two or three-day race weekend? • nemechek father-son duo
new mexico
august 2017
Vo l # 2
issue #7
new mexico
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Alan Mertens Winning by Design Scott Welch, Motor Sports Photojournalist Š 2016/2017
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Report
nitro racing
on a budget
the beginining of my
addiction
coast o n e h t ty! r a p t f dri see pg 10
G OT P L U M B I N G P R O B L E M S ? Call the Exper ts.
341 Eubank ne albuquerque, nm 87123 (505) 293-9190 Toll Free (855) 411-YWPC WWW.YEARWOODPERFORMANCE.COM 2 NMMotorsportsReport.com
new mexico
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August 2017 volume 2 issue 7
Alan Maertens Winning by Design By Scott Welch
Off the Chain! By David Werth
Nitro Racing on a Budget By Lyle Greenberg
Plus Much More....
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Editor Dominic Aragon
Design & Layout David Lansa DL Graphic Design
Photographers Adam Mollenkopf w/ Dirt Racing Syndicate & Melons Photography Daniel “Matt” Courson David Swope Dominic Aragon Getty Images Corey Ringo Double Barrel Photography Lyle Greenberg Ryan Willard Travis Brewer Michelle Stringer Scott Welch, Motorsports Photojournalist Tim Walsh
Editorial Contributors Brooklyn Green David Swope Dan Brockett David Werth Dominic Aragon Geoff Bodine
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Scott Welch, Motorsports Photojournalist Jim Costa Kyle McFadden Lyle Greenberg Daniel “Matt” Courson Tim Walsh
Publication Sponsors ABQ Dragway, Car Crafters NAPA Auto Parts, Unser Racing Museum Yearwood Performance, Amsoil Seductions, Maverick, Auto & Fabrication, Jackson Compaction Cover Photo Scott Welch, Motorsports Photojournalist NM Motorsports Report copyright 2017®. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted by NM Motorsports Report, alls rights reserved. Reproduction of any articles, advertisement or material from this issue is forbidden without permission of the publisher. Publisher assumes no responsibility and is not to be held liable for errors beyond the cost of the space occupied by advertisers.
NMMotorsportsReport.com • 3
Alan Mertens
Winning byDesign By: Scott Welch,
Motor Sports Photojournalist
A
lbuquerque has its fame with legendary racing personalities. Of course the first family of racing comes straight to mind, the Unsers. Al Sr., Bobby, and Al Jr. have won 9 Indy 500’s, 4 IROC championships, and several Pikes Peak Hill climbs, in the process of building that legend. Other names from New Mexico that come to mind are, AMA Pro MX’er Jason Anderson, currently one of the best motocrosser’s in the world, World of Outlaw Sprint Car driver, Johnny Herrea, Rick Galles, world class racing team owner/manager and Indy 500 winner, name some at the top of the list.
Sneva Indy win 1983
Mears 1984 Indy win
This feature is about another name that may not be so recognizable amongst the average racing fan. He may not be noticed as “Little Al” would if he where standing in the checkout line at Trader Joe’s. That being said, his legendary racing stature and accomplishments are none the less impressive. Alan Mertens, began his carrier working for British Aerospace in their Guided Weapons Division. He landed an apprenticeship with them to master the basics of design, fabricating, and machining skills. He then earned a five-year British Areospace corporate sponsored scholarship to obtain a Mechanical Engineering Degree. He served as a design team member on various projects for missile chassis and ground support equipment in his time there. Alan went on to be the Senior Designer/Draftsman to lead a section of seven people in a design office within the organization. Alan had always been interested in racing. In 1976 Alan left British Aerospace to join race car chassis manufacturer, March Engineering. On his first day, he was approached to take on a project to design a bell housing for the March F1 race car. Though it was needed within 3 days, Alan thought it would be a fairly simple project. He turned it out and turned it in before the deadline with outstanding craftsmanship in design and function. The F1 car (the 761) went on to win its next race at Monza, in Italy. His early responsibilities in this position were over the Formula Atlantic, Formula SuperVee, Formula 2 and Formula 3 class division. This position included suspension, chassis, transmission, and aerodynamic design. His track record of excellence soon promoted Alan to the Chief Designer position within the company’s F1 program. He was now in charge of designing and developing all aspects of March’s F1 car. After doing this for two years he became involved in the development of March’s American Indy car program. He was given responsible for the manufacturers American Indy Car market and appointed as Chief Designer. The first March Indy cars where based on March’s current F1 car of the time. Early trips to the Brickyard in 81 and 82 proved to Alan and the March brass that the high speed oval had been taken a bit lightly. That being said, Alan and his team went to work and used their Indy experience to engineer a competitive package very quickly. And so begins the legendary performance. Alan Mertens an his team at March have accomplishments to which I know of no equal. After starting the program with March and putting the first March Indy car in the 1981 Indy 500, Alan and March won 5 consecutive Indy 500’s starting in 1983. No other chassis builder in Indy 500 history has ever won 4 in a row, much less five, until the standardization of the Dallara chassis. In 1988 changes at March and the resulting buyout of the company set things in a direction that Alan was uncomfortable with. He resigned and the March 88C would be the last March to which he was Chief Designer.
