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Saturday
Furniture Row Continues To Progress
Since coming to the Cup Series in 2005, Furniture Row Racing has grown into its current form gradually. Over the first several years of their existence, poor finishes and DNQs were the norm. But owner Barney Visser stayed the course, and with Regan Smith at the wheel, the team has gained respectability. Their first taste [...] 
Vergne penalised for blocking Senna | 2012 Japanese Grand Prix
Vergne penalised for blocking Senna is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Jean-Eric Vergne has been moved back three places on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix for holding up Bruno Senna during qualifying.
Vergne penalised for blocking Senna is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/10/06/vergne-penalised-blocking-senna/
Top Gear is Bringing Back the "Deadly 720," but With a New Twist
Top Gear is at it again. If you don?t remember, several months back they brought us the ?Deadly 720? ? the world?s first ever double loop completed by a car. Well, Guinness was on location and awarded Top Gear the ?official? world record for the stunt.
Apparently that world record combined with their latest record for being the most widely watched factual TV show are not enough, as the Top Gear boys, fresh off of a new contract, are bringing back the ?Deadly 720.? This time around they will add in a new element to the double loop, allowing them to set yet another record, according to Top Gear?s creative director Rowland French.
In a statement, French said: ?The original Deadly 720 was as far as our experience, technology and bravery allowed us to go and we?ve been inundated with messages from the British public asking us to perform the stunt in the UK this year,? explained French. ?The restless nature of the production, however, means I was keen to do something different and shoot for another World Record. The only way to do that is push the boundary further and create an even more extreme stunt. We started working on the project almost immediately after the South African stadium show and have been in rehearsals for weeks. This stunt will break new ground and I can?t wait to see the looks on the audience faces when we reveal it at the NEC.?
We?re not too sure what this new addition will be, but we?re sure it?ll be interesting nonetheless. The record will be attempted at the Top Gear Live show taking place at the Birmingham NEC from October 25th through the 28th.
We?re sure there will be plenty of hints and clues in the coming weeks, so we?ll bring you up to date with each update.
Click past the jump to read Top Gear’s press release.
Top Gear is Bringing Back the "Deadly 720," but With a New Twist originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 5 October 2012 11:00 EST.
Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso Giovanna Amati
Alonso rues his luck after missing out on third | 2012 Japanese Grand Prix
Alonso rues his luck after missing out on third is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Fernando Alonso said the yellow flags for Kimi Raikkonen's spin cost him a potential third place on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso rues his luck after missing out on third is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/10/06/alonso-rues-luck-missing/
Friday
Happy Hour: Should Dale Jr. and Chad Knaus join forces?
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 or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.
It's Talladega week, one of my most favorite weeks of the year! I love everything about this race, from the on-track action to the infield, and even the watered-down version of Talladega we're seeing these days is better than most other tracks. If you've got a great infield story to share, spill. We want to know!
For now, your letters.
Rick Hendrick has bent over backwards to give Dale Jr. a shot at winning the title (different crew chief, garage, etc.). Do you think if he fails AGAIN, Hendrick will give him Chad Knaus?
? Becky Kemp
Bowling Green, OH
This is perilously close to one of those trolling letters that always fill my inbox ? "Hey, Busbee: since Dale Jr. sucks so much, you think he ought to just go to France where he can be sucky among a bunch of other sucks?" But let's be generous today and take it at face value.
For starters, I think Rick Hendrick has to be delighted with how Junior has done so far. The guy finished second in the regular season, for heaven's sake. And while he's not exactly tearing up the Chase, nor are 39 other drivers. I'd consider this season an exceptional success, and a solid building block for the future. So, no, I don't think Hendrick will be replacing anybody on Junior's team, least of all his crew chief. I'd love to see what Knaus does with a different driver, but I've got to think it'd be one of those David Lee Roth-Eddie Van Halen situations where they're amazing together but utter garbage when they're apart.
____________________
Did football come over to NASCAR? Is there really a bounty for anyone who wrecks Danica? Sure seems like the guys can't handle her racing with them, especially if it looks like she might have a good run. I have watched many of the times she has been wrecked and yea a few she should have known better but most sure look like the boys can't man up and let her race with them!
