Bachelor's in History. But that's a long story for another time.

I would, of course, like to state in the interest of full disclosure, that I know Milka personally. I met her in 2003, when she was participating in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, which is a tradition at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Over the next few years, we crossed paths as she drove in the Rolex Grand-Am Series, and eventually made it to the IRL. I've always found her not only engaging and a great subject to interview, but she knows her racing. She's competed with the best of the best at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and reached the podium as part of the second place team in the 2007 race. I personally love interviewing her when I get the chance and she likes seeing another "amigo" as part of the media horde.

Milka gets a hug from her crew chief before the start of the

2007 Indy 500. (Photo credit: Matt Detrich, Indianapolis Star)

In the last two runnings of the Indy 500, Milka ran respectively, although she finshed only 65 laps in her 2007 debut, she was the only one amongst herself, Sarah and Mini-D to finish that race, even though all three of them were involved in accidents, but Milka was the only one to get back out onto the track. This season, she'll run in all the oval races except for the short tracks at Milwaukee, Iowa and Richmond, which frankly is pretty smart. Short track ovals are not her best facet of her racing acumen. However, I want to see her at Long Beach. She knows the circuit, she can do really good there.

Bottom line, Milka has the ability and the experience to do good in the IRL. I have to really question the real reason behind the vitriol and anger towards her. Would these same people be as angry towards Sarah Fisher if it was her in this position, which she has before? Didn't we hear this exact same argument about the driving Gidget when she started? Of course we did, so why does this bug me so much? Is it because unlike Sarah and Angry-ca, Milka isn't "like everyone else?" Is it because she wasn't born in the US, because she's from Venezuela, which means she gets painted with the same brush as Hugo Chavez?

I think it is a combination of jealousy, at least as far as Ashley is concerned, ignorance, with regard to Van Duh Dussen, and maybe a little bit of good ol' fashioned American Bigotry, for the rest of the AMM out there. So get over her, already. She's going to keep racing, and she'll get better the more laps she has. In fact, I've got a bet to put out there, assuming both Ashley and Duh-nica have the "stones" to put up or shut up.

Right now there's a bet going on between Tony Kanaan and Ashley's man, that if Tony wins a race before Dario, he takes a hair clipper to Dario's locks, while Tony has to grow out his hair until at least after Indy, since Dario won at Long Beach earlier this month. So along those lines, I propose the following. If Milka finishes ahead of Dario, Ashley gets the "G.I. Jane." The same goes for Danica if she finishes ahead of her. Why not make this something worthy, like the hair gets donated to "Locks of Love" so that they can be made into wigs for little kids going through cancer treatment.

Any takers?

Milka at Indy before the 2007 race. (Photo credit: Hardmob Forum)

Formula Drift: Round 1 - Winner's Post-race Interviews

2009-04-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

Okay here are the videos of the top three finishers in the Formula Drift series opener in Long Beach.

First up, third place finisher and current reigning Formula Drift series Champ Tanner Foust.

Next up is Runner up Sam Hubinette, the two time Formula Drift Champion.

Finally is Round one winner Ryan Tuerck, who is starting his first season in the series.

As a bonus, here's a small video of Tuerck celebrating his victory with a member of his crew.

Formula Drift Recap: ROUND 1, STREETS OF LONG BEACH

2009-04-14T03:08:00.000-07:00

PHOTOS BY: Tony Solorzano, Solo Sports Communications.

So Saturday, I headed to Long Beach for the traditional start to the Drifting season as the Formula Drift series opened their sixth season with what is now the traditional opening round at the Long Beach Grand Prix circuit. This year, the opening round saw 47 drivers come out Friday to compete for the 32 slots that compromised the new "bracket" format for the series.

Round of 32: Friday’s qualifying for the opening round of the 2009 Formula Drift season set up the top 32 bracket for Saturday Morning’s action. In what can only be described as a morning of upsets, reigning Red Bull Drifting World Champion Rhys Millen was knocked out of contention in the first round by his own driver, Stephan Verdier, who moved on in a shocking upset. This was the first time Millen had been bested by a member of his racing team, in last November’s inaugural Red Bull World Championship, Millen overcame a spirited challenge by his former driver Daijiro Yoshihara, who moved on this year to the Falken Tire Team.

Aside from Verider’s upset, a number of so-called “young guns” made their presence known as they advanced to the Sweet 16. Tony Brakohiapa, Ryan Tuerck, Japanese Drift veteran Yasu Kondo, former DI series veteran Katsuhiro Ueo and Jeff Jones were amongst the names that advanced to the round of 16 alongside the veterans of the series, two-time champions Samuel Hubinette and Tanner Foust, Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Irish Drifting champion Darren McNamara.