Tom Sneva/1983/March 83C-Cosworth
Rick Mears/1984/March 84C-Cosworth
Danny
Sullivan/1985/March 85C-Cosworth
Bobby Rahal/1986/March 86C-Cosworth
Al Unser Sr./1986/March 86C-Cosworth 4 NMMotorsportsReport.com
Sullivan 1985 Indy win
Rahal 1986 Indy win
Unse 1987 r Indy w
in
s n
n
Alan was soon asked to join Rick Galles’s, Valvoline sponsored Indy /Kraco team (Kraco starting in 1990), as the team Engineer. The team had already purchased an 88C March chassis. The 88C, being Alan’s final creation with March, it seemed a perfect fit from Galles Racing’s team managment prospective. Alan was certainly a bit nervous being on unfamiliar ground and shouldering the responsibility of being the final call on the race car. But both Alan and Al Unser Jr. claim that there was an almost instant connection in the way the two melded. Despite criticisms by the Indy community of the March 88C chassis, the new team was extremely successful with the combination. They won 4 out of 15 CART races, 8 top 5 finishes, and came 2nd in the CART championship points. The Galles team went to the Lola chassis in 1989. The hard charging team went on to win 5th in the CART series points and 2nd at the Indy 500. Little Al was robbed of the win after being bumped by Emerson Fittapaldi and hitting the wall while leading the last lap. 1990 was a banner year for the team. Little Al shoed the new Lola/Chevy to the CART championship by winning 6 CART races and 12 top 5’s out of 16 races. In 1991 they won 2 out of 17 CART events, 13 top 5’s, and 3rd in the CART championship. 1992 finally brought the Galmer car to the CART competition. Alan and his design team had been working on the “in house” Champ Car project since 1990. The Galmer car proved to be an outstanding performer especially for a brand-new design. Though the car won only 1 race that season, it was the Grand Daddy.Rick Galles and Al Unser Jr. had won their first Indy 500 with Alan Mertens, Galmer design G92. As well the team had landed 10 top five finishes and ended up 3rd in the CART championship points and winning over $3.5 million in prize money. Through the years the relationship between Alan and Al Jr. has proven to be much more than the highly accomplished Indy winning duo. Sure they just celebrated the 25th anniversary of their Indy 500 win. But moreover, I can tell you from spending time with the two of them that theirs is a very special friendship, a bond more like brothers than just friends. As for racing legends, I don’t feel the need to gloat on Al Unser Jr. To me, he is the best. As for my good friend Alan Mertens, his resume speaks for itself. He is simply, Indy car racing royalty! Special thanks to the Unser Racing Musem, Al Unser Jr., and Alan Mertens.
All rights reserved. Scott Welch Photographer LLC ©2017
NMMotorsportsReport.com • 5
Chain!
By David Werth
Formula Arroyo/Unlimited Grand Prix 1. 2. 3.
Mikey Shreve - 45 points (6th at the ASMA round and 1st at the SMRI round) David Hurtado - 30 points (1st at ASMA and DNS at SMRI) Jason Brown and Bradley Champion - 25 points (each finished second, Brown at ASMA and Champion at SMRI)
Formula Amateur/Novice Open Superbike
Photo by Travis Brewer, www.travisbrewerphoto.com.
NM Roadracing Clubs Face Off. SMRI and ASMA revived the long running tradition of the “North/ South Challenge”. The two-club series was held again in 2016 after several years’ hiatus. The first race of 2017 was on April 9th down at Arroyo Seco. The second of the two race challenge was held up here and Sandia Raceway on July 15th & 16th. SMRI is the Northern NM racing club out of Albuquerque and ASMA is the Southern NM Racing club out of Deming. For information on either club you can visit them on line at: smri-racing.wildapricot.org asmaracing.com The 2017 North/South Challenge Cup Champions and runners-up
6 NMMotorsportsReport.com
1. 2. 3.
Matt Kendrick - 51 points (1st at ASMA and 3rd at SMRI) Chris Coriz - 30 points (DNS at ASMA and 1st at SMRI) Mike Sobjak and Richard Hernandez - 25 points (each finished second, Sobjak at ASMA and Hernandez at SMRI)
Expert Middleweight Superbike/Expert Middleweight Superbike 1. 2. 3.
Greg Talbot - 51 points (1st at ASMA and 3rd at SRMI) Lance Echols - 34 points (5th at ASMA and 4th at SMRI) Dylan Beck - 30 points (DNS at ASMA and 1st at SMRI)
Amateur Middleweight Superbike/Novice Middleweight Superbike 1. 2. 3.
Matt Kendrick - 51 points (1st at ASMA and 3rd at SMRI) Josh Hill - 30 points (DNS at ASMA and 1st at SMRI) Mike Sobjak and Richard Hernandez - 25 points (each finished second, Sobjak at ASMA and Hernandez at SMRI)
500 Cup/Amateur 500 Supersport 1. 2.
Scott Cloninger - 39 points (7th at ASMA and 2nd at SMRI) Robert Roach and John Kynor Jr. - 30 points (each finished first, Roach at ASMA and Kynor at SMRI)
Here’s what’s happening in NM Motorsports, on two wheels, in the next few months
For SMRI:
SMRI August Race License School - Aug. 18 - Aug 20 This is SMRI’s final Race License School of the 2017 season (of three scheduled sessions). The purpose of this school is to prepare new Racers for their burgeoning career as motorcycle roadracers by teaching them basic track procedures, safety, and race craft. The school is broken into three sessions. First, there is a Friday night classroom session where students are taught the basics of how to behave at the track, what to expect before, during, and after their races, and what to do when unforeseen things happen.