? diniwoyali
Eh, I think we're past the whole "Oooh, Danica's a gurl HOW CAN SHE RACE WHILE SHE'S PUTTIN' ON HER MAKEUP HA HA HA" nonsense by now. The big question at this point is whether she actually can race in the first place, and the consensus still seems to be that while she has SOME talent, she's got a long way to go before she's able to hang at the highest level. Could she at some day? Sure, and she's getting every chance to prove herself. But if she fails, it's not going to be because of some grand conspiracy. Danica brings in tons of new money to NASCAR, and for that reason, she'll be around as long as she wants to be.
___________________
I've convinced myself that the racing would be better if NASCAR could find a way to get the cars to sit off the track a couple inches. Let the air underneath the car. This would lower cornering speeds and maybe just maybe get rid of the aero advantage of being out front. Just a thought.
? Hobo Joe
Like most media members, I was an English major in college, so I'm not even going to pretend I have a working knowledge of aerodynamics and automotive engineering. But, yes, the virtues of clean air for drivers tend to make for the most boring races imaginable. The trick, of course, isn't technological, it's moral: just how much manipulation of the engineering should you do to force competition? Anything that frees up standards, I'm all for, because that rewards engineering genius, but then that gives us the very real possibility that somebody will figure out something that wins them ten straight races.
___________________
As talented as Kyle and Kurt Busch are, both these guys have still got some learning to do with handling interviews and questions. As we saw at Richmond, it appears whatever niceties Kyle is handing out are because he is being watched closely and "coached." As for Kurt, his comment about being back on a "quality" team doesn't give him points for appreciating all Finch went thru for him over the past few months. A big "thank you for giving me a chance, and I wish your team the best in the future" would have gone a lot further with everyone. I wonder if it sent a chill through the Furniture Row people as a clue to what they may still have to deal with?
? Joyce Keith
We could psychoanalyze all afternoon about why it is that these guys seem to have so much trouble with the media, but what's indisputable is that, more often than not, they create their own problems. Kyle can't be surprised that no one wants to talk to him if he's given them gritted-teeth, just-doing-this-'cause-I-have-to interview quote-bits.
Kurt's a bit more problematic. The guy seems hell-bent on burning every bridge, often while he's still standing on it. He's a fascinating character study, but yes, you have to know exactly what you're in for when you bring him onto your team. But it sure is fun for us to watch.
____________________
I might actually be the only NASCAR fan in all of NYC. No, really. I don't think I've ever met another NASCAR fan in the whole city. The first race I ever watched was the 2001 Daytona 500. Seeing DJ urge on Mikey in the last lap totally hooked me. (When I heard later that some guy died in the last lap crash I was sad for him, but didn't get the implications or impact that would have on the sport.) I've been a Waltrip fan ever since. It's been a fun year with two wins and two in the Chase. Go 15, 55, 56!
? John C
Huntington NY
I think we have a couple other NASCAR fans in NYC, but yeah, it's always funny seeing NASCAR try to edge its way into the Big Apple. They used to run the cars through the concrete canyons of Manhattan, you'll recall. Now, if that happened anywhere south of Washington, D.C., you'd have crowds losing their minds and glomming onto every driver wherever they walked. But in New York? If any of those surly Yanks even looked up from reading the latest "Headless Body in Topless Bar" story in the Post, they'd just snarl, "Hey! I'm walkin' here, country boy! Take your fancy-colored cars and get the [censored] outta my city! Go Jeter!"
Anyway, keep the faith, John.
___________________
Perhaps I'm in the minority here, but I loathe road course races. If cars aren't screaming at 175-200 MPH, it's a snooze fest for me. Maybe this is why NASCAR won't use road course tracks in the Chase. They assume it's an automatic tune out for the fans who want speed. What's that famous line in Top Gun...? Oh yeah, "I feel the need... the need for speed!"�
? Robert B.
Mesquite, TX
Yeah, but that doesn't explain why Martinsville is in the Chase. I don't like Martinsville for the exact same reasons. To re-use my same comparison, to me it's like watching 43 cars look for a parking space at the mall at Christmas. Road courses, I get it: they can be the same way for some people. Personally, I dig 'em; seeing familiar cars shoot up over hillsides and diving into turns is a pleasant change of pace, like hockey's outdoor Winter Classic. Until we actually have a road course on an actual road, though, I won't be satisfied.
Finally, today in spam ...
