NASCAR's most popular driver could learn a thing or two from the biggest fish in the pond. Don't take the bait! No matter how delicious the opportunity think for a second about the hook which is dangling the worm. Unless Dale Earnhardt, Jr., starts thinking before he opens his mouth, he's going to get hooked every time.
The fact is the media often cries over their constant coverage of "Junior" often declaring they would love to cover something else instead. They "tire" of all Junior all the time. Yet, those same journalist are more than willing to troll for opportunities to snag Junior on their line.
A recent example is the misunderstanding generated during the Media Tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway. A stop at DEI, the former home of Dale Jr., left many wondering where were the trophies and cars and other fan junk chronicling the years when DEI and Dale Jr were one and the same. When the tour reached Hendrick Motorsports, the new home of Dale Jr. out came the questions. Where were the cars, the trophies, the collection of accolades earned during his stint at DEI?
There it was, the hook and worm and like the young naive big mouth bass Junior bit was all his might. He decried the actions in no uncertain terms.
The smarter fish would have looked at the worm, huffed and said, "My future is at Hendrick Motorsports. I am here to do the best job I can for Rick and Amp and the National Guard. My job is to help Mr. Hendrick continue to fill his showroom with the trophies won by winners and champions. That is my job now."
With those words the story would have passed and those reporters begging to write about something, anything, other than Dale, Jr., would have been forced to use their creative minds in a productive manner.
Dale, Jr., is refreshing as an individual because he is more often to speak his mind than hide behind some corporate shell. If only he would engage the mind before engaging the mouth. He'd find himself hooked a few less times.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
HD Partners shareholders vote down deal to purchase NHRA
GLENDORA, Calif. (Jan. 31, 2008) – NHRA has been notified by HD Partners Acquisition Corporation ("HD Partners"(AMEX: HDP, HDP-U, HDP-WT) that it did not receive the necessary number of votes to finalize the transaction announced last May to acquire all of NHRA's professional racing assets.
Said Eddy Hartenstein, chairman and chief executive officer of HD Partners: "We are very disappointed with today's vote, given our collective enthusiasm for NHRA and the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Unfortunately, in the time since we first announced this transaction in May of 2007, we have witnessed a dramatic shift in both the financial markets and the perceived strength of the U.S. economy, which we believe adversely impacted the final outcome of this transaction. With that said, we continue to believe that the NHRA and the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, led by Tom Compton and his management team, are very vibrant properties with a bright future. We wish them all the best for continued success."
NHRA will continue to operate as it has in the past. NHRA worked closely with HD Partners the last several months to finalize the transaction. Given the time and energy spent on this effort, NHRA has no plans to pursue a similar opportunity in the near future. For now, NHRA will remain focused on the business and continued growth of NHRA.
"We appreciate the efforts put forth by Eddy and the entire HD Partners team the last year-and-a-half. NHRA is in the best financial position in its history and prospects for future growth are at an all-time high," said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. "It is the health of the company, the sport and strong future prospects that led HD Partners to pursue this transaction in the first place and those elements still exist.
"Few would argue we have a great product and an incredible opportunity in front of us to build and grow the sport of NHRA and NHRA POWERade Drag Racing. The initiatives communicated during this process still hold true and we will work together with the racing community, sponsors and business partners to achieve them and continue the growth of the sport."
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.
From NHRA
Said Eddy Hartenstein, chairman and chief executive officer of HD Partners: "We are very disappointed with today's vote, given our collective enthusiasm for NHRA and the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Unfortunately, in the time since we first announced this transaction in May of 2007, we have witnessed a dramatic shift in both the financial markets and the perceived strength of the U.S. economy, which we believe adversely impacted the final outcome of this transaction. With that said, we continue to believe that the NHRA and the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, led by Tom Compton and his management team, are very vibrant properties with a bright future. We wish them all the best for continued success."
NHRA will continue to operate as it has in the past. NHRA worked closely with HD Partners the last several months to finalize the transaction. Given the time and energy spent on this effort, NHRA has no plans to pursue a similar opportunity in the near future. For now, NHRA will remain focused on the business and continued growth of NHRA.
"We appreciate the efforts put forth by Eddy and the entire HD Partners team the last year-and-a-half. NHRA is in the best financial position in its history and prospects for future growth are at an all-time high," said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. "It is the health of the company, the sport and strong future prospects that led HD Partners to pursue this transaction in the first place and those elements still exist.
"Few would argue we have a great product and an incredible opportunity in front of us to build and grow the sport of NHRA and NHRA POWERade Drag Racing. The initiatives communicated during this process still hold true and we will work together with the racing community, sponsors and business partners to achieve them and continue the growth of the sport."
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.
From NHRA
Moore/Perdue Drama
Richard Moore and Bev Perdue tattled on each other and let a Republican up for reelection this year be the judge.
The result is not surprising, and just another example of how their campaigns are hurting Democratic prospects for this fall by hurling so much mud at each other.
The issue of state employees using taxpayer funded resources for political work has another interesting twist to it:
Still, should people who are campaign staff be able to concurrently double on the candidate's state payroll? I don't think so. It blurs the line too much between campaign work and state work, and the last thing North Carolina's taxpayers need to fund is people doing campaign related work on the state dime. And I hate to say it, but it's not fair to the Republican candidates for Governor who don't have state budgets to keep their campaign folks on.
I know this is just the 'way things have always been.' But they shouldn't be that way. And I'm sorry the issue of blurring lines between campaign work and state work had to come to the fore because of the Democratic candidates for Governor telling on each other, but it might be a good issue for the Legislature to address this summer.
The result is not surprising, and just another example of how their campaigns are hurting Democratic prospects for this fall by hurling so much mud at each other.
The issue of state employees using taxpayer funded resources for political work has another interesting twist to it:
The audit of computers in Moore's office found "significant evidence of political activity using state resources" by four part-time staff members who also work on Moore's campaign.This is a common occurrence and by no means unique to the Moore campaign. I don't know whether the Perdue campaign has people in the same situation or not- it certainly wouldn't surprise me.
Still, should people who are campaign staff be able to concurrently double on the candidate's state payroll? I don't think so. It blurs the line too much between campaign work and state work, and the last thing North Carolina's taxpayers need to fund is people doing campaign related work on the state dime. And I hate to say it, but it's not fair to the Republican candidates for Governor who don't have state budgets to keep their campaign folks on.
I know this is just the 'way things have always been.' But they shouldn't be that way. And I'm sorry the issue of blurring lines between campaign work and state work had to come to the fore because of the Democratic candidates for Governor telling on each other, but it might be a good issue for the Legislature to address this summer.
Call for news...
We're getting close to press time for the next issue of Inside Track Motorsport News.
If anyone has any team or sponsorship announcements they'd like to make public, please send them to me at greg at insidetracknews dot com
p.s. - I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly...
Georgia Results
Barack Obama 51
Hillary Clinton 41
Judging from the South Carolina results, it looks like Barack Obama is going to do pretty well in states like Georgia where more than a third of the Democratic primary electorate is African American.
In Georgia he gets 73% of the black vote. He trails Clinton 56-36 on the white vote, but that keeps it close enough to afford him a solid overall lead.
The gender gap in the state is minimal. Obama leads 50-42 among women and 53-39 with men.
Mitt Romney 32
John McCain 31
Mike Huckabee 24
Ron Paul 3
It looks like Georgia may play out in a way similar to Florida. It's very competitive between Romney and McCain, and anything could happen in the next week.
Like most states, the economy and the war are the top issues in the minds of Georgia Republicans, and folks who have those as their top concerns favor McCain.
What's putting Romney in the lead is immigration, which polls as the third biggest issue for likely GOP voters in Georgia, and on which he has such large lead over McCain that it trumps McCain's advantages on the biggest Republican issues.
Full results here.
Hillary Clinton 41
Judging from the South Carolina results, it looks like Barack Obama is going to do pretty well in states like Georgia where more than a third of the Democratic primary electorate is African American.