The standard configuration looks like this:
Next is a Saturday session combined with an SMRI track day. This session consists of classroom and on-track exercises to help riders become more comfortable as Racers, along with lots of track time during the track day. Finally, there is a Mock Race to give students the feel of racing. This is followed by the students› first race in SMRI›s two-heat Super Street race where they can actively compete against other Novice racers. All of this is included in the $180 school fee. To register or find out more info you can check out: smri-racing.wildapricot.org/event-2437079
SMRI August Track Day
Sponsored by Bobby J’s Yamaha - Aug 19th This track day will be held at Sandia Speedway. The track configuration will be standard configuration. Tickets ahead of the date can be purchased for $100 ($125 at the gate day of the event) online at: smri-racing.wildapricot.org/event-2388885
longest running Yamaha Dealer in the u.s. familY owneD anD operateD since 1956
NMMotorsportsReport.com • 7
Kyle Busch ends longest race-winless streak of career in the Poconos By Matt Courson
A
fter finishing in the second position three times this season, Kyle Busch reached victory lane for the first time in 2017 and first of his career at Pocono Raceway.
On Lap 146, for the lead, Kyle Busch moved Kevin Harvick out of the preferred line in Turn 2. Busch lead the final 17 laps enroute to victory. “It’s been a frustrating year and this certainly relieves a little bit of that – I wouldn’t say all of it,” Busch said. “Adam (Stevens, crew chief) and these guys did an awesome job today. I can’t say enough about this M&M’s Caramel Camry – Toyota, this is their 100th Monster Energy Cup Series win.”
STAGE ONE (LAPS 1-50) Kyle Busch started on the pole for the fifth time this year, alongside Martin Truex Jr. On the opening lap in Turn 3, Matt Kenseth got loose and spun in front of the pack. Kenseth did not receive any damage from the spin, but did make several pit stops for new tires and adjustments.
Denny Hamlin stayed out on the racetrack on the lap 69 caution and led 16 laps until Martin Truex Jr. passed him on lap 89. Another strategy call resulted in Truex Jr. coming down to pit road, surrendering the lead to Clint Bowyer. This was Bowyer’s first stage win in 2017.
Aric Almirola, Matt DiBenedetto, Landon Cassill, Danica Patrick, Michael McDowell, and Paul Menard we all involved in the lap one crash. Kyle Busch escaped from the field on the lap eight restart.
STAGE THREE (LAPS 101-160)
Most teams came to pit road during the middle of stage to ensure they had enough fuel to make it to the end of stage one.
Martin Truex Jr. cycled back to the lead after race leader Clint Bowyer came to pit road for fresh tires and fuel. Denny Hamlin pitted two laps prior to Martin Truex Jr., and Hamlin became the race leader after passing Truex during green flag pit stops.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Matt Kenseth, and Daniel Suarez stayed out on the track hoping for a caution, but the caution did not occur and the drivers were forced to pit road during green flag conditions.
Keselowski stayed out on the track hoping for a caution, leading six laps.
Kyle Busch cycled back to the lead on lap 46 after Kenseth eventually pitted. Busch went on to capture his eighth stage win of 2017. Busch also won stage one in this race last month.
STAGE TWO (LAPS 51-100) 29 cars began the stage on the lead lap. The caution flag was displayed on lap 57 when Kasey Kahne got into teammate Jimmie Johnson.Johnson’s No. 48 machine backed into the Turn 3 wall. The damage to the Lowe’s Chevrolet was too extensive to continue the race.
However, that caution never came and Denny Hamlin returned to the front. Kevin Harvick chased down and passed Hamlin, but Kyle Busch was lurking behind. On lap 146, Kyle Busch moved Kevin Harvick out of the groove in the Tunnel Turn and zoomed on by. Busch would never need to look back, opening up a four-second lead in the next sixt laps.
OVERALL This was Busch’s 39th career win, and first at Pocono Raceway.
On lap 65, Ryan Blaney’s No. 21 Motorcraft Ford came to pit road after experiencing a severe tire rub.
Busch now has one racetrack without a win, that is Charlotte Motor Speedway. This was the 100th win for Toyota Racing in NASCAR’s premier series.
The yellow flag waved on lap 69 for debris that flew off Kyle Larson’s machine. They would suffer a driveline issue and head into the garage. Kyle Busch got loose in Turn 1 and almost got into the wall. Busch would fight handling issues until the next pit stops, dropping from second to seventh in four laps.
Busch claimed his fifth top-five at Pocono Raceway. Ten different winners have won the last ten races in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. 16 cars finished on the lead lap.
8 NMMotorsportsReport.com
SOURCES Racing-Reference.info Toyota Racing IMAGES Dante Ricci/The Racing Experts
Two-day or three-day race weekend? By Dominic Aragon LONG POND, Pa.—The Overton’s 400 race weekend at Pocono Raceway marked the first two-day race weekend for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the 2017 season. With at least two more race weekends featuring two-day schedules, we asked around the garage area Sunday at Pocono Raceway to see what drivers and team members had to say about the different schedule this weekend. Dwayne Ogles, Rear-tire Changer for No. 2 Brad Keselowski “It doesn’t matter so much for the pit crews because we just fly in the day of the race and they fly right back out. It doesn’t really affect us too much, it makes the day just a little bit longer for us. “...I think the two-day weekend is pretty cool.”
NASCAR Coverage Greg Ives, Crew Chief for No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Greg Ives, Crew Chief for No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. “The biggest thing is condensing the schedule to just have two practices instead of three as well as either putting qualifying on the same day as the practices or like we did this week, where qualifying was in the morning. “...It’s always nice to have that extra day to spend with your family, but it really comes down to how the weekend’s going to play out. “This weekend was nice weather, not a lot of issues during qualifying, so you could almost kind of say this was the perfect weekend for it.”
