Champions Crowned by NASCAR and USAC

Episode 83

December 6, 2015

I am not a diehard Kyle Busch fan but will admit I am pleased with the turn around he had this season. Photo courtesy Rick Umphrey

M & M’s Celebrate as 2015 Sprint Cup Champs With The Candy Man

No I am not the “Candy Man”, it’s Kyle Busch.After my favorite driver missed the final four I wanted Busch to win. The story from tragedy to triumph is inspiring. After his crash at Daytona in the Xfinity car no one would have predicted the comeback season we would witness.

I know the traditionalists will say that one cannot be a “Champion” after missing 11 races. True, under the old format that would not happen. The new shootout chase rewards wins and points. Busch’s multiple wins and rise into the top 30 set up the seemingly impossible.

Spud Speedway owner Troy Haney shows that he is a good sport as he and I enjoy some M & M’s. Haney is a Harvick fan. Somewhat blurred photo by HTF Motorsports

Samantha, Brexton, and Kyle Busch at Sprint Cup Awards in Las Vegas. I enjoyed Busch’s acceptance speech. I am sure the transcript is out there somewhere. Photo courtesy Toyota Racing

2015 USAC Silver Crown Champion Kody Swanson #63 will be honored Friday night in downtown Indianapolis as part of the Performance Racing Industry Show. Paul Murphy photo

USAC Honors 2015 Champions

The United States Auto Club (USAC), headquartered across the street from Indianapolis Motor Speedway will hold their 60th “Night of Champions” Friday evening. One of my friends, Kody Swanson will be recognized as the 2015 USAC Silver Crown Champion.

This will be Swanson’s second consecutive title. One unique aspect of the evening will be the trophy itself. All USAC Champions will receive a hand made trophy made by Ellsworth High School graduate Tom Michael Patsis.

USAC’s “Night of Champions” trophies for each of it’s four divisions to be awarded this Friday in downtown Indianapolis. Silver Crown Champ Kody Swanson will be going home with one of these Tom Patsis works of art. Photo courtesy Cold Hard Art

Patsis moved to Indy after graduating from Ellsworth High School and the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH). After several years working for Don Schumacher Racing, first as a mechanic, then as a fabricator; Patis, along with his wife Amanda, now works full-time for his company Cold Hard Art in Brownsburg, Indiana.

Patsis utilizes race parts to make his various keepsakes and trophies. You can view some of his work by going to his Facebook page Cold Hard Art.

I hope to feature Tom in a future episode. I have mentioned his work multiple times and look forward to sitting down with him in Indy some day.

An organizational meeting of those interested in forming a Kart Racing Association took place Saturday at Haney Building Specialties. Front Noah Coventry and Bryan Searles. Second row l to r Galen Morrow, Jayna Bosse, Damian Theriault, Janet Bosse, Carri ann and Mike Coventry, Stephanie Ball and her daughter Ronnie-Lynn Back row Derek Bosse, Jason Theriault, Jere Humphrey, Marcel Bosse. Photo courtesy Troy Haney

An organizational meeting of those interested in forming a Kart Racing Association took place Saturday at Haney Building Specialties. Front Parker Bosse, Noah Coventry, and Bryan Searles. Second row l to r Galen Morrow, Jayna Bosse, Damian Theriault, Janet Bosse, Carri Ann and Mike Coventry, Stephanie Ball and her daughter Ronnie-Lynn Back row Derek Bosse, Jason Theriault, Jere Humphrey, Marcel Bosse. Photo courtesy Troy Haney

Kart Racing Organizational Meeting Held

No matter what the status of Caribou’s Spud Speedway, there will be racing at the track in 2016. It may not be stock cars. If the enthusiastic group of racers who gathered at Haney Building Specialties on Saturday have their way not only will kart racing survive they hope it will thrive.

The group’s efforts were best explained by Last Chance Motorsports team owner Jere Humphrey. “Whereas Spud Speedway is in limbo and unaware of any lease possibilities at the current time, the local kart racing owners and teams gathered around the table to discuss development of a separate karting organization, so the sport can continue to grow and offer the opportunity for newcomers to participate and be able to get involved at a reasonable cost.”

“Several various ideas were exchanged throughout the lengthy organizational meeting, which discussed management, operation costs and responsibilities, rule options and many different topics along the way.”

“The meeting went very smoothly and each karting race team that was present was given the opportunity to speak pertaining to all the above mentioned topics. A tremendous amount of valuable information was passed along, and everyone seemed to look forward to a new approach and another great season of local karting racing for 3 separate divisions.”

“If interested in karting, stay tuned, as additional information will be shared with everyone and a Board of Directors will be developed to research rules,equipment, points system, and much more.”

“Glad to see people are positive and excited about the 2016 season, that will be holding weekly races on Friday evenings for 3 weeks out of each of the summer months! See ya at the track.”

The Maine Barons Car Club campaigning the ex Sam Seasons 1934 Ford at the Loring Timing Association Land Speed events. Photo by HTF Motorsports

Loring Timing Association Announces Race Dates for 2016

Land speed racers and fans will once again be able witness some of the fastest cars and motorcycles in the world at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone. Officials of the Loring Timing Association (LTA) released the dates for 2016 recently.

Three events will be held at the track as in 2015. Those dates are:

1) May 6-8, 2016 Racing beginning at noon on the 6th and ending at 4 pm on the 8th.

2) July 13-17, 2016 Tech inspections on the 13th, racing starting at noon on the 14th and ending Sunday the 17th at 4 pm.

3) September 2-4, 2016 Racing begins at noon on the 2nd and ends at 4 pm on the 4th.

Stay tuned to future episodes when we discuss the upcoming season with LTA officials or visit their Facebook page.

What is the Wyatt Alexander Racing (WAR) team up to lately? The #96 Super Late Model got all decked out in lights for the Ellsworth Lights Parade and the Bangor Christmas Parade. Crew members drove the float all the way home from Bangor with lights blazing. The team heads to the Performance racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis next week and will be sharing photos and highlights for next week’s episode. Photo courtesy WAR

For All You Techies

I got permission from Racer Magazine and Racer.com to show you a few photos by Marshall Pruett that he took of the Ford GT as it tested at Daytona International Speedway in November.