In Georgia he gets 73% of the black vote. He trails Clinton 56-36 on the white vote, but that keeps it close enough to afford him a solid overall lead.
The gender gap in the state is minimal. Obama leads 50-42 among women and 53-39 with men.
Mitt Romney 32
John McCain 31
Mike Huckabee 24
Ron Paul 3
It looks like Georgia may play out in a way similar to Florida. It's very competitive between Romney and McCain, and anything could happen in the next week.
Like most states, the economy and the war are the top issues in the minds of Georgia Republicans, and folks who have those as their top concerns favor McCain.
What's putting Romney in the lead is immigration, which polls as the third biggest issue for likely GOP voters in Georgia, and on which he has such large lead over McCain that it trumps McCain's advantages on the biggest Republican issues.
Full results here.
"Consensus is not our goal": A Conversation with FDA's Top Drug Reviewer
Drug companies aren't the only ones worried about the sinking rate of new drug approvals. Food & Drug Administration officials are equally concerned over the innovation drought. After all, the number of new drugs making it to market is at its lowest since 1983.FDA's Office of New Drugs Director John Jenkins, who oversees all new drug applications within the drug center, is especially preoccupied with the lack of results from the drug development process. "We agree that it’s very disheartening that despite the rather massive expenditure of research dollars, we’re not seeing a growth in the number of NMEs submitted to the agency for review," Jenkins says of new molecular entities getting aproved by the agency. "We are seeing a continued growth in the number of new commercial INDs submitted, so there still seems to be a lot of innovation. It’s a question of how to get them out the other end of the pipeline."
Jenkins also addressed other issues ranging from drug safety to how FDA plans to prioritize implementing the new drug reform regulations under the FDA Amendments Act. In particular, he addressed the public disagreement between the drug review and drug safety groups during the Avandia advisory committee meeting last July.
"Consensus is not our goal," Jenkins says. "That strikes some people as odd when they first hear me say that, but I think that if you’re in a regulatory organization and people think that consensus is the goal, that leads to a subtle pressure to conform to the prevailing viewpoint even though you may not agree with the prevailing viewpoint and you may in fact be right."
You can read the whole interview in The RPM Report by clicking here. Free registration for non-subscribers is on the left side; subscribers should just log in.I would love to hear your comments on Jenkins' views on FDA, drug companies and drug development.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Neuro Companies Causing Headaches
Ever since President Bush (the First) declared the 1990s to be the Decade of the Brain, hopes have been high for device innovations to treat a variety of neurological conditions ranging from stroke to migraines to depression.
For all the promise these therapeutic areas hold, neurological device applications have proven to be among the most inscrutable for entrepreneurs and investors, replete with technological and clinical challenges, not the least of which is the difficulty of conducting neuro trials, e.g., the inherent problems in enrolling acute patients for stroke studies.
Several recent announcements have done nothing but confirm how challenging the neuro space is. In fact, this year is starting out to be one that neuro investors would just as soon forget. Highlighting the bad news cascade was Northstar Neuroscience Inc.'s announcement that its EVEREST pivotal trial failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint. This caused Northstar's stock to immediately plummet by nearly 90%, hovering today at just above $1 per share. Coming off what many investors called the most successful device IPO of 2006 (raising more than $100mm), Northstar's stock took an unexplained hit not long after going public, but there is no doubt about the reason behind this most recent crash.
Hopes surrounding Northstar were high. The EVEREST trial was designed to determine whether cortical neurostimulation, together with rehab therapy, would improve hand and arm function in stroke survivors better than rehab alone. Not only did the initial four-week data fail to show any meaningful difference between the investigational and control groups, but a preliminary review of the longer-term (24-week data) appears to show similar results. John Bowers, Northstar's president and CEO, during a conference call discussing the trial results, noted, "To put it mildly, we are extremely surprised and disappointed" by the study's outcome, and couldn't explain why EVEREST failed to reflect the positive results demonstrated by the company's two previous feasibility trials.
Northstar remains well-financed--the company reported having more than $80mm in cash and investment on hand as of year-end 2007. While feasibility studies are still being explored for possible applications of Northstar's Renova technology to treat tinnitus, aphasia and depression, Bowers acknowledged that it is unlikely the company will make sufficient progress in any of those areas to launch a new pivotal trial this year.
Northstar is not the first high-profile failure in the hot neurostim/neuromodulation space. Cyberonics' decision to no longer focus on treatment-resistant depression with its vagus-nerve stimulation technology--concentrating instead on epilepsy--has been well documented. Northstar's fall may, however, cause investors to pause and assess what progress other players in this area are making before committing additional funds.
Other recent examples of bad neuro news come from one particular therapeutic area: PFO closure (a hole in the heart that fails to close after birth) thought to possibly cause both migraines and stroke. NMT Medical Inc. just announced that it was shutting down its MIST II PFO/migraine trial, primarily due to patient enrollment difficulties, to concentrate on its CLOSURE I pivotal PFO/stroke trial. Investors didn't take the news well, driving the company's stock price down as much as 35%, although it has regained about half of that lost value in the last couple of days.
Indeed, one whole area of PFO closure technology--so-called energy-based approaches that use sources including RF-energy to seal the PFO--has apparently proven unworkable. Cierra Inc., a company out of The Foundry incubator, is in the process of winding up its operations, and, according to executives familiar with this space, CoAptus Medical Corp., the other player in this space using an energy-based approach, may soon follow suit.
Lest we leave you with a completely negative take on the prospects for device-based neurological therapies, here's one recent positive development: earlier this month, the FDA cleared Penumbra Inc.'s system, which is a tool-set designed to treat ischemic stroke by removing occlusions from the brain's larger vessels. Penumbra's approach is designed to provide neuro-interventionalists with an approach that can be used beyond the narrow, three-hour window during which the drug tPA is indicated, as the company's system can be employed within eight hours of an ischemic event.
"Human Brain" by Flickr user Gaetan Lee used under a creative commons license.
For all the promise these therapeutic areas hold, neurological device applications have proven to be among the most inscrutable for entrepreneurs and investors, replete with technological and clinical challenges, not the least of which is the difficulty of conducting neuro trials, e.g., the inherent problems in enrolling acute patients for stroke studies.
Several recent announcements have done nothing but confirm how challenging the neuro space is. In fact, this year is starting out to be one that neuro investors would just as soon forget. Highlighting the bad news cascade was Northstar Neuroscience Inc.'s announcement that its EVEREST pivotal trial failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint. This caused Northstar's stock to immediately plummet by nearly 90%, hovering today at just above $1 per share. Coming off what many investors called the most successful device IPO of 2006 (raising more than $100mm), Northstar's stock took an unexplained hit not long after going public, but there is no doubt about the reason behind this most recent crash.
Hopes surrounding Northstar were high. The EVEREST trial was designed to determine whether cortical neurostimulation, together with rehab therapy, would improve hand and arm function in stroke survivors better than rehab alone. Not only did the initial four-week data fail to show any meaningful difference between the investigational and control groups, but a preliminary review of the longer-term (24-week data) appears to show similar results. John Bowers, Northstar's president and CEO, during a conference call discussing the trial results, noted, "To put it mildly, we are extremely surprised and disappointed" by the study's outcome, and couldn't explain why EVEREST failed to reflect the positive results demonstrated by the company's two previous feasibility trials.
Northstar remains well-financed--the company reported having more than $80mm in cash and investment on hand as of year-end 2007. While feasibility studies are still being explored for possible applications of Northstar's Renova technology to treat tinnitus, aphasia and depression, Bowers acknowledged that it is unlikely the company will make sufficient progress in any of those areas to launch a new pivotal trial this year.
Northstar is not the first high-profile failure in the hot neurostim/neuromodulation space. Cyberonics' decision to no longer focus on treatment-resistant depression with its vagus-nerve stimulation technology--concentrating instead on epilepsy--has been well documented. Northstar's fall may, however, cause investors to pause and assess what progress other players in this area are making before committing additional funds.