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#TheRacingExperts www.theracingexperts.net
Mason St. Hilaire, General Manager at Go FAS Racing “I think on an enhanced weekend, the biggest thing that I’ve noticed right off the bat was just being able for a smaller team to be able to prepare the cars during the week. “For the first couple of days, you realize you get everything going, and then you realize we don’t actually have to be out ‘til Thursday.” Corey LaJoie, Driver No. 23 BK Racing “I personally like two-day weekends because you’re home for one more day. “I think qualifying the same day kind of takes the weight from the race itself, but if we can qualify on Saturdays, I’m cool with that as well. “Obviously, it saves everybody money for one less day on hotels and stuff and it’s just one more day at home. I’m cool with it, I like it, I’m not the one paying the bills though.” Jeffrey Earnhardt, Driver No. 33 Circle Sport - The Motorsports Group “Shorter time to practice. You really got make sure you have all your stuff together, prepared and ready, and not have little incidents happen. “We had a dead battery that kept us from qualifying, but it’s got it’s pluses and it’s got it’s negatives. “It’s nice because it cuts down costs for teams for travel expenses, but it does make it tougher for limited practice time.” “...I like the two-day weekend. It just keeps us from sitting around so much.” IMAGES Dante Ricci/The Racing Experts Matt Courson/The Racing Experts
NMMotorsportsReport.com • 9
Photos by Tom Walsh
W
e are pleased to announce Whiskey Garage’s “The No Coast Drift Party“ is making its 7th appearance at Sandia Motor Speedway on Sept. 2nd and 3rd, 2017. This is one of the largest drifting events in the Southwest, and the largest in New Mexico, bringing drivers and fans from all over the USA to Albuquerque. After 6 epic events at the speedway, this 7th one promises not to disappoint. With average fan attendance in the thousands, vendors, drivers and fans from all over, a bonfire, local live music and a drift competition Saturday night, we are trying to get more Albuquerque locals out to watch the spectacle. Professional drivers from Formula D will be in attendance, plus 20-25 Pro-Am drivers from all over the country are here to let loose and have a good time. Want to drive but don’t have a drift car? There is also an Auto cross event on Sunday that will allow anyone with a helmet and seat belt in their car to compete for fastest time of the day!
10 NMMotorsportsReport.com
We look forward to continuing our great relationships with sponsors, drivers, crew, and all of our fans. For 2017 we are committed to making this year›s No Coast one for the books. Anyone interested in getting involved as a sponsor, driver, member of the press, or volunteer should contact daniel.brockett@gmail.com For more information, schedule and pricing, please visit
www.danbrockettdrift.com/p/no-coast-2013.html (I know the url says 2013, but the info there is correct) For the Facebook event page, please visit
www.facebook.com/events/684915591699291/?ti=cl We look forward to seeing you at Sandia Motor Speedway in Albuquerque on September 2nd!
LABOR DAY WEEKEND Sept. 2nd and 3rd, 2017
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A
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steel big block Chevy with steel heads and a stock Chevy crankshaft doesn’t sound like a bad combination for a tow truck. But how about on 92% nitro with a blower? Most folks would say no thanks. For Alamogordo, NM racer Ray Stringer it sounded like something that just might work. Ray has been racing since he was a teenager and his parents, Floyd and Sue Stringer, have nearly 50 years of drag racing experience. They have seen lots of success with the Southwest Superchargers circuit in NM and TX, but a nitro program had become a goal. Since the mid-1990s, when Robert Poindexter helped them transition into blown alcohol racing, the Stringer’s had been building experience with supercharged big block Chevrolet engines. But the conventional wisdom is that only a Chrysler Hemi based engine is suitable for nitro. Several years ago, Ray started talking with Stephen McClain and Sean Belt about each of their nitro Chevy combinations in a nostalgia T/F (McClain) and a Fuel Altered (Belt). After considerable thought and a good bit of nitro consulting advice from Jerry Newman, the Stringer’s decided to throw caution to the wind and build a nitro engine. Ray had been running a nice blown alcohol funny car in 7.50 index racing from 2013-2015. He felt that it would make the good platform for a nitro program. Before we go any further, let’s be perfectly clear that Stringer had no intention of building a NHRA “big show” car. The cost to run against the Force or Schumacher juggernaut has way too many zeros!
Once built, it took quite a few test sessions before making a full pull. Small steps are critical when running a nitro car with an engine combination this unique. At the May 2017 WFA event in Albuquerque, Stringer made his first full pass, qualifying #1 with a 7.06 ET. Although Stringer lost in the semi-final, he ran his first ever 6 second ET with a 6.89. Nobody has seen a losing team that jubilant in a long time. To show that they really have found a good combination, the team then was runner-up at the Rocky Mountain Superchargers race in Pueblo running a best of 6.88. To round out a great string of races, they scored another runner-up at the Western Fuel Altereds race in early July 2017 in Albuquerque. So what combination of parts allows Stringer to put a high percentage of nitro into what is essentially a truck motor? The block is a steel Dart “Big M”, the cylinder heads are steel Dart Iron Eagles and the crankshaft is a stock Chevrolet 3.70” stroke forged unit. Those components are usually found in a 8.90 Super Comp engine! The fuel is fed through a 21 GPM Enderle pump and injector through a Littlefield 6-71 standard helix supercharger. Once the air and fuel get into the combustion chamber, a Mallory points type magneto fires it off. Watch for the Stringer family to continue having fun and making nitro thunder throughout the Southwest.
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2015 Schedule
2017 NASCAR SCHEDULES
INDYCAR SCHEDULE March 12
May 28
DATE RACE Firestone Grand Prix of St.
