LESSONS LEARNED: THE HISTORY OF DRIVER SAFETY IN NASCAR!

When Bill France Sr. founded NASCAR in 1948, driver safety wasn’t exactly a primary concern. That first generation of drivers showed up on race day in the fastest cars their teams could build. There was a general understanding that auto racing was a dangerous endeavor, and that any measure to increase safety might decrease your chance of taking that checkered flag first. But it didn’t take long for these ideas to change. In an http://www.dish.com/dig/sports/motorsports-hof-of-america-nalon-l...
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BUDDY BAKER: THE MEASURE OF A MAN!

NASCAR great Buddy baker has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer and signs off his SiriusXM NASCAR radio show for the last time. I don't know Buddy Baker. I met him only once. We were introduced about ten years ago at Lingner Group Television Productions in downtown Indianapolis where I was filming an episode of Autoweek on Speedvision. Baker, a huge man who towered six inches over me, was there working on a NASCAR program. He graciously shook my hand and took the time to speak to ...
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WHERE HAVE ALL THE RACETRACKS GONE?

Drag strips as well as entry-level stock, modifieds and sprint car tracks have become endangered species. CARS-magazine sponsored record-holding Baldwin-Motion 427 Camaro and Pacers Auto blown-fuel roadster at Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ in mid-1960s. Photos: Martyn L. Schorr. Fifty years after the heyday of drag racing, local tracks to national circuits have been feeling pressures of changing times, an aging fan base, and competition for entertainment dollars. “People have so many ...
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DIRT VERSUS PAVEMENT: RACINGIN.COM’S SCOTT KOSAK!

Paved ovals have been placed on a financial red alert. Times are tough for America's asphalt bullrings even while dirt tracks seem to be thriving, primarily due to the popularity of sprint car racing. Stephen Cox talks with Scott Kosak. I was recently talking with the owner of a well-known asphalt late-model Touring Series who made a remarkable observation. Here is a guy who has been in auto racing his entire life, and when offered an opportunity to operate a racetrack he responded, “You'v...
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WORLD RACING LEAGUE: PARITY ACHIEVED!

‘The WRL brings sanity back to motorsports,’ blogs Stephen Cox. I’ve not yet seen a World Racing League event. I’ve not driven in one, either. But I know a good idea when I see it, and the World Racing League is a good idea. The new WRL has re-discovered the guiding principle that gave us the golden age of road racing in the 1950s-1960s. They've figured out that you don't need a thousand rules to run a race series. You just don't. We live in the era of regulation. IMSA's United Sportscar r...
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CHEVY 427 MYSTERY MOTOR: PORCUPINE POWER!

A 409-based 427 with trick heads, originally developed for NASCAR super speedways, laid the groundwork for the legendary 427 big-block. In 1963, GM’s support of the absurd AMA racing ban stifled Chevrolet in its quest to dominate NASCAR & USAC stock car and NHRA drag racing. Quietly developed with help from Smokey Yunick, a super-409 displacing 427 cubic inches proved to be just what was needed. Chevrolet got it’s chance to hold off the competition until the ban was history and the “mo...
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FORD 427 SOHC VS. CHRYSLER 426 HEMI: WIN-WIN!

Ford’s 427 Cammer challenged Chrysler’s 426 Hemi and the Hemi prevailed. Both were winners, however! Chrysler’s Hemi is a study in evolution, starting life in the 1950s, emerging in the 1960s as a hard to beat powerplant on drag strips, NASCAR ovals and in Street trim. It continued for decades, adding new levels of sophistication and still available. Ford was the challenger with a complex, powerful overhead cam 427. While engineered to beat the Hemis in NASCAR, it earned its cred on the q...
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ENDURO RACING: CAN ROAD RACERS ONCE AGAIN DOMINATE AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS?

Auto racing in the United States is a mess, blogs Stephen Cox. NASCAR has peaked. Their response to dwindling attendance has been new cars and fuel injection. In Indycar, the barriers to entry eliminate all but the uber-wealthy from competition. Tony George was the only guy willing to take a risk and try to solve open wheel's problems. He had the right idea at the wrong time. Now it's road racing's turn to try and recapture lost glory. And I wonder if they're the ones who will get it right. ...
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MOPAR HEMI ENGINE: GOLDEN OLDIE!

Chrysler celebrates the golden anniversary of the 426-inch Hemi, an engine that has been 'rewriting' drag strip, circle track & Bonneville record books for 50 years! 
“Mopar is proud to mark the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Gen II 426 HEMI, a revolutionary engine that inspired a long line of quality products in our brand’s portfolio,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO — Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC. “The 426 HEMI is such a vital part of our heritage and a key in...
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MUSTANG GT500: NEED FOR SPEED!

Need For Speed Mustang to pace the Ford EcoBoost Championship finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. At the November 17 running of the Ford EcoBoost 400 cars will be led by a one-of-a-kind Mustang that is a featured star in Need for Speed, the upcoming movie and Electronic Arts video game. The 900-horsepower supercharged Mustang rides on 22-inch wheels and sports aerodynamic styling upgrades. Designers worked on reducing aerodynamic drag by using low-profile mirrors, extended rocker panels, and...
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