Other recent examples of bad neuro news come from one particular therapeutic area: PFO closure (a hole in the heart that fails to close after birth) thought to possibly cause both migraines and stroke. NMT Medical Inc. just announced that it was shutting down its MIST II PFO/migraine trial, primarily due to patient enrollment difficulties, to concentrate on its CLOSURE I pivotal PFO/stroke trial. Investors didn't take the news well, driving the company's stock price down as much as 35%, although it has regained about half of that lost value in the last couple of days.
Indeed, one whole area of PFO closure technology--so-called energy-based approaches that use sources including RF-energy to seal the PFO--has apparently proven unworkable. Cierra Inc., a company out of The Foundry incubator, is in the process of winding up its operations, and, according to executives familiar with this space, CoAptus Medical Corp., the other player in this space using an energy-based approach, may soon follow suit.
Lest we leave you with a completely negative take on the prospects for device-based neurological therapies, here's one recent positive development: earlier this month, the FDA cleared Penumbra Inc.'s system, which is a tool-set designed to treat ischemic stroke by removing occlusions from the brain's larger vessels. Penumbra's approach is designed to provide neuro-interventionalists with an approach that can be used beyond the narrow, three-hour window during which the drug tPA is indicated, as the company's system can be employed within eight hours of an ischemic event.
"Human Brain" by Flickr user Gaetan Lee used under a creative commons license.
World of Outlaws family mourns passing of Bobby Jackson
CONCORD, N.C. Jan. 30, 2008 The World of Outlaws family was saddened to learn of the passing of former competition director Bobby Jackson on Monday night.
Jackson was one of the most revered members of the World of Outlaws team from 1987 to 2004, and his impact is still felt today as he mentored several current series officials before he became a NASCAR official.
"The racing community is very saddened by the loss of Bobby Jackson," said Carlton Reimers, the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Director. "Bobby loved all types of racing, especially dirt track racing, but his heart was with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. For many years, Bobby was the Series Competition Director, knowledgeable and quick-witted, he presided over many great races. On a personal note he, along with Ted Johnson and Rick Ferkel, taught me most of what I know about racing. He will be missed. God speed and our prayers are with his family."
Jackson was one of the most revered members of the World of Outlaws team from 1987 to 2004, and his impact is still felt today as he mentored several current series officials before he became a NASCAR official.
"The racing community is very saddened by the loss of Bobby Jackson," said Carlton Reimers, the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Director. "Bobby loved all types of racing, especially dirt track racing, but his heart was with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. For many years, Bobby was the Series Competition Director, knowledgeable and quick-witted, he presided over many great races. On a personal note he, along with Ted Johnson and Rick Ferkel, taught me most of what I know about racing. He will be missed. God speed and our prayers are with his family."
Dr. Cyril Wecht on Trial- Day 3
Testimony in the federal case against the former Allegheny County coroner and famed pathologist continued, with witnesses telling gruesome stories of Dr. Cyril Wecht's disregard for the duties of his office.
First to the stand was Daniel D'Alessandro, director of a Lawrenceville funeral home. He says when he collected the body of Charles DuMont from the county's possession, he found a Y- shaped autopsy incision in the embalmed corpse. The family had not asked for one, and none was recorded on the death certificate. D'Alessandro called it an "illegal and unnecessary" though he didn't know where the autopsy was performed. The government claims Wecht traded bodies like Mr. DuMont's as educational cadavers for free lab space in then Carlow College.
Richard Lorah was a deputy coroner under Wecht, and says the "Wecht details" were just a part of the job, but they took precedence to county duties. He says he was told to go on a Wecht detail instead of collecting the body of a woman who'd backed her car off of a downtown parking ramp. He says he overheard Wecht say, "Let her wait, she's not going anywhere."
Lorah also testified that he saw 20-30 boxes of private case files stacked in an executive assistant's office on a February Friday, and after the media reported the beginning of an investigation into Dr. Wecht's affairs, he saw the boxes being removed.
The defense tried to impeach Mr. Lorah by scrutinizing his grand jury testimony for discrepancies. Lorah told the grand jury he'd heard the removal of the boxes, but did not say that he'd seen it. Lorah maintained his eye-witness account.
Lead defense lawyer Jerry McDevitt also brought up Lorah's personnel record at the coroner's office, which includes several reprimands. Lorah admitted one of those reprimands was for profane language while talking about Dr. Wecht. In re-cross examination, Lorah says Wecht swore at him, calling him an "(expletive) Neanderthal" for stopping on the wrong side of the street to pick him up.
Darlene Craig, another county employee that started as a deputy coroner, also testified that "Wecht details" were more imporant than county business. She says she drove with Dr. Wecht to the airport, and picked him and his family up from the Byham theater. When construction forced her to drive across the river while she waited for Dr. Wecht, Craig says he was upset when she was "late." She drove across the river and back 4 times.
In 2005, the coroner's office received a call to collect the body of a hanging suicide, which occured outside. Craig says she took the call, but before she could leave was told by a supervisor that she needed to drop items off to Wecht's law firm, Duquesne University, and an office in the PPG building before going to the scene. Craig says the body was still hanging outside when she arrived.
The defense brought up that Craig didn't pass a necessary exam to become a forensic investigator, but Dr. Wecht did not follow protocol and fire her, but let her have another chance. Craig admitted she didn't know why Wecht was going to the airport when she accompanied him to return the car, or what exactly she delivered for him. She admitted it could have been for county business.
Craig says she was upset at leaving the body, and Wecht didn't give the order directly, but she didn't take advantage of the open-door policy Dr. Wecht had, ending her remark "there was a reason for that." Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Stallings gave her the chance to explain in re-cross. She says that no matter who the order came from, if it was a Wecht detail then Dr. Wecht had told someone it needed done.
Both former employees testified that "Wecht details" were not favors, but orders, more important than their other duties as county employees.
First to the stand was Daniel D'Alessandro, director of a Lawrenceville funeral home. He says when he collected the body of Charles DuMont from the county's possession, he found a Y- shaped autopsy incision in the embalmed corpse. The family had not asked for one, and none was recorded on the death certificate. D'Alessandro called it an "illegal and unnecessary" though he didn't know where the autopsy was performed. The government claims Wecht traded bodies like Mr. DuMont's as educational cadavers for free lab space in then Carlow College.
Richard Lorah was a deputy coroner under Wecht, and says the "Wecht details" were just a part of the job, but they took precedence to county duties. He says he was told to go on a Wecht detail instead of collecting the body of a woman who'd backed her car off of a downtown parking ramp. He says he overheard Wecht say, "Let her wait, she's not going anywhere."
Lorah also testified that he saw 20-30 boxes of private case files stacked in an executive assistant's office on a February Friday, and after the media reported the beginning of an investigation into Dr. Wecht's affairs, he saw the boxes being removed.
The defense tried to impeach Mr. Lorah by scrutinizing his grand jury testimony for discrepancies. Lorah told the grand jury he'd heard the removal of the boxes, but did not say that he'd seen it. Lorah maintained his eye-witness account.
Lead defense lawyer Jerry McDevitt also brought up Lorah's personnel record at the coroner's office, which includes several reprimands. Lorah admitted one of those reprimands was for profane language while talking about Dr. Wecht. In re-cross examination, Lorah says Wecht swore at him, calling him an "(expletive) Neanderthal" for stopping on the wrong side of the street to pick him up.
Darlene Craig, another county employee that started as a deputy coroner, also testified that "Wecht details" were more imporant than county business. She says she drove with Dr. Wecht to the airport, and picked him and his family up from the Byham theater. When construction forced her to drive across the river while she waited for Dr. Wecht, Craig says he was upset when she was "late." She drove across the river and back 4 times.
In 2005, the coroner's office received a call to collect the body of a hanging suicide, which occured outside. Craig says she took the call, but before she could leave was told by a supervisor that she needed to drop items off to Wecht's law firm, Duquesne University, and an office in the PPG building before going to the scene. Craig says the body was still hanging outside when she arrived.