____________________
Attn: Luboil Rigs International Co. Ltd is a company in the United Kingdom which is penetrating the oil and gas industry in Ghana. Oil rig operators, geologists, drillers, engineers and project managers are needed for Production, Exploration, Refining of petroleum products. The company has international projects in 27 countries. We are currently looking for strong, innovative, experienced and capable hands on board for our latest oil rig in Tarkoradi Ghana West-Africa which would commence at the end of December 2012.
"AJ! Sam! Hey, it's Roger Penske ... No, I'm not calling to offer you your old job back. But I know of a place that's looking for guys like you ... "
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. You can find Yahoo! Sports' NASCAR coverage on Facebook right here, and you can follow me on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here. Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
NASCAR video from Yahoo! Sports:
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Vettel: Car Needs To Be Improved
Sebastian Vettel insists that his RB8 needs to be improved ahead of Sunday?s race if he is to maintain his charge for the title. The German managed to come in third fastest during FP2, but was less than happy with the handling of his machine. Vettel claimed maximum points in Singapore last time out to [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/BKH3mbHQQZI/vettel-cars-needs-to-be-improved
Thursday
Nico Rosberg: ?Imagine one day we?re team mates in F1??
Nico Rosberg said today that he?s happy to welcome his former karting team mate Lewis Hamilton as his new partner at Mercedes, and insists that he has no problem with having a quick driver in the other car. Rosberg was … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/10/04/nico-rosberg-imagine-one-day-were-team-mates-in-f1/
George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams
AJ Allmendinger completes ?Road to Recovery,? reinstated by NASCAR
Good news for fans of AJ Allmendinger: He's completed NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy Road to Recovery program, and that means he's been reinstated by NASCAR. He's now eligible to drive once again at any level.
Allmendinger had been suspended indefinitely earlier this summer for testing positive for a still-unrevealed stimulant at the Kentucky race. Allmendinger and his team had initially called the test results into question, but once a second sample turned up the same result, he consented to NASCAR's judgment. He told a curious story about taking Adderall, but in the end, he didn't disagree with the sport's judgment.
The knock on Allmendinger was that he would follow in Jeremy Mayfield's footsteps, fighting every inch of the way. He didn't; he took the wiser route and is now back in the sport faster than perhaps anyone expected.
Of course, he returns to a NASCAR changed even since he was suspended in July. Joey Logano has taken over his old seat, and there's no guarantee of another coming available for him anytime soon. He's indicated that he'll take time to explore his options. But at least now he has them.
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Wednesday
Join us for the latest Yahoo! Sports NASCAR chat, 1 p.m. ET here!
Time again for another NASCAR live chat! Join us to talk Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Loudon and Dover, and oh so much more! Bring a dish for all to share, please.
Roberto Bussinello Jenson Button Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca
Bridgepoint Announces MotoGP And World Superbike Series To Be "Brought Together"
Bridgepoint, the venture capital organization has today announced that it has brought MotoGP and World Superbike, the two motorcycle racing series it owns, under a single umbrella organization. The reorganization will see Dorna Sports become the parent organization for both series, though Infront will operate as an independent entity and continue to organize World Superbike under its own banner. Infront has also been named as "marketing advisor and global advisor" for both MotoGP and WSBK.
The implications of this announcement are huge, but not immediately clear. The logic behind the move is impeccable: the two series are spending too much of their time competing against each other instead of working together to promote the sport of motorcycle racing. By combining their marketing efforts, the hope is that both series will be made stronger.
Tuesday
Ty Dillon passes Kyle Busch late, gets first Truck Series victory
Ty Dillon joined his brother Austin as a winner in the Camping World Truck Series when he passed and pulled away from Kyle Busch with six laps remaining during Friday night's Jeff Foxworthy's Grit Chips 200.
(Yes, it truly was the Jeff Foxworthy's Grit Chips 200. Sometimes race sponsorships are a match made in heaven, aren't they?)
Anyway, it was Busch's first start in the Camping World Truck Series this season, and he led eight times for 75 laps. But soon after Dillon got by him on the inside for the race-winning pass, his truck got loose while he was in the high line and he scraped the wall.
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Scrapping engine rules
There are some stories floating about today which suggest that the new engine regulations in 2014 will be scrapped. These come from a journalist who is famously known to parrot everything Bernie Ecclestone says without ever questioning it. The story raises a number of interesting points. At the moment, Bernie Ecclestone does not make the [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/scrapping-engine-rules/
2012 Chase Prospects: Can Clint Bowyer bring Michael Waltrip a championship?
It's not supposed to be this easy. You don't take a team that's a punchline, slap a Chase-worthy driver in there and see immediate dividends. Yet that's exactly what happened with Michael Waltrip Racing and its star acquisition, Clint Bowyer.
