Author: Tim Newey

Motorsports on TV This Weekend: April 2-3, 2011

All times are Pacific Time.


AMA Supercross from Cowboys Stadium
Sunday: 9:00-10:00am on CBS.
Sunday: 3:00-4:00pm on Speed TV.


Arenacross from Louisville, Kentucky
Sunday: 2:00-3:00pm on Speed TV.
 


Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour
Saturday: 3:00-4:00pm on VS (The Versus Channel).

Lucas Oil Series Off Road Racing from Chandler, Arizona
Saturday: 3:00-4:00pm on Speed TV.


Mobil 1 The Grid
Saturday: 4:00-4:30am on Speed TV.
Saturday: 6:00-6:30pm on KVIE.


NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.
NCWTS Setup: Saturday, 10:30-11:00am, 9:00-9:30pm on Speed TV.
Qualifying: Saturday, 7:30-8:30am on Speed TV.
Race: Saturday, 11:00am-1:30pm, 9:30pm-12:00am on Speed TV.


NASCAR Live
Friday: 11:30am-12:30pm, 2:00-2:30pm on Speed TV.
Saturday: 8:30-9:00am, 12:30-1:30pm on Speed TV.


NASCAR Now
Friday: 11:00-11:30pm on ESPN2.
Sunday: 6:00-7:00am on ESPN2.


NASCAR Raceday
Sunday: 7:30-9:30am on Speed TV.

 


NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from Martinsville Speedway
Qualifying: Saturday, 9:00-10:30am, 5:00-6:30pm on Speed TV.
Race: Sunday, 9:30am – 2:00pm on FOX.


NASCAR Victory Lane
Sunday: 5:00-6:00pm, 9:00-10:00pm on Speed TV.

 


NHRA Summit Racing.com Nationals from Las Vegas
Qualifying: Saturday, 4:00-6:00pm on ESPN2.
Finals: Sunday, 1:30-4:00pm on ESPN2.


Speed Center on Speed TV
Friday: 5:00-5:30pm
Saturday: 4:00-4:30pm
Sunday: 7:00-7:30am, 4:00-5:00pm, 8:00-9:00pm


Trackside at Martinsville
Friday: 4:00-5:00pm, 8:30-9:30pm on Speed TV.


Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain
Sunday: 6:00-7:00pm, 10:00-11:00pm on Speed TV.

The World of Outlaws to race this weekend in Northern California

Another consequence of all the rain has been the difficulty of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series finishing their tour of Northern California. Tonight, a busy weekend was supposed to begin at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford. But, because of all the water the previously rain-postponed A-Main will be postponed again. Jason Meyers from Clovis, CA and the defending series Champion was set to start on the pole.

On Friday night they will travel to Merced Speedway to race for the first time in series history. Saturday night they will race in the beautiful wine country at the Calistoga Speedway. The World of Outlaws last raced the 1/2 mile track in Calistoga in 2007.

Several drivers from Northern California have found success in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. Recent articles on the World of Outlaws website discuss this. The first one is about Jason Meyers from Clovis.

One on One with 2010 World of Outlaws Champion Jason Meyers

Clovis, Calif. native speaks about winning title, off season tweaks and goals for 2011

FRESNO, Calif. – March 25, 2011 – Champion, Businessman, Father and Husband. These are just a few of the words one can assiocate with 2010 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Champion Jason Meyers. The racer from Clovis, Calif. has come full circle, becoming the first driver ever from the Golden State to win the presitgious title and sits down with WorldofOutlaws.com for an in depth interview.

One on One with Jason Meyers from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.

Recently, this article about another NorCal driver, Paul McMahan, from Elk Grove California, was posted on the World of Outlaws website. Paul, so far this year, has 3 quick times in the first nine events, and that doesn’t include the record he shattered at Volusia the night before the Outlaws started racing. He has five Top 10s this season, so he’s off to a great start.


Paul McMahan Seeks Success in State that Launched his Career

Calistoga Speedway helped shape the California native’s path to World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

CONCORD, N.C. – March 30, 2011 – Many drivers on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series tour can trace their passion for the sport back to a single track as they were growing up. Some dreamed of tackling the high banks of Eldora Speedway or holding the throttle wide open in front of a sold out crowd at Knoxville Raceway. For Paul McMahan , his path to The Greatest Show on Dirt can be tracked to Calistoga Speedway, a roomy half-mile oval in the picturesque wine country of Northern California. (Photos by Paul Arch, Paul Trevino)

McMahan and the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series returns to Northern California this weekend for their first visit in series history toMerced Speedway on Friday and their first event since 2007 at Calistoga Speedway on Saturday.

“I remember going to Calistoga to watch my uncle race non-wing cars about 12 times a year,” said McMahan, 40, who pilots the #83 HR Cattle machine owned in a unique partnership by Californian Dennis Roth and Kasey Kahne. “We used to camp there all the time and I have a ton of great memories growing up there in the ’70s and ’80s.” Read more.

Joey Hand from Sacramento, CA Wins 12 Hours of Sebring

Joey Hand of Sacramento, CA
Joey Hand of Sacramento, CA

It has been a great start to the 2011 season for Sacramentan Joey Hand. He began the year teaming with fellow Northern California driver Scott Pruett to win the 24 Hours of Daytona. Then about a week and a half ago, he won the 12 Hours of Sebring with the Bobby Rahal and David Letterman owned team. The 32 year old, who was born and raised in Sacramento, helped bring BMW its first class win at Sebring since 1998. He competed in the GT class driving the #56 BMW M3 GT2 with 2 German born drivers, Dirk Muller and Andy Priaulx.

#56 BMW M3 GT2 driven by Sacramento native Joey Hand. Photo courtesy of Ken Barton.
#56 BMW M3 GT2 driven by Sacramento Native Joey Hand. Photo courtesy of Ken Barton.

With this win, Joey and his team earned valuable points for two championships. The race at the “Sebring International Raceway” not only counts towards the American Le Mans Series, but also the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Joey Hand had this to say after the win: “I came to Sebring with a really good feeling that we could win this – and now it really worked out. The victory belongs to everyone in BMW Team RLL. In the off-season the guys built two brand-new BMW M3 GT cars that worked well from the word go. I also want to say thank you to Dunlop. The tires played an important part today and we had this advantage on our side.”

Team Owner Bobby Rahal added: “I have won this race as a driver and now also as a team owner. This certainly is a great honor. The drivers and the team worked exceptionally well, the Dunlop tires were excellent and the cars really didn’t miss a beat. This is a great start to our season.”

The next race in the American LeMans Series is the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, April 15-16, 2011 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm PT. It is combined with the IZOD Indy Car Series and the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

BMW Motorsport announced last Friday that Joey Hand will join teammates Dirk Müller and Andy Priaulx to drive the No. 56 BMW M3 GT at this year’s 24 Heures du Mans endurance race on June 11-12, round three of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). According to the BMWBLOG: “The Le Mans race will be Hand’s first outing on European soil for BMW Motorsport. His outright victory at the 24-hour race in Daytona driving the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW Powered Daytona Prototype at the start of the year and success at the 12-hour race in Sebring were timely reminders of the American’s talent ahead of the team selection for Le Mans.”

Here is a video from inside the BMW M3 at Sebring:

I will admit that I didn’t know much about this kind of racing but it is pretty cool that a Northern California driver is having so much success at a worldwide level. There are people talking about Joey moving to Indy cars soon. We will be sure and follow his progress.