The defense brought up that Craig didn't pass a necessary exam to become a forensic investigator, but Dr. Wecht did not follow protocol and fire her, but let her have another chance. Craig admitted she didn't know why Wecht was going to the airport when she accompanied him to return the car, or what exactly she delivered for him. She admitted it could have been for county business.
Craig says she was upset at leaving the body, and Wecht didn't give the order directly, but she didn't take advantage of the open-door policy Dr. Wecht had, ending her remark "there was a reason for that." Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Stallings gave her the chance to explain in re-cross. She says that no matter who the order came from, if it was a Wecht detail then Dr. Wecht had told someone it needed done.
Both former employees testified that "Wecht details" were not favors, but orders, more important than their other duties as county employees.
New York results
Hillary Clinton 45
Barack Obama 33
John Edwards 10
Obama is closing in a little on Clinton in New York. Most recent polling had shown her over 50% in the state she represents in the Senate. The key finding here is that he gets only 44% of the black vote in the state. That leaves plenty of room to improve between now and next Tuesday's primary, and if he can do that and pick up the majority of the support John Edwards had exhibited in the state, New York could be much more closely contested than might have been anticipated.
The gender gap is back in New York after not being as much a part of the equation in South Carolina. Clinton leads by 21 points among women but just 2 with men.
John McCain 34
Rudy Giuliani 20
Mitt Romney 19
Mike Huckabee 10
Ron Paul 4
Even before Rudy Giuliani decided to drop out of the race for President he was getting beat badly by John McCain in his own state. New York Republicans care most about Iraq and the economy and give their highest level of support to McCain on both those issues.
It is unclear where Giuliani's supporters will go, but they would have to support Romney in large numbers to put much of a dent in McCain's chances of taking the state.
Full results here.
Barack Obama 33
John Edwards 10
Obama is closing in a little on Clinton in New York. Most recent polling had shown her over 50% in the state she represents in the Senate. The key finding here is that he gets only 44% of the black vote in the state. That leaves plenty of room to improve between now and next Tuesday's primary, and if he can do that and pick up the majority of the support John Edwards had exhibited in the state, New York could be much more closely contested than might have been anticipated.
The gender gap is back in New York after not being as much a part of the equation in South Carolina. Clinton leads by 21 points among women but just 2 with men.
John McCain 34
Rudy Giuliani 20
Mitt Romney 19
Mike Huckabee 10
Ron Paul 4
Even before Rudy Giuliani decided to drop out of the race for President he was getting beat badly by John McCain in his own state. New York Republicans care most about Iraq and the economy and give their highest level of support to McCain on both those issues.
It is unclear where Giuliani's supporters will go, but they would have to support Romney in large numbers to put much of a dent in McCain's chances of taking the state.
Full results here.
Who's Sorry Now? Not Feeling So Good Edition
Nature reports today that a peer reviewer for the New England Journal of Medicine leaked to GlaxoSmithKline that big old Avandia meta-analysis that has been the bane of their existence since it was released in May 2006. (Our coverage of the Avandia debacle can be found here.)University of Texas Health Science Center professor of epidemiology Steven Haffner, MD, explained to Nature: "Why I sent it is a mystery. I don't really understand it. I wasn't feeling well. It was bad judgement."
Brian Vastag writes in Nature that Haffner faxed the article 17 days ahead of publication to GSK's Alexander Cobitz, whom he had worked with on an earlier trial of Avandia. What happens from there is unclear--though it's not like GSK effectively got out in front of the news, the 17-days head start may have helped them provide a relatively prompt interim analysis of its RECORD study, which was published in the NEJM in June to try to stop the bleeding.
We will likely have more on this later, once the dust settles. For now, we bring you another edition of "Who's Sorry Now?"
- Steven Haffner to NEJM: Sorry I leaked the Avandia study, but i had a serious cold that day.
- Senator Grassley's office to Nature: Sorry we broke your embargo on the Avandia news today, but we aren't feeling so hot today ourselves.
- American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology to patients: sorry we forgot to disclose our potential financial ties to Merck and Schering-Plough, but there's a wicked flu going around the office.
- Phillies to Mets: Sorry you're spending all that money on Santana, but you're still not winning the NL East this year. Cough.
Bill Graham's finance report
Bill Graham has a fascinating finance report.
First of all, he has 217 contributions and 385 expenditures. I don't think I've ever seen a finance report before where the raw number of contributions was less than the raw number of expenditures. I don't think that's ever a good sign for a campaign- even a self funding one.
Second, he hired over 50 people over the summer for contract labor. What on earth did they all do, and why doesn't it appear to have accomplished anything? If they were all doing grassroots work it doesn't seem to have been very effective.
Bill Graham is running a really bizarre campaign. With Pat McCrory in the picture, I think he's pretty much out of it.
First of all, he has 217 contributions and 385 expenditures. I don't think I've ever seen a finance report before where the raw number of contributions was less than the raw number of expenditures. I don't think that's ever a good sign for a campaign- even a self funding one.
Second, he hired over 50 people over the summer for contract labor. What on earth did they all do, and why doesn't it appear to have accomplished anything? If they were all doing grassroots work it doesn't seem to have been very effective.
Bill Graham is running a really bizarre campaign. With Pat McCrory in the picture, I think he's pretty much out of it.
GP of Edmonton has a new owner
(left to right; Jim Haskins (GPE), Ken Knowles (Northlands), Andy Huntley (Northlands), Steve Johnson (Champ Car), Stephen Mandel (Edmonton Mayor)... photo by Perry Nelson)The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series raced there last summer, and by all accounts, plan to be there again in '08. Resolving the ownership of this major event can only help to clarify the NCATS sked, I would imagine.
A Mission at Risk
It’s déjà vu all over again.“Either we’re going to make sure this agency has the resources necessary to do its job, or we’re going to watch it continue to deteriorate.”
That’s Rep. Henry Waxman, speaking yesterday at a hearing of the Oversight & Investigations subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. The topic: an FDA Science Board report released late last year that found FDA to be so deficient in its scientific and technological capacities that it is unable to meet its regulatory responsibilities.
Wonder why? It comes down to one simple reason, and it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone: the regulatory demands on FDA have increased exponentially as funding for the agency has deteriorated.
But wait—didn’t the Prescription Drug User Fee program, reauthorized as part of the drug safety overhaul, fix this problem?
Alas, no. Over the years, FDA’s new drug review activities have received relatively generous funding thanks to PDUFA. It’s everything else—information technology infrastructure, scientific research to support regulatory standards, the crisis du jour that drains resources from everything FDA does—that is the problem.
The modest increase in FDA’s budget for non user fee programs is nowhere near enough to solve that problem, much less support the new authorities the agency received in drug safety. But, hey, we could have told you that—check out our earlier story on FDA’s funding crisis in The RPM Report.
In the words of former FDA chief counsel Peter Barton Hutt, who helped put the Science Board report together, that chronic underfunding has left FDA “barely hanging on by its fingertips.” What’s needed, Hutt recommended, is a doubling of FDA’s budget over the next two years, a 50% increase in employees, and a 5.8% cost of living adjustment every year thereafter—numbers that had chairman Bart Stupak’s head spinning.
Maybe that is why Stupak seemed more interested in bashing von Eschenbach over specifics in the Science Board report. One highlight was a long exchange between the two over what von Eschenbach had requested for funding in the President’s fiscal 2009 budget. Stupak wanted specifics he could compare to President Bush’s numbers; von Eschenbach demurred until the budget is released next week.
You might have thought that after the passage of the drug safety law, Congress would have left FDA alone for a while to implement it. But it doesn’t look like that’s in the cards this year: Stupak promised Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach at least five more appearances in front of his Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee alone this year. And that’s on the heels of a packed 2007 Hill schedule for von Eschenbach and career FDAers.