2017
Iowa Speedway
LOCATION 5:30 PM TIME 101st Indianapolis 500 presented March 12 Petersburg Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Streets of St. Petersburg July 1612:30 PM Streets of St. Petersburg Indianapolis Motor Honda Indy Toronto April 9 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Streets of Long Beach 4:30 PM Speedway 12:30 PM Exhibition Place
Indy Car Schedule April 9
April 23
Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
Barber Motorsports Park
12:21 PM
3:30 PM
3:30 PM
Toyota Grand Prix of Long June 3 July 30 Angie's List Grand Prix of Chevrolet Indianapolis Dual in Indianapolis 3:50 PM Detroit Motor Speedway Beach Honda Indy 200 The Raceway at Indianapolis Belle IsleMotorMid-Ohio of Long Beach 500 presented MayStreets 28 101st Indianapolis Speedway Sports Car 12:21 PM Course Park The Raceway at Belle Isle Park 3:30 PM 3:50 PM 4:30Chevrolet PM Dual in Detroit June 3 April 29
Phoenix 250
Phoenix International Raceway
9:30 PM
May 13
JULY Daytona - Jul. 1 - NBC - 7:30 PM ET Kentucky - Jul. 8 - NBCSN - 7:30 PM ET New Hampshire - Jul. 16 - NBCSN - 3 PM ET Indianapolis - Jul. 23 - NBC - 3 PM ET Pocono - Jul. 30 - NBCSN - 3 PM ET
AUGUST Watkins Glen - Aug. 6 - NBCSN - 3 PM ET
3:50 PM
April 23 Dual in Detroit Chevrolet
June 4
Honda Indy Grand Prix of June 10 Firestone 600 Alabama June 25 Kohler Grand Prix Barber Motorsports Park
Chevrolet Dual in Detroit America The Raceway at Road Belle Isle Park Iowa Speedway
3:30Iowa PMCorn 300
July 9
Honda April 29Indy Toronto
July 16
Phoenix 250 Honda Indy 200 Phoenix International ABC Supply 500 Raceway
July 30
August 20 August 26
St. Louis 250
5:30 PM
August 26
September9:303PM
May 13
June 25
September Angie’s 17 List GoPro GrandGrand PrixPrix of of Sonoma
Grand Prix at The Glen 1:30 PM Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International
Kohler GrandSonoma Prix Raceway Road America 1:00 PM
1:30 PM
September 17
July 9 PrintYourBrackets Iowa Corn 300
2015 Schedule
Formula 1 2017 Schedule
Bristol - Aug. 19 - NBC - 7:30 PM ET
SEPTEMBER Richmond - Sep. 9 - NBCSN - 7:30 PM ET Chicagoland - Sep. 17 - NBCSN - 3 PM ET New Hampshire - Sept. 24 - NBCSN - 2 PM ET
OCTOBER Dover - Oct. 1 - NBCSN - 2 PM ET Charlotte - Oct. 7 - NBCSN - 7 PM ET Talladega - Oct. 15 - NBC - 2 PM ET Kansas - Oct. 22 - NBCSN - 3 PM ET Martinsville - Oct. 29 - NBCSN - 1 PM ET
NOVEMBER Texas - Nov. 5 - NBC - 2 PM ET Phoenix - Nov. 12 - NBC - 2:30 PM ET Homestead-Miami - Nov. 19 - NBC 2:30 PM ET
7:00 PM
GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma Sonoma Raceway .com 7:00 PM
Michigan - Aug. 13 - NBCSN - 3 PM ET
Darlington - Sep. 3 - NBCSN - 6 PM ET
1:00 PM
Gateway Motorsports Park
8:30 PM
3:50 PM
2:30 PM
3:30 PM St. Louis 250 June 10 Gateway Motorsports Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 3:30 Park PM Firestone 600 9:30 PM 2:30 PM Pocono Raceway Texas Motor Speedway
Grand Prix at The Glen
Indianapolis Indianapolis Motor Speedway
ABC Supply 500 8:30 PM Pocono Raceway
3:50 PMExhibition Place
9:30 PM
September 3
August 20 3:50 PM
The Raceway at Belle Isle Park
June 4 Texas Motor Speedway
RaceRace # #1 Grand Prix
Date Race #11
1 Australian Australian Grand PrixGrand Prix March 26 2 Chinese Grand Prix Race #2 3 Bahrain Grand Prix Chinese Grand Prix 4 April 9Russian Grand Prix
March 26 Hungarian Grand Prix July 30 April 9
5
Race #3Spanish Grand Prix
7
Race #4Canadian Grand Prix
Bahrain Grand Prix 6 Monaco Grand Prix April 16
Russian Grand Prix Grand Prix 8 Azerbaijan April 30 9 Austrian Grand Prix Race #5 10 British Grand Prix Spanish Grand Prix 11 May 14Hungarian Grand Prix
Race #6Belgian Grand Prix
12
Monaco Grand Prix 13 May 28 Italian Grand Prix
Race #7Singapore Grand Prix
14
Canadian Grand Prix 15 Malaysian Grand Prix June 11
Race #8Japanese Grand Prix
16
17 UnitedPrix States Grand Prix Azerbaijan Grand 18June 25 Mexican Grand Prix
Race #9
19
Brazilian Grand Prix
Austrian Grand Prix 20 July 9Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Race #10
Race #12 April 16
Belgian Grand Prix April 3027 August
Race May #13 14
Italian Grand Prix May 28 September 3 June #14 11 Race
Singapore Grand Prix June 25 September 17 July 9
Race #15
JulyGrand 16 Malaysian Prix October July 30 1
Race #16 August 27
Japanese Grand Prix September October 83 Race #17 17 September United States Grand Prix October 1 October 22 October 8 Race #18
22 Prix MexicanOctober Grand October October29 29
Race #19
November 12
Brazilian Grand Prix November12 26 November
Race #20
Abu .com Dhabi Grand Prix PrintYourBrackets
British Grand Prix July 16
14 NMMotorsportsReport.com
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May 27 - 28 Founders Day/Weekend 3-June - Points 10-June - Points 17-June - Points June 30 - July 1 Witten Warriors 8-July - Points 15-July - Points 22-July - Points 29-July - Points 5-August - Points 12-August USRA Show 26-August - Points 2-September - Points 9-September - Points 16-September - Final Points September 29-30 Last Race Weekend State road 605 north Milan, NM 87021