Sure, Bowyer and Waltrip haven't had the best history, but they learned this year that winning is a powerful bandage, and hurt feelings have no place in victory lane. Combined with new crew chief Brian Pattie, Bowyer rolled off two wins this year, including a regular season-ender at Richmond just a few days ago. He spent the entire season in the top 10, never in any real danger of losing his Chase berth.
Bowyer never really comes up in championship conversation, mainly because he's always one of those guys who's not quite mounting up enough top 5 finishes to really scare the leaders. But he has a right-place, right-time knack, and if he's able to secure some early wins, you never know. You never know!
Best Chase track: Things start off well for Bowyer; his best track is Chicago, where he's got an average finish of 10.2 over six races. He'll need an early start to get ahead of the projected leaders; a victory in one of the first few races will keep him in the hunt far longer than his usual good-but-not-great runs of late. (Richmond excepted, of course.)
Worst Chase track: Charlotte, where he's achieved only a 17.5 average finish. That's not the kind of finish you want on your record in the Chase, since it necessitates two to three top 5 finishes to offset it. But hey, you know that going in, you can prepare.
JB's take: Not this year, but this is a case where just getting into the Chase is a huge achievement. Bowyer was brought to MWR as a Chase-worthy driver, and he delivered immediately. That's the kind of foundation that the team can build on in future seasons. At the moment, Bowyer doesn't have the squad to hang with the Johnsons and Hamlins of the world, but before long, he just might.
Caption Competition 21: Button and Hamilton | Caption Competition
Caption Competition 21: Button and Hamilton is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, who have just six races left as team mates following yesterday's news, feature in today's Caption Competition.
Caption Competition 21: Button and Hamilton is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/09/29/competition-21-button-hamilton/
Monday
2012 Aragon Moto2 And Moto3 Sunday Post-Race Press Releases
Press releases from the Moto2 and Moto3 teams after Sunday's spectacular races at the Motorland Aragon circuit:
Round Number:
14 Year:
2012
Volkswagen Golf 2013 Best In History
You have started the countdown for the seventh generation Volkswagen Golf makes its appearance at the Paris Motor Show 2012. But before their public appearance Bavarian firm has unveiled the new chapter of this model in Berlin, Germany. As a 2013 model, the Golf has dimensions of 4.255 mm long, 2.637 mm wide y1, 452 [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/330-volkswagen-golf-2013-best-in-history.html
Almirola and Ambrose?s teams swap crews for final 10 races
Richard Petty Motorsports announced Monday that it would be swapping the crews for it's No. 43 team of Aric Almirola and No. 9 team of Marcos Ambrose for the remainder of the season.
The swaps include crew chiefs, as Mike Ford moves to the No. 9 and Todd Parrott moves atop Almirola's box.
"We're continuing to make improvements at Richard Petty Motorsports and we've added talented people to our organization this season," RPM director of competition Sammy Johns said in a release. "This move is to make sure that we are using that talent to the fullest to get the best results for our teams each weekend. We feel this adjustment will strengthen the organization, allow us to continue to compete for wins and ultimately challenge for championships."
Ford was Denny Hamlin's crew chief in 2011, and replaced Greg Erwin as Almirola's crew chief after the first nine races of the season. Almirola's highest finish in the 17 races they were together was a 6th place finish at Dover.
Ambrose and Parrott have won the last two Watkins Glen races and had eight top 10s in 26 races this season. Ambrose is currently 15th in the points standings.
New BMW 7 Series Luxury and Sport
The German manufacturer BMW is synonymous with sporty elegance, and the new 7 Series would not be so. The new saloon renewed Germanic elements and introduces: new LED headlamps, a more luxurious interior and best soundproofing as well as having the most advanced security features. The new engines such as six-cylinder diesel engine, the most [...]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/305-new-bmw-7-series-luxury-and-sport.html
Sunday
FOUR 2013 Options For Schumacher
Due to Lewis Hamilton?s arrival at Mercedes, Michael Schumacher is at a real crossroads. With no seat at the German team, the seven-time World Champion must weigh up his options ahead of 2013. Here are four possibilities for Michael Schumacher: CLICK HERE TO REVEAL HIS OPTIONS
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