So what does this mean for drug companies? Well, it’s not good news: when FDA officials are hauled up to Capitol Hill and bashed over the head for doing a poor job, that doesn’t reflect kindly on the industries it regulates. And as Gail Cassell, Lilly’s VP-scientific affairs testified, when advances in science outstrip FDA’s ability to regulate, that means new therapies don’t get approved in a timely manner.
Perhaps the saddest thing about the FDA Science Board report is that none of the findings are new. The Institute of Medicine and, most recently, the Government Accountability Office, have issued similar reports on the chronic underfunding of the agency. You can find them here and here.
Waxman closed his remarks with this comment: “I hope the Science Board report will be the last report we have to read about the desperation at the Food & Drug Administration.” You can bet Waxman isn’t alone in feeling that way.
NASCAR: Kahne and Carpentier Trade Cars in Vegas
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 29, 2008) - Trading places took on new meaning for Gillett Evernham Motorsports teammates Patrick Carpentier (No. 10 Valvoline Dodge) and Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge) Tuesday morning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Each driver hopped in the other's seat for a few laps - a crucial learning exercise for Carpentier, a 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate.
"It's been wonderful," he said of Kahne's willingness to help. "They've been working with me, helping quite a bit."
One of three open-wheel veterans debuting in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season, Carpentier hopes he's on the fast track to experience.
"We'll see how it goes this afternoon, but it really helps me in the way I describe the car," Carpentier said of Kahne's driving comparison. "If his car is really different, I'll say, 'Maybe that's what I need to have and get used to. I have to get a bit better car.' He's pretty nice to just say, 'Stop this test.' Get in the car, says what he thinks about it. It's always helpful."
Both GEM teams - along with teammate Elliott Sadler (No. 19 Best Buy Dodge) and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup field - were completing their second day of testing at Las Vegas, part of NASCAR Preseason Thunder, NASCAR's annual preseason test sessions.
More West Coast test days await Thursday and Friday at California Speedway, but for Carpentier, learning from a former series Raybestos Rookie of the Year - Kahne swept those honors in 2004 - couldn't come at a more opportune time.
"I just have driven these cars more than Patrick," Kahne said, "so I have a different way of explaining things compared to what he does. It was good for me to feel what it felt like, and also for his team to kind of listen to me explain it and talk to Patrick about it."
Carpentier knows he has much to learn, quickly; he made both his NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debuts within a week last August. And with 2008 being the first fulltime season for NASCAR's new car, he hopes it's the perfect intersection of opportunity.
I just like the car, I like the way it feels," he said, adding that he still must work on drafting at Daytona International Speedway. "I mean, the difficult part for me is just understanding what I need with this car to really get it up to the top of the chart. It's going to take some time, just driving it, getting used to it. I love that car. To me, I like it better than the older car."
Sadler's assistance, while welcome, can't come from the driver's seat.
"Elliott is too tall to get in my car," Carpentier said of the statuesque Sadler, "but he's helping any way he can."
Perhaps even more comforting has been the ability to go home at night. Carpentier, a Montreal native, has been a Las Vegas resident since 1999. But punching the clock at his "home track" hasn't necessarily been easy.
"Been testing all winter," he said. "Went to a few tracks. When you leave that track, you're like, 'I think I've got it down.' You come to a different track, you've got to learn again."
Kahne, Johnson And Kyle Busch Ready To Compete … Following Carpentier to the infield media center on Tuesday was reigning and two-time series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet), who's won the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup events at Las Vegas.
Johnson also registered his optimism over the new car's test performances.
"It's got less downforce and all these things that make it harder to drive," Johnson said. "But we still end up with the same race. Martinsville was still an awesome race. Dover was the same. Talladega was awesome. You get back to that same thing. It's still a race car on that track, and we're still seeing that same stuff here."
And although he knows he and his race team are the target among their peers, he's not worried about pressure to produce a third consecutive series title.
"I don't feel it any more than I would in any year," Johnson said. "I think when you drive for Hendrick Motorsports, Rick (Hendrick) has a history of setting a high mark. The company has a lot of expectations of its drivers, its crew chiefs. There's a lot expected of us. I feel more pressure from that environment than any outside environment."
During Kasey Kahne's lunch-break visit with the media, he admitted he's feeling more comfortable each day in his new red firesuit emblazoned with new sponsor, Budweiser.
"I think it's too early to tell on a lot of that stuff, you know, how it's going to all work out and things," Kahne said. "I feel pretty good about it. I've been definitely happy to have Budweiser colors, be working with those people. It's been a lot of fun."
One thing he does have his eye on is next month's 50th Daytona 500. Growing up in Washington, Kahne remembers his family hosting breakfasts on race day and watching the race broadcasts with his father.
"I just think it's awesome to be part of the 50th anniversary," Kahne said. "The first time I went through the tunnel to Daytona, you know, you see the facility, the track, the bank. You can remember so many races that you've seen on TV, so much stuff that's went on. It's neat. It's exciting. It's a great feeling to be part of that."
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota) wrapped up Tuesday's lunch-break media availability, adding to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate's Denny Hamlin's (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) Monday comments on the good communication brewing between their teams and that of teammate Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet).
Throw in the crew chiefs – Greg Zipadelli for Stewart, Steve Addington for Busch and Mike Ford for Hamlin – and Busch's introduction to the JGR community seems to be a hit.
"Everything has really worked well," said Busch, who comes to JGR from Hendrick Motorsports. "I've talked to Zippy a lot already this weekend. Working with Denny and Mike Ford a little bit. Of course, my guys, we've been communicating all the time. Steve and I haven't stopped talking to each other or texting each other at night and stuff. We're back and forth all the time."
Pit Stops …. Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) was fastest in Tuesday's morning session at 184.256 mph (29.350 seconds). David Reutimann (No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota) was second at 183.986 mph (30.311 seconds). Kyle Busch was third at 183.892 mph (29.365 seconds). Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford) was fourth at 183.830 mph (29.375 seconds) and Tony Stewart was fifth at 183.692 mph (29.397 seconds).
From NASCAR
Each driver hopped in the other's seat for a few laps - a crucial learning exercise for Carpentier, a 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate.
"It's been wonderful," he said of Kahne's willingness to help. "They've been working with me, helping quite a bit."
One of three open-wheel veterans debuting in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season, Carpentier hopes he's on the fast track to experience.
"We'll see how it goes this afternoon, but it really helps me in the way I describe the car," Carpentier said of Kahne's driving comparison. "If his car is really different, I'll say, 'Maybe that's what I need to have and get used to. I have to get a bit better car.' He's pretty nice to just say, 'Stop this test.' Get in the car, says what he thinks about it. It's always helpful."
Both GEM teams - along with teammate Elliott Sadler (No. 19 Best Buy Dodge) and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup field - were completing their second day of testing at Las Vegas, part of NASCAR Preseason Thunder, NASCAR's annual preseason test sessions.
More West Coast test days await Thursday and Friday at California Speedway, but for Carpentier, learning from a former series Raybestos Rookie of the Year - Kahne swept those honors in 2004 - couldn't come at a more opportune time.
"I just have driven these cars more than Patrick," Kahne said, "so I have a different way of explaining things compared to what he does. It was good for me to feel what it felt like, and also for his team to kind of listen to me explain it and talk to Patrick about it."
Carpentier knows he has much to learn, quickly; he made both his NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debuts within a week last August. And with 2008 being the first fulltime season for NASCAR's new car, he hopes it's the perfect intersection of opportunity.
I just like the car, I like the way it feels," he said, adding that he still must work on drafting at Daytona International Speedway. "I mean, the difficult part for me is just understanding what I need with this car to really get it up to the top of the chart. It's going to take some time, just driving it, getting used to it. I love that car. To me, I like it better than the older car."
Sadler's assistance, while welcome, can't come from the driver's seat.
"Elliott is too tall to get in my car," Carpentier said of the statuesque Sadler, "but he's helping any way he can."
Perhaps even more comforting has been the ability to go home at night. Carpentier, a Montreal native, has been a Las Vegas resident since 1999. But punching the clock at his "home track" hasn't necessarily been easy.