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2017 schedule 7/22/2017 - Sandia Speedway 9/2/2017 - Southern New Mexico Albuquerque Speedway NMMRA Sprints: NMMRA Las Cruces, NM, NMMRA Sprints: 7/28/2017 - Fairgrounds Speedway NMMRA with USAC Southwest Cortez,CO, NMMRA Sprints: NMMRA 9/3/2017- Southern New Mexico 7/29/2017 - Fairgrounds SpeedSpeedway Las Cruces, NM, NMMRA way Sprints: NMMRA with USAC Cortez, CO, NMMRA Sprints: Southwest NMMRA 9/16/2017Sandia Speedway 8/5/2017- Sandia Speedway Albuquerque Albuquerque NMMRA Sprints: NMMRA NMMRA Sprints: NMMRA 10/14/2017- Sandia Speedway 8/19/2017 - Sandia Speedway Albuquerque Albuquerque NMMRA Sprints: NMMRA
www. 16 NMMotorsportsReport.com
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With limited resources, Nemechek father-son duo continue to push on By Kyle McFadden
J
oe Nemechek paused mid-sentence and marveled at his family-owned race truck that was being worked on in the Pocono garage. A moment like that—just a typical race weekend—isn’t a pencil-in occurrence for Nemechek’s NEMCO race team. Finances are tight these days—nothing is guaranteed, business is week-to-week. “We do it with very limited resources,” Nemechek said. Just a few minutes prior, Nemechek, the team owner, himself had his head under the hood, inspecting the engine, before whipping around to the rear and beating out a scuffed quarter panel.
Photo: Barry Cantrell/NEMCO Motorsports
These are all sacrifices for the “guy of the future,” says Joe: His 20-year-old son, John Hunter Nemechek; widely viewed as a star of tomorrow.
“That’s a good question, I guess we’ll find out,” John Hunter said. “Hopefully we don’t have to think about that, but we’re working hard to find sponsorship. … I don’t know what’s going to happen. All we can do is pray about it.”
After a fourth-place showing at this Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 150, John Hunter sits fifth in the standings—132 points out of first-place Christopher Bell. Over the 12-race span, he has two wins and six top-five finishes. “Everything he’s ever done, he’s been so competitive at it,” the elder Nemechek said. “Trying to do everything I can to support him to keep him moving up in his career because he’s the guy of the future. Put my career on hold to help him. “He’s definitely the future. … The competitiveness, the desire to do well, he’ll do whatever it takes—from working on it, to being in [the race shop] at midnight, whatever it takes. He’s there to figure out how to have success.”
But what happens if sponsorship doesn’t arise?
In a sport people claim to be tailing off because of personality shortages, John Hunter is a figure that can evolve into an icon. And maybe one day, just one day, the dream will come to fruition. “What’s also important is, he knows how to talk. He’s a good communicator. He knows how to speak the crowd; knows how to treat people. I just taught him the right morals growing up. “How you treat people is how you should want to be treated, and doing the right thing. There’s a lot that goes along with it. He does them all well. Plus, he can go fast in a race car.”
“I think he’s going to win some Cup championships, but it’s all about getting with the right team and the right circumstances,” he said. “That landscape is changing so fast right now, you just don’t know what’s going to happen.” The chances of the father-son duo, NEMCO Motorsports, evolving into a Cup series team is extremely slim, and that’s OK to the Nemechek’s. Dad is there for stability and fathership, while son manifests talent and capability of penny-scraping race units. “It’s very cool to have him as a team owner, mentor, boss, pretty much everything all the above,” John Hunter Nemechek said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be where I’m at right now. “He’s been a huge inspiration my whole career. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay him. … It’s been and up-and-down season … but I feel we’ve brought fast trucks out every week.” Last year, John Hunter became the youngest NASCAR national series winner at the Atlanta Motor Speedway at 18 years, 8 months, and 16 days old—his one of two wins. This past June, he won an emotion-filled race at Gateway Motorsports Park on Father’s Day and followed that with a pulsating win at Iowa in which he made the go-ahead pass with six laps to go. “It’s very satisfying. We’re the underdogs at this, and don’t have a whole lot of money to throw at it,” Joe Nemechek said. “We just figure out how to outsmart them and outwork them. It makes you feel good.” “Being an underfunded team, you have to use your resources to the absolute max. It makes you work that much harder. You can’t outspend ‘em, you have to out-smart ‘em.” “We’re going to do everything we can to win the championship,” John Hunter said.