VIDEO COURTESY KNBC LA

Round of 16: In the Sweet 16, Verdier again knocked off another veteran, this time top qualifier Chris Forsberg, needing two succeeding runs after keeping pace with Forsberg’s NOS Energy Drink Nissan 350Z Roadster. Veteran Robbie Nishida easily took care of Quoc Ly after Ly’s Drift Speed Nissan S14 coupe lost part of his front bumper. Both Gittin and Hubinette advanced to the next round, setting another showdown between the long-time rival drivers. Gitten advanced over Kondo when Kondo’s engine blew on the start of their second run. Hubinette needed a second series against Justin Pawlak to advance, earning his 31^st career win in the round of 16 .

Brakohiapa advanced over McNamara while Tuerck, in a major upset, advanced past Conrad Grunewald in a tight contest that needed to go to a third series of runs to decide the winner. Foust and Taka Aono rounded out the final eight, Foust knocking off Ueo and Taka taking down the rookie driver Jones.

Sam Hubinette waves to the Crowd during the Round of 16. Photo by Tony Solorzano

Round of 8: In the Quarterfinals, Verdier’s Cinderella run finally ended at the hands of Robbie Nishida, who advanced to the final four to meet Hubinette. Hubinette’s match-up with Gittin proved to be as exciting as expected from the two American muscle car pilots. Hubinette advanced after a "One More Time" run settled the tie after the first series. Hubinette would face off against Nishida in the final four for a shot at the Championship finals.

On the other side of the bracket, a battle of rookie drivers set up one of the biggest runs of the day as Tuerck continued his stellar run with a knockout of Brakohiapa to advance to the next round. His opponent would be Foust, who advanced after one run when Taka Aono's engine flamed out and caused him to crash.

Cars lined up for the next round of battles along turn 10.

Final 4: The semi-final rounds produced one surprise after another. In the first semi-final, Sam Hubinette and Robbie Nishida faced off in a battle of wily veterans. Nishida kept his Nissan S14 tight on the first run but on the second run, he lost control and spun out on the hairpin turn of the circuit, giving Hubinette and his Dodge Viper the victory and the first slot in the championship final. Nishida would end up battling for third place against Tanner Foust.

In the second semi, Ryan Tuerck continued his Cinderella run by knocking off the reigning champion Foust. Already Foust and his Scion tC had endured 12 tandem runs throughout the day starting in the round of 32, but the two would have to go through three more as the rookie nicknamed "Hampshaa" kept the pressure up before finally besting the 2008 champion, sending Foust to the third place final against Robbie Nishida while facing off against the other two-time champion, Hubinette.

Third Place Final: Robbie Nishida and Tanner Foust squared off for the last spot on the podium and neither driver left anything behind at the end of their match. Like the previous round, Tanner Foust and his Scion pushed their limits in needing two extra tandem runs to finally claim the podium. Nishida kept the pressure up on Foust and in fact, at one point, Faust nearly crashed his Scionin the last run, losing the front bumper off his car at the end of the run.However, the judges awarded him the win for making the bold move inside that they were looking for.

Tanner Foust Celebrates his third place finish on the podium.

Championship Final: It was the veteran against the rookie, Master vs. padawan, whatever cliche you want to choose. Sam Hubinette and his now-legendary Dodge Viper, which was supposed to have been retired for the new Dodge Challenger this season. However, he used his ol' reliable Viper to run through the field and reach the finals. His opponent, Ryan Tuerck, was the greenest of rookies, spending the last year getting his Pontiac Solstice GXP ready for this season. And the wins under his belt showed his potential.

In their face off, Tuerck matched everything Hubinette threw at him, bringing the standing-room-only crowd to its feet on every pass and turn. Despite Hubinette's every effort, the day belonged to the rookie as Tuerck earned his first career victory in the series, and taking the first lead of the seven-round season. The series heads for Braselton, Georgia for round 2, Proving Ground, to be held at Road Atlanta next month, May 8 and 9.

Here's the video for the podium ceremony. I'll post the post-Race Interviews in the next post.

And so it begins...

2009-03-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it's finally here. What most race fans have been waiting for. No, I don't mean it's time to talk endlessly about the "Martinsville Rectal Rockets," i.e., their infamous hot dogs. No, Good readers, the Formula One season has finally arrived for the 2009 season. So far, the F1 boys have gone through some big changes in the off-season, especially on the technical side.

Right now, the series is opening the season in Melbourne, but already the Ferrari teams are really ticked off because they're starting in the middle of the starting grid while the new Virgin Racing group, complete with Sir Richard Branson, are sitting on the front row. Right now I'm watching the live coverage from SPEED and already you can see a lot of teams are not in the mood to talk with the pit reporters. It's so funny to see the formerly high and mighty teams like McClaren and Ferrari having to fall back to the also-rans.