"Been testing all winter," he said. "Went to a few tracks. When you leave that track, you're like, 'I think I've got it down.' You come to a different track, you've got to learn again."
Kahne, Johnson And Kyle Busch Ready To Compete … Following Carpentier to the infield media center on Tuesday was reigning and two-time series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet), who's won the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup events at Las Vegas.
Johnson also registered his optimism over the new car's test performances.
"It's got less downforce and all these things that make it harder to drive," Johnson said. "But we still end up with the same race. Martinsville was still an awesome race. Dover was the same. Talladega was awesome. You get back to that same thing. It's still a race car on that track, and we're still seeing that same stuff here."
And although he knows he and his race team are the target among their peers, he's not worried about pressure to produce a third consecutive series title.
"I don't feel it any more than I would in any year," Johnson said. "I think when you drive for Hendrick Motorsports, Rick (Hendrick) has a history of setting a high mark. The company has a lot of expectations of its drivers, its crew chiefs. There's a lot expected of us. I feel more pressure from that environment than any outside environment."
During Kasey Kahne's lunch-break visit with the media, he admitted he's feeling more comfortable each day in his new red firesuit emblazoned with new sponsor, Budweiser.
"I think it's too early to tell on a lot of that stuff, you know, how it's going to all work out and things," Kahne said. "I feel pretty good about it. I've been definitely happy to have Budweiser colors, be working with those people. It's been a lot of fun."
One thing he does have his eye on is next month's 50th Daytona 500. Growing up in Washington, Kahne remembers his family hosting breakfasts on race day and watching the race broadcasts with his father.
"I just think it's awesome to be part of the 50th anniversary," Kahne said. "The first time I went through the tunnel to Daytona, you know, you see the facility, the track, the bank. You can remember so many races that you've seen on TV, so much stuff that's went on. It's neat. It's exciting. It's a great feeling to be part of that."
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota) wrapped up Tuesday's lunch-break media availability, adding to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate's Denny Hamlin's (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) Monday comments on the good communication brewing between their teams and that of teammate Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet).
Throw in the crew chiefs – Greg Zipadelli for Stewart, Steve Addington for Busch and Mike Ford for Hamlin – and Busch's introduction to the JGR community seems to be a hit.
"Everything has really worked well," said Busch, who comes to JGR from Hendrick Motorsports. "I've talked to Zippy a lot already this weekend. Working with Denny and Mike Ford a little bit. Of course, my guys, we've been communicating all the time. Steve and I haven't stopped talking to each other or texting each other at night and stuff. We're back and forth all the time."
Pit Stops …. Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) was fastest in Tuesday's morning session at 184.256 mph (29.350 seconds). David Reutimann (No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota) was second at 183.986 mph (30.311 seconds). Kyle Busch was third at 183.892 mph (29.365 seconds). Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford) was fourth at 183.830 mph (29.375 seconds) and Tony Stewart was fifth at 183.692 mph (29.397 seconds).
From NASCAR
Maritime Pro Stock Tour Schedule Released
The Maritime Pro Stock Tour released its 2008 schedule in late January. It will return to an eleven race series at five different facilities.
Scotia Speedworld will kick off the season on May 24, followed by visits to Riverside Speedway, Speedway 660, and Raceway Park in June.
Several extra distance races are on the schedule including the Riverside 250 on July 19. This will be the first time the tour has sanctioned a race of this caliber. Already there is $100,000 in posted awards including a $10,000 first place prize for this event in Antigonish, N.S.
The Centre for Speed returns, following a years absence, to host a 150 lap tour event on August 2 while the traditional season ending Parts for Trucks 200 is set for September 6 at Scotia Speedworld.
2008 tentative schedule*
May 24: Scotia Speedworld - Halifax, N.S.
June 7: Riverside Speedway - Antigonish, N.S.
June 21: Speedway 660 - Geary, N.B.
June 28: Raceway Park - Oyster Bed Bridge, PEI
July 5: Scotia Speedworld - Halifax, N.S.
July 19: Riverside 250 - Antigonish, N.S.
July 26: Speedway 660 - Geary, N.B.
August 2: Centre for Speed 150 - Shediac, N.B.
August 16: Riverside Speedway - Antigonish, N.S.
August 23: Raceway Park - Oyster Bed Bridge, PEI
Sept 6: Scotia Speedworld 200 - Halifax, N.S.
*subject to change
Scotia Speedworld will kick off the season on May 24, followed by visits to Riverside Speedway, Speedway 660, and Raceway Park in June.
Several extra distance races are on the schedule including the Riverside 250 on July 19. This will be the first time the tour has sanctioned a race of this caliber. Already there is $100,000 in posted awards including a $10,000 first place prize for this event in Antigonish, N.S.
The Centre for Speed returns, following a years absence, to host a 150 lap tour event on August 2 while the traditional season ending Parts for Trucks 200 is set for September 6 at Scotia Speedworld.
2008 tentative schedule*
May 24: Scotia Speedworld - Halifax, N.S.
June 7: Riverside Speedway - Antigonish, N.S.
June 21: Speedway 660 - Geary, N.B.
June 28: Raceway Park - Oyster Bed Bridge, PEI
July 5: Scotia Speedworld - Halifax, N.S.
July 19: Riverside 250 - Antigonish, N.S.
July 26: Speedway 660 - Geary, N.B.
August 2: Centre for Speed 150 - Shediac, N.B.
August 16: Riverside Speedway - Antigonish, N.S.
August 23: Raceway Park - Oyster Bed Bridge, PEI
Sept 6: Scotia Speedworld 200 - Halifax, N.S.
*subject to change
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Canadians go 1-2-3 at Grand-Am race in Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Canadian drivers got off to a fast start in the 2008 Grand-Am KONI Challenge season in Florida, where racers from north of the 49th finished 1-2-3 in the Street Tuner (ST) class and second in the Grand Sport (GS) division at the Fresh From Florida 200 race at Daytona International Speedway.
Nick Wittmer of Hudson, Quebec teamed up with American co-driver Glenn Bocchino to win the event behind the wheel of the No.31 i-MOTO Racing Acura TSX. Finishing just behind Wittmer was the second i-MOTO car, the No. 32 Acura TSX driven by Nick's brother Kuno and American teammate Peter Cunningham. Completing the Canadian sweep of the podium was No.76 Compass 360 Racing Acura TSX of Karl Thomson of Toronto and Travis Walker of Mississauga, Ontario.
Wittmer's win in the ST class gave i-MOTO Racing a second win in four races. It also marked the first KONI Challenge win of any kind for co-driver and team owner Glenn Bocchino, whose team swept the top two positions.
The team dominated the race, as Wittmer's brother Kuno led the opening stages of the event after the team swept the front row. But a different pit strategy put the team one lap ahead of the remaining ST field, one which kept them from being challenged at the end.
"I was fourth when I got in. Glenn Bocchino held up the car perfectly throughout his stint, an hour and a half," Nick Wittmer said. "We did not want to come in before an hour and a half. Because of that, we did one pit stop. Everybody else did two, I believe, and we were one lap ahead because of that one pit stop. From there we just maintained and brought it home. The Cobalt Friction Brakes were amazing. They held up 110 percent all the way and that's what brought us home. Big brother won the pole, but I took down the race."
Bocchino was thrilled with the initial victory, which came in his 22nd start after competing fulltime for only the first time last season.
"It was a great race," Bocchino said. "The car was fantastic, the crew was fantastic, everything was fantastic. Everything worked perfectly. You couldn't ask for a better race. We got a lot of luck on our pit strategy, and that's what put us ahead of the 32 car."
Wittmer and Cunningham took second, while defending race winner Karl Thomson watched as co-driver Travis Walker finished out the race in third. Both drivers ran among the top five during their stints in the Compass 360 Racing Acura.