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Maverick auto & Fabrication 3612 HigH St • Albuquerque
505.974.9541 www.MavericknM.coM Facebook.coM/MavericknM NMMotorsportsReport.com • 17
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CAR SHOWS August 5-6 – Route 66 Calendar Car Show
August 15 – Freddy’s Car Show & Cruise In
August 26 – 23rd Annual Summer Car Show Series
Route 66 Casino Hotel, east of Albuquerque – Featuring “The Casino Calendar Picks”: 12 Cars picked and photographed for 2017 Casino Calendar – Setup 7am-10am – Show 10am-5pm, both days, All years & makes, Pre-Entry $30 –receives Event T-shirt, Dash Plaque, 2 Concert Tickets, Restaurant Coupons, Over 300 Awards: 60 classes – 66 Specials, Cash Awards, Creeper Races. Steve’s Cruisan with the Oldies – 505-269-0496 or 505-332-9222 info. Entry forms mailed & at Yearwood Performance.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steak Burgers, 10201 Central NE, Albuquerque – Starts 5:30pm – Free frozen custard – DJ music by Rockin’ Rob – Joe Mascarenas 235-5900
Hooters West – Alameda – Setup 7am-10am – Show 10am-4pm, Open to all years makes and models, Entry $20.Music by: Steve’s Cruisan with the Oldies – 505-269-0496 or 505-332-9222 for info
August 12 – Car Show, Fair, Rodeo Eagle Park, Los Alamos – Car Show along with Los Alamos Fair & Rodeo and Arts & Crafts Fair Mike Luna hotcorner_sports@hotmail.com
August 12 – Rich Ford Car Show Edgewood 9:30am-2:30pm – Bruce Shaffer bcougar67@msn.com
August 12 – Kool-Aid Kar Show Ventana Ranch Park, 10000 Universe Blvd NW, Albuquerque To support Lukemia-Lymphoma Society – 4pm-10pm – Live DJ, food trucks, cash prizes, beer garden – Free admission – Lorenzo (505)400-0773
August 13 – NMCCC All Clubs Picnic Oak Flat Recreation Area, Hwy 337 (Route 14), Tijeras – www. nmcarcouncil.com or joyce@nmcarcouncil.com
August 14 – Driving Divas All Woman Car Shine & Show Fastinos (between Menaul and Candelaria) – 5pm to dark Karen Campbell or Melinda Otzenburger. karencampbellwithrt66@hotmail.com
August 14 – Conference on Aging Car Show Isleta Resort & Casino, Isleta – Open to 50 pre-1979 Cars Setup 3-5:30pm, show 5:30-8pm – Awards, live band, face painting, family event – Crystal Lucero (505)383-3905 or crystal.lucero@state.nm.us
August 18-19 – 26th Run to Copper Country Gough Park, Silver City – Pre-’86 – Cruz Bustillos (575)574-2186 or www.coppercountrycruizers.com
August 19 – 23rd Annual Summer Car Show Series Hooters East – SanMateo – Setup 7am-10am – Show 10am4pm, Open to all years makes and models Music by: Steve’s Cruisan with the Oldies – 505-269-0496 or 505-332-9222 for info
August 26 – New Mexico Fire Muster & 5K Race Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque – Hosted by IAFF Local 244 & others – Raise money for firefighters cancer fund – Car/bike/fire truck show, live music, food trucks, golf events, motorcycle run, Desert Valley Brewing Co – Entry $20 – www.nmfiremuster5k.com or nmfiremuster5k@gmail.com
August 19 – Hobbs August Nites
August 27 – Blake’s Lotaburger 65th Anniversary Show & Shine
Downtown, Hobbs – Antique Car Show 8am-10am to register, show till 3pm followed by Cruise Open to cars 1979 and older (at least 2 entries required to make a class) – Entry $20 – Hobbs Chamber of Commerce, 400 N. Marland Blvd
Blake’s, 2529 Washington St. NE, Albuquerque – Free admission – Open to all vehicles but prefer 1952-1965 – 1952-era vehicles will receive Blake’s gift card Music by DJ Rockin’ Rob Joe Mascarenas (505)235-5900
August 19 – Wines of the San Juans Wine & Shine Car Show 233 Hwy 511, Blanco – Register 9-10am, show 10am-3pm – Pre-registration $10 by July 31 includes free wine glass, day of show $15 – (970)903-4177 or wsjnmsales@gmail.com
August 27 – Salute to the Heroes Car & Bike Show – American Legion Post 49, 11005 Central NE, Albuquerque – – Music indoors & out, prizes, food available – Kenney Kennedy 261-7505 or Joe Campbell 228-6811
SEPTEMBER September 2– Summertime Cars-n-Coffee on the Patio
August 25 – Santa Fe Cruise Night on the Plaza
Owl Cafe, 800 Eubank NE, Albuquerque – All cars welcome 7:30am-10:am 291-4900
Historic Santa Fe Plaza – Sponsored by Santa Fe Vintage Car Club & Santa Fe Police Dept – 5-9pm – Entry $20, proceeds to “Shop with a Cop Program” Mustang Ed (505)310-0381 or Buddy (505)699-2687
August 26 – Land of Enchantment Fly-In Double Eagle II Airport, Albuquerque – Airplane fun for the whole family – 7am-2pm • Aircraft fly in from all over Car clubs invited to show their cars –www.eaa179.org Watch our Facebook page for last minute updates
September 5 – Freddy’s Car Show & Cruise In Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steak Burgers, 10201 Central NE, Albuquerque – Starts 5:30pm – Free frozen custard – DJ music by Rockin’ Rob – Joe Mascarenas 235-5900
August 26 – Rent-A-Wheel Car Show Farmington – Benefit to Whitten Warriors – (505)564-3300
September 9 – 23rd Annual Summer Car Show Series – Hooters East – SanMateo – Setup 7am-10am – Show 10am4pm, Open to all years makes and models, Entry $20 – 40 classes Music by: Steve’s Cruisan with the Oldies 505-269-0496 or 505-332-9222 for info
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505.883.8388 6919 | MONTGOMERY BLVD NE 87109 www.motivaperformance .com NMMotorsportsReport.com • 19
IF YOU ARE INTO IT, WE ARE INTO IT!