The race, as always, has live telemetry here from the Formula 1 flash site so us gearheads can enjoy it live. There's nothing like watching racing late at night from the other side of the world.

LOCAL UPDATES:

Last weekend I was at the AMA Suzuki Superbike Challenge out at the Auto Club Speedway, and as it is every year, there were fireworks on and off the course. One of the big things happened Sunday afternoon after the Sportbike feature. During the post-race press conference, Jason DiSalvo, who finished third, was talking when the runner-up in the race, Jamie Hacking, leaned over and said something to race winner Danny Eslick, who swept the weekend races. In the middle of that quiet exchange, DiSalvo got heated and told Hacking to shut up while he was talking.

Hacking was slapped with a suspension, a $4,000 fine and was put on probation for the rest of the year. However, Hacking issued a mea culpa before the end of the week which cleared him to run at Road Atlanta next week. Attack Suzuki, his race team, said they would pay the fine for him. But to be honest with you, Jamie got the short end of the stick on this whole thing.

The day before, during a similar post-race press conference, Hacking and Eslick, who had also finished 1-2 in that race, had a similar conversation while Martin Cardenas the third-place finisher, was talking, unlike DiSalvo's tirade, there was no outburst that time. Granted, Hacking and DiSalvo have had something of a heated rivalry for some time now. , but side conversations like that occur all the time in press conferences like that. You have to wonder if DiSalvo went overboard in his indignation over Hacking trying to say something quietly to Eslick.

Here's the video from that incident. about 3:39 is when Disalvo gets upset but pay close attention to the response and you might catch Hacking dropping an F-Bomb on him.

I'll post this in YouTube first so I can embed it here.

UPDATE: Sorry for the delay on this video, but my electronics have conspired against me as of late. First, my keyboard's "P" key decided to die on me while my screen continued it's slow death spiral. Further complicating things was the desktop I've used to edit my videos now has no sound for some reason, plus my temporary monitor fix, the DLP Projector, proved to me more troublesome than I anticipated.

So better late than never, here's the video of the Post-race meltdown that Jason DiSalvo had.

PRACTICE LAPS

2009-01-06T01:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first installment of "Backstretch Burners" with Tony Solorzano. The New Year is only a few days old and already we've got some BIG news going on. Some goo and some bad.

First of all, the first weekend in Southern Calfiornia is usually the traditional kick-off for the Motorsports scene in the Southland Saturday night with the first of three rounds of the AMA Supercross events at Anaheim Stadium. This year's opening round went to Josh Grant, riding for NASCAR mainstay Joe Gibbs Racing, knocking off the two previous AMA Supercross series champs, current title holder Chad Reed and 2007 champ James Stewart.

Sunday was supposed to be another big day for motorcycle road racing out in Fontana as the WERA West season opened with a slew of races at the Auto Club Speedway. The day, which saw rider Chris Ulrich win three of the top class races held that day, was marred by the death of rider Joe Lopez, of West Covina. The 32 year-old rider, who was working on sponsorships for a proposed team being put together by former Los Angeles Laker Earvin "Magic" Johnson, crashed during the C Superstock race, which was called after a 90-minute delay.

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, who's Sports Editor, Louis Brewster, is a long-time racing writer and friend of mine, had further details on Lopez's family life. It's sad, and before anyone gets on their soapbox about how dangerous the sport is, just remember, driving your car everyday is just as dangerous or more so, since you have to dodge huge semi-trailers. I don't want to take a cavalier attitude about something serious about this, but there are a number of waivers and insurance requirements that are needed to get into motor sports and there is always that element of risk inherent in any sport.

On a more positive note, This Saturday is the 39th annual American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team Banquet, which honors the top drivers in the industry. My Good Friend, Michael Knight (Please, no Knight Rider jokes) has the information here on his website, including who's being honored. I'll be attending the event after getting back from San Pedro, where the 2nd Annual Legends Celebration will be taking place.

Right now, we're on track for the 6th Toyota All-Star Showdown, NASCAR's "National Championship" for its developmental series. Friday and Saturday, January 23rd and 24th, AQt the Toyota Speedway of IRwindale. Drivers from both the Whelen All-American Series and the Camping World West and East Seirs will be competing for the prestigious racing event. Current Sprint Cup driver David Gilliland is a former competitor in the Showdown, as well as Nationwide Series competitor Matt Kobyluck.

Stay Tuned to the Mid Valley Sports Central radio Show for more information as well as a special guest the week before the race. The Mid Valley Sports Central show can be heard tuesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. here, as well as on iTunes.

Next Week we'll recap the second round of the AMA Supercross and start looking ahead towards the All-Star Showdown and that other big thing happening in Central Florida the same weekend as that big football game in Tampa, the Rolex 24 at Daytona.