"We did it the hard way," Cunningham said. "We had a good strategy, not a great strategy, because we went a lap down. We had a chance to stay on the lead lap with our other car, but it didn't work out that way, because we didn't get enough of a gap. We knew at that point we were racing with the one-lap down crowd, and the best we could do was second. We didn't think that would happen, but we kept the pressure on and went, went, went. I had some real great racing all the way to the end. I'm proud of this whole team."
The news was not all positive for the i-MOTO team. Each car was docked 10 team points and all four drivers lost five points after a post-race technical inspection revealed an illegal fuel cell in both team cars.
David Thilenius and Todd Lamb gave the No. 27 Bill Fenton Motorsports Southern Auto Auction Acura RSX-S team a solid fourth-place finish and third Acura machine in the top five. Jamie Holtom of Ottawa and Eric Curran rounded out the top five in the No. 01 Georgian Bay Motorsports Chevrolet Cobalt.
In the GS division, Craig Stanton moved from fourth to first late in the race to secure the win for the BGB Motorsports team (co-driver Tim Traver) and the No. 83 Performance Drink/Toro Viejo Motorsports Porsche 997.
Stanton - who was running fourth on the race's final restart with just under 30 minutes to go in the three-hour race - watched as race leaders Doug Goad and Spencer Pumpelly suffered problems within a three-lap period, then whistled past Tom Milner for his seventh career KONI Challenge overall win. The victory was Traver's second in KONI Challenge competition.
Overall, Stanton led the final nine laps of the 76-lap affair. While running third on Lap 68, Stanton watched as Pumpelly took the point from Milner in the first of 14 turns on the 3.56-mile track. Moments later, however, Pumpelly slowed, smoke bellowing out of his No. 39 TRG The DigiTrust Group/Adam's Polishes Porsche 997.
Stanton made what would become the winning pass moments after that, driving past Milner on the backstretch. Milner later pulled his car off the track, handing second place to Toronto's Scott Maxwell. But Stanton was too far ahead for Maxwell to mount a serious challenge, and with the final of five cautions waving five minutes from the scheduled checkered flag, Maxwell had to settle for the race's runner-up position for the second straight season.
Stanton, who will compete in the GT class in Saturday's Rolex 24 At Daytona, found the three-hour enduro to be a nice tune-up and momentum booster for the 24-hour race.
"There was a lot of stuff going on late in the race," Stanton said. "I didn't see but about a third of it, but I heard a lot of chatter on my radio. Basically, I put my head down and worked really hard.
"This has been an accumulation of about a four-month project," Stanton continued. "At the end of last year, we were right on the podium. We gained some momentum, so we felt a win was overdue. We worked real hard here at a number of driving events. Being local, we worked hard to get some data and put our best foot forward."
Traver won 2006 season finale at Virginia International Raceway, also with BGB, which is located in nearby Ormond Beach, Fla. He put Stanton in prime position for the victory, stopping within the first hour-and-a-half for fuel, tires and a driver change. The team also pitted a second time just after the two-hour mark.
"The team was awesome today," Traver said. "What can I say about Craig Stanton as a co-driver? It was amazing. Flawless pit stops, flawless strategy. It was just perfect."
Maxwell, driving the No. 55 Hyper Sport Ford Mustang GT, was the third of a three-man rotation which saw Jeff Courtney start the car. Maxwell was sixth late in the race but, with impressive moves inside and out, threaded through the field. He and Courtney shared the car with Joe Foster, who also ran among the top five during his stint.
"It was pretty hectic the last few laps. I was making a lot of mistakes out there," Maxwell said. "I went off once. But the Hyper Sport Mustang was so good; we just ran out of time running down the Porsche. I had a lot of fun. These KONI Challenge races are always a blast, and I love Daytona. I've won here, and almost won again last year, but I guess we're second best again. It's a good start to the year, something to build on. We're after a championship, and you have to put the points on the board."
Foster was also part of the runner-up team in the 2007 Fresh From Florida 200. Foster used that strong start to remain in championship contention throughout 2008.
"It was a great race," Foster said. "This first race of the year is a dual-class race and it's three hours long, so we had an opportunity to use some strategy. Jeff Courtney did a great opening stint, I did an hour, 20 minutes in the middle and Scott batted cleanup and did a great job. We're all happy. I'm happy for Patrick (Dempsey) and Rick (Skelton), the team owners, and for Hyper Sport and for Ford. We had a great time."
Terry Borcheller pitted late but managed to weave through the field and gave himself and co-driver Scott Tucker third in the No. 3 Blackforest Motorsports US Army/Turner Law Firm Ford Mustang GT. He took third in the final handful of laps, passing No. 09 Automatic racing Fresh From Florida/Imported Car Store BMW M3 co-champion Jeff Segal after being forced wide on a pass for second by Maxwell just a few laps earlier.
"It was just good, clean racing," Borcheller said. "I really had a lot of fun. I know Scott (Maxwell) well, I've run with him a lot. I trust him. And Jeff Segal was in the BMW and I know him pretty well and I trust him. I had my hands full with him in the infield. But our Mustang had a little power on the top over him. It was a good race. Great fun, great series."
Segal and fellow driving titlist Jep Thornton garnered fourth, one spot ahead of teammates Jon Miller and David Russell. Miller led the opening and a race-high 28 laps after passing polesitter Tommy Constantine in Turn 1, and turned the No. 99 Automatic Racing Fresh From Florida/Imported Car Store BMW M3.
Other Mustangs dominated the middle stages of the race, as Rehagen Racing teammates Hugh Plumb and Dean Martin ran 1-2 for several laps in the race's closest battle for the lead all afternoon. However, pit stops during a late-race yellow dropped the pair from winning competition.
The Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series competitors return to the track May 24-26 at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. for the second round of the season.
From Lee Bailie // Media Relations and Promotions Specialist // Mosport International Raceway
Photo courtesy of Brian Cleary/Grand-Am
Day 2 of the Dr. Cyril Wecht Trial
Yesterday the jury heard opening arguments in the federal trial of former Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht. Dr. Wecht has been indicted on 41 counts that include trading cadavers to Carlow University in exchange for the use of office space for his private pathology business, wire and mail fraud, and inflating bills to his private clients. He is also charged with using county office space, equipment and personnel for private business tasks and errands. An investigation into Dr. Wecht's practices began in February 2005. On January 20, 2006 a federal grand jury released an 84-count indictment. The same day Dr. Wecht resigned from his position. Earlier this month the counts were reduced to 41.
Today the prosecution resumed its questioning of Dr. Edward Strimlan, the chief forensic investigator for the Allegheny County medical examiner's office. Dr. Strimlan revealed that the morgue had sent "storaged" or unclaimed cadavers to Carlow University despite the fact that their paper work had specified the bodies not be autopsied. He told the jury that one body was delivered to the morgue and a little over three hours later was rushed to Carlow University. Under further questioning he explained that this was not common practice--they typically take time to try and find the decedent's family to claim the body. He speculated that they sped up the process to avoid having the body embalmed because Carlow had requested the bodies be untreated.
Defense attorney Jerry McDevitt began his cross-examination by peppering Dr. Strimlan with questions about his recollection of conversations with the FBI. Responding to McDevitt's line of questioning it became clear that Dr. Strimlan had used the County Coroner office for his own private business. Dr. Strimlan and a number of colleagues had created t-shirts with the office insignia on it and stored and sold this "reaper wear" as they were called, on the premises. It appeared that McDevitt was attempting to show that Dr. Wecht was in good company when he blurred the line between his public and private practices.
Today the prosecution resumed its questioning of Dr. Edward Strimlan, the chief forensic investigator for the Allegheny County medical examiner's office. Dr. Strimlan revealed that the morgue had sent "storaged" or unclaimed cadavers to Carlow University despite the fact that their paper work had specified the bodies not be autopsied. He told the jury that one body was delivered to the morgue and a little over three hours later was rushed to Carlow University. Under further questioning he explained that this was not common practice--they typically take time to try and find the decedent's family to claim the body. He speculated that they sped up the process to avoid having the body embalmed because Carlow had requested the bodies be untreated.