Whether it has 2 Wheels or 4, asphalt or Dirt track racing, off-roaD or park anD shine. We coVer it all
eVery saturDay 8am-9am exclusiVely on 101.7 fm WWW.1017theteam.com
The New Mexico Motorsports Report (NMMR) on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM, The TEAM, is hosted by David Swope every Saturday morning from 8am to 9am. The NMMR radio show focuses on motorsports and related automobile activities around the state and on the national scene each and every week. You are invited to get involved by calling 994-1017 during the show, e-mailing dswope@1017TheTEAM.com, following us on twitter @NMMReport and liking us on Facebook. Join in the fun with your comments on the topics and questions for the guests. This is New Mexico’s only show devoted to motorsport related activities with a full hour devoted to our passion. Podcasts of shows are available on demand at 1017TheTEAM.com. Check out our new website at NMMotorsportsreport.com.
The Beginning of my By Brooklyn Rae Green
A
sk anyone involved in the racing world, motorsport racing is an addiction. An addiction that can start at a very young age with the help of a Quarter Midget. Quarter Midgets have been giving little racing fans, ages 5-16, the opportunity to wheel a race car since before World War II. These cars are approximately 1/2 the size of a full size midget car. They race on dirt, concrete, or asphalt tracks about 1/20th of a mile big. The engines are single cylinder and are manufactured by Honda, Briggs & Stratton, Deco and Continental. Depending on the class, engine type varies. Stock motors produce between 2.5 and 4 horse power. Modifications can be made to these engines which give them the ability to reach several times the stock horse power. Some of motorsports big named drivers such as A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Terry Labonte and Bobby Laborite, took their first laps in a Quarter Midget.
These midget cars bring much more than speed to the table. They not only teach kids about the racing world, they also teach outstanding life lessons such as competitiveness, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Most people do not realize that racing is a team sport. Trust me, it takes more than just a single driver to make these cars go around the track. It takes a family. A family willing to get a little greasy in the garage and come home every race weekend with a sore throat due to cheering on the drivers. From personal experience, my quarter midget club gave me a second family. I met some of my life-long friends while racing these cars. I always looked forward to race weekends where I was able to do what I love but also hang out with the people I love. Quarter Midgets are where I started and thats what fueled my addiction to motorsports. Im sure many others can say the same. From the smell of gasoline, to the rush of adrenaline, your hooked for life
Regardless of where you are in the United States, there is a Quarter Midget track somewhere near by. With over 60 clubs across the country, there is plenty of opportunity to travel and compete against different drivers on different race tracks.
“Quarter Midgets are where I started and thats what fueled my addiction to motorsports.â€? NMMotorsportsReport.com • 21
“TRICKS of the TRADE” By Jim Costa – owner Yearwood Performance Center
high performance Paint A
s I was trying to figure what we could talk about this month, I realized that we carry many high performance products, even the paints we carry perform at a higher level than the stuff you can buy around town. We stock VHT brand spray paints which are made for higher temperature applications. VHT engine paint withstands intermittent temperatures of up 550-650 degrees Fahrenheit and come in 15 different flat, satin, gloss or metallic finishes. It usually takes 30 minutes to dry to the touch and overnight to thoroughly dry. If you needing to paint something that will see extreme temperatures like exhaust headers, use VHT “Flame Proof” paint, it is capable of intermittent temperatures of 1200* to 2000*. In order to get these extreme temperature ratings, they need to be cured properly. By following these instructions you will have a painted surface that will be able to handle some serious temperatures. Here is the proper curing process:
• First the paint must be fully dried • Run car at idle for 10 minutes • Let them cool for 20 minutes • Run at idle again for 20 minutes • Let cool for 20 minutes • Finally, run the car for 30 minutes under \ normal operating conditions We also have some of VHT specialty paints as well. One of their more interesting paints is the “Nite Shade”, it is a transparent paint designed to darken tail light, driving/fog light and turn signal lenses, the more you apply the darker it becomes. And if you are looking to get that cast iron or cast aluminum look, need caliper paint, wrinkle paint, bumper paint, or maybe looking to paint your roll cage, VHT has what you need. The other type of paint we offer is POR-15, it is rust preventive coating that you apply directly on rusted or seasoned metal surfaces, it will stop rust permanently. POR-15 Rust Preventive Coating is non-porous and seals and protects many surfaces from water, chemicals, salt, and other corrosive contaminants and is able to be painted over rust. It also offers superior chemical resistance due to its dense composition and it dries incredibly hard but retains its flexibility too. It can be applied with a brush or sponge brush. It works great on any metal and can even be applied to wood, fiberglass and concrete, its uses are really endless. We have it in semi and gloss black, silver and grey. We even offer a fire resistant paint that is used on the underside of nitro funny cars. We are suggesting people paint their fiberglass front ends on race cars, this will help prevent fiberglass from catching on fire. So, when you are in need of high quality, high performance paint, turn to the experts of high performance, Yearwood Performance.
22 NMMotorsportsReport.com
2017
r.o.d.s.
h s a b
Friday sept 1st, 2017 gates open 4pm time triaLs - 6pm shows cars - 8pm, 10pm spectators $15
saturday sept. 2nd, 2017
Pro & ro P r E P U s
gates open noon time triaL - 2pm shows cars - 6pm, 8pm, 10pm spectators $20
sPorTsMAN & Jr. drAGsTErs
www.aBQdragway.com 888.925.2227