In this edition of Dave Mathers Motion Motorsport Report – the last before the Daytona 500 and things getting busy on several fronts – Dave talks about DJ Kennington’s neat gift, and offers more insights on the recent Clash at the L.A. Coliseum.
Go into almost any race car shop/garage anywhere and you will find some kind of memorabilia on display usually on the wall. The hood off a Dale, Jr. Cup car, a blower belt off a John Force Funny car, a trunk lid off an old CASCAR, an M&H racing slick from back in the day, etc. You get the idea.
BUT I doubt anybody can top what D.J. Kennington has in his shop. Six years ago, D.J. was invited by Marty Gaunt to drive his Toyota Cup car in the Daytona 500. Sponsorship had been arranged through Lordco Auto Parts of British Columbia.
D.J. time trialed 38th out of 42 cars, finished a strong 14th in his Duel, started 28th and finished 37th in the race. And the car was in one piece. Marty called D.J. last fall and asked if he wanted the car. Oh, YEAH. D.J. picked the car up and it now sits on a hoist in his shop. How COOL is that!! Try topping that.
NASCAR CUP SERIES: Business begins in earnest this week for all three divisions plus ARCA (Saturday at 1.30 on Fox Sports Racing).
The races are Daytona 500 qualifying, Wednesday on Fox Sports Racing at 6 P.M., the Duels, Thursday on TSN 1 & 5 at 7 P.M. and the Daytona 500 Sunday on TSN and Fox at 2.30 P.M.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: Their next race is this Saturday at Daytona on TSN 5 at 5 P.M.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS: Their next race is Friday at Daytona on Fox Sports Racing at 7.30 P.M.
FORMULA ONE: Their season starts Sunday, March 5 in Bahrain.
INDYCAR: Their season starts Sunday, March 5 in St. Petersburg.
IMSA: Their next race is the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 11 & 12.
NHRA: Their season starts Sunday, March 12 in Gainesville, Florida. That’s a change from the traditional Pomona opener!!
NASCAR PINTY’S SERIES: Their season starts Saturday, May 13 at Sunset Speedway.
UNITED RACING SERIES – APC LATE MODEL SERIES: Their season starts Saturday, May 20 at Sunset Speedway.
ONTARIO SPORTSMAN SERIES: Their season starts Friday, May 19 at Delaware.
SUPERSTAR RACING EXPERIENCE (SRX): Their season starts Thursday, July 13 at Stafford Motor Speedway.
DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: Their season starts Friday, May 12.
FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY: Their season starts Saturday, April 29.
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY: Their season starts Friday, May 19.
SOUTHERN ONTARIO MOTOR SPEEDWAY (SOUTH BUXTON): Their season starts Saturday, May 6.
GRAND BEND SPEEDWAY: Their season starts Saturday, May 20.
GRAND BEND DRAGWAY: Their season starts Saturday, May 6.
ST THOMAS DRAGWAY: Their season starts Saturday, May 6.
TORONTO MOTORSPORT PARK: Their season starts April 22.
SHANNONVILLE DRAGS: Their first race is June 17 & 18, Nostalgia Weekend.
MOTORAMA CUSTOM CAR & MOTORSPORTS EXPO PRESENTED BY EBAY MOTORS: This racing filled show takes place March 10, 11 & 12 at Toronto’s International Center, across from Pearson Airport. The Racing Zone is already sold out and the Fast Eddie Night of Champions on Saturday, March 11 will feature a ton of track and series champions on the main stage.
DRAGSTRIP MEMORIES: This great event goes April 16 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, on the grounds of Hamilton Airport.
CAN-AM STOCK/SUPER STOCK SERIES – their season starts Saturday, June 3, Grand Bend.
MY ‘VIEW’: Much has been posted about Kyle Busch getting caught with a gun in his luggage in Mexico during the off-season. I find this both ironic and funny coming from a country where the cartels control everything and gun deaths occur all the time. But, then again, it IS Kyle Busch. ‘Nuff said.
It has been an interesting week listening to all the chatter about the L.A. Coliseum race. I, for one, enjoyed it. But I do have a suggestion. KISS – keep it simple stupid.
The convoluted practice, qualifying, heat races and last chance races seemed to confuse a lot of people both those in the know (journalists, Cup insiders, bloggers) and newcomers to the sport.
How about sticking to the original concept of the Clash, where the last ‘x’ (20 would be good) number of race winners plus previous champions get invited. They time trial and they race. Easy peasy.
That track really can’t handle the 27 cars that started last week, I think we can all agree. As far as replacing Fontana? No way, Jose.
And speaking of Fontana, Linda and I dropped in there in 1996 as it was under construction and Coach Les Richter allowed us to tour the site. He had let us drive around the closing Riverside while we were down for the 1988 Superbowl in San Diego – winners of a Ford Dealer Trip.
Why, why shorten the track? I do love the back story on just how Roger Penske pulled off getting all the permits to build the track. And just how much money he made on it. And how much money he saved Kaiser. Classic.
Until next week!!
- Dave Mathers
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