Defense attorney Jerry McDevitt began his cross-examination by peppering Dr. Strimlan with questions about his recollection of conversations with the FBI. Responding to McDevitt's line of questioning it became clear that Dr. Strimlan had used the County Coroner office for his own private business. Dr. Strimlan and a number of colleagues had created t-shirts with the office insignia on it and stored and sold this "reaper wear" as they were called, on the premises. It appeared that McDevitt was attempting to show that Dr. Wecht was in good company when he blurred the line between his public and private practices.
Grocery Chain looks at Hill
The Save-A-Lot grocery store chain says it has some interest in putting a store in the hill district but officials say they are in the very preliminary phases of the evaluation process. Save-A-Lot boasts 1,180 stores in 39 states including 6 in southwestern Pennsylvania and the company thinks there is room to add 4 more stores in the area. Save-a-Lot director of development Dick Koop says the chain focuses on the 44-percent of US households with incomes of 35 thousand dollars or less and it likes to be close to those homes. He says the Hill District seems to fit the bill. Hill residents in the past have called for what the term a “full service” grocery store with a pharmacy, bakery and baggers. Koop says they see providing high quality produce, meat and other groceries while hiring local workers as being full service. Save-A-Lot looked at the Hill in the past and decided to not open a store. Koop says the community looks more appealing today than it may have then.
A1GP: Wickens Back for Canada Down-Under
The 18-year-old rookie steered A1 Team Canada to its highest placing of the season two weeks ago in New Zealand thanks to a sublime runner-up performance in Round 5's Feature race. Canada currently sits 12th overall on 22 points, just six markers shy of China in 10th place and all the indicators point to the team maintaining its recent form with Robert scoring two podiums in six race starts since his debut in November's third round in Malaysia.
As with all the tracks Wickens has visited since then, Australia's 3.93km Eastern Creek International Raceway is new to the 2006 Formula BMW USA Champion. Learning circuits has yet to prove to be an issue for the Canadian teen, evidenced by his performance last time out at Taupo Motorsports Park when Wickens topped the timesheets at the end of Friday morning's 'Rookie-Only' session.
Robert subsequently converted his early form into a pair of top-ten qualifying performances including fourth on the grid for the 50-lap Feature event, Canada's highest starting Feature slot since Round 3 of the 2006-07 A1GP season on the streets of Beijing, China. James Hinchcliffe was behind the wheel for Canada on that particular occasion as he was when A1GP visited Eastern Creek last January. A forgettable Sprint race was followed by a dramatic exit from the Feature on the opening lap. Contact from behind pitched Hinchcliffe into a spectacular barrel-roll, the Toronto-native eventually coming to a halt upside down in the gravel trap but thankfully emerging unscathed from the incident.
"I know Eastern Creek hasn't been too kind to A1 Team Canada in the past but I'm hoping we can change all that," stated Wickens ahead of his track debut. "I'm happy to get the chance to build on our momentum from Taupo and I see no reason why we can't have another strong weekend. We were unfortunate to miss out on two top-ten scores in New Zealand but if we can meet that objective in Australia then there's every chance we'll crack the top-ten in the Nations Standings. Canada's getting stronger with each race meeting and I think we're in for an exciting second half to the season."
A1 Team Canada Seat Holder Wade Cherwayko commented; "There's no doubt that we're presently one of the form teams in A1GP and I hope we can build on Robert's Feature podium from New Zealand. I believe with the pace and consistency recently showcased by Canada, we deserve to be amongst the top-ten nations in A1GP. I'm confident we'll get there, we're knocking on the door!"
Sunday's 20-minute Sprint race starts at 11am local time on Sunday (2pm EST Saturday 2nd February) with the 70-minute Feature race starting at 3pm in Australia (6pm EST Saturday 2nd February). Live Feature streaming available via - www.a1gp.com
Setanta Sports Canada will broadcast Round 6 from Australia as a tape-delay starting at 8am EST on Monday 4th February - www.setantanorthamerica.com
A1GP Top-Ten Nations Standings - Round 5/10: 1st New Zealand (82), 2nd Switzerland (80), 3rd France (80), 4th Germany (65), 5th South Africa (59), 6th Netherlands (50), 7th Ireland (50), 8th Great Britain (48), 9th India (28), 10th China (28), *12 CANADA (22)
Photo Credit: 'Canada's Robert Wickens celebrating second on the A1GP podium in New Zealand' - Jakob Ebrey Photography
Copyright-free A1 Team Canada images are available for download at www.a1gp-photo.com/can
From: A1 Team Canada Media Relations: Stuart Morrison - PR & Media Manager
Tennessee Results
Mike Huckabee 30
John McCain 26
Mitt Romney 22
Ron Paul 6
Rudy Giuliani 4
With Fred Thompson out of the race, Tennessee Republicans are still going for one of their fellow southern conservatives. The reason Huckabee's doing better here than he did in South Carolina is a greater percentage of likely GOP voters listing moral and family values as their top issue when voting. It's just behind the economy in importance in the state, and 53% of respondents who said it was their main concern chose Huckabee.
McCain leads the field among voters who cited the economy or the war as their top issue. Immigration was fourth on the list and provided a good deal of support for Romney, as our surveys have shown in Florida as well.
Hillary Clinton 43
Barack Obama 32
John Edwards 16
The results here indicate that Obama may have some trouble winning southern states that don't have the high percentage of black voters that South Carolina does. He continues to get 60% of the support of black respondents, but trails Clinton 50-22 among white respondents. Obama should inch closer to Clinton though because a lot more African American voters remain undecided than white voters, and those folks leaned his way on election day if the South Carolina exit polls were accurate.
One key finding is that the strong support from women Clinton usually benefits from that wasn't there in South Carolina appears to be back in Tennessee. She leads Obama 47-28 with female respondents.
Full crosstabs here.
John McCain 26
Mitt Romney 22
Ron Paul 6
Rudy Giuliani 4
With Fred Thompson out of the race, Tennessee Republicans are still going for one of their fellow southern conservatives. The reason Huckabee's doing better here than he did in South Carolina is a greater percentage of likely GOP voters listing moral and family values as their top issue when voting. It's just behind the economy in importance in the state, and 53% of respondents who said it was their main concern chose Huckabee.
McCain leads the field among voters who cited the economy or the war as their top issue. Immigration was fourth on the list and provided a good deal of support for Romney, as our surveys have shown in Florida as well.
Hillary Clinton 43
Barack Obama 32
John Edwards 16
The results here indicate that Obama may have some trouble winning southern states that don't have the high percentage of black voters that South Carolina does. He continues to get 60% of the support of black respondents, but trails Clinton 50-22 among white respondents. Obama should inch closer to Clinton though because a lot more African American voters remain undecided than white voters, and those folks leaned his way on election day if the South Carolina exit polls were accurate.
One key finding is that the strong support from women Clinton usually benefits from that wasn't there in South Carolina appears to be back in Tennessee. She leads Obama 47-28 with female respondents.
Full crosstabs here.
The Wittmer Brothers, Cunningham and Bocchino give the i-MOTO team a perfect 1-2 Finish in the Fresh From Florida 200 of Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 29, 2008) – Team i-MOTO starts the 2008 Koni Challenge season with a strong 1-2 finish. Nick Wittmer and Glenn Bocchino (piloting the 31# Acura TSX) giving Acura the first win of the 2008 season and teammates Kuno Wittmer and Peter Cunningham (piloting the 32# Acura TSX) finishing a strong second place in the Fresh From Florida 200 of Daytona .
Starting the race with an all i-MOTO front row, Kuno Wittmer qualified on pole with a (2:09.312) and teammate Glenn Bocchino qualifying second with a (2:09.580). A first turn mishap caused by a suck throttle on Kuno Wittmers 32# car costing both drivers the lead. Both drivers quickly recovered with Kuno Wittmer later regaining the lead and Glenn Bocchino following in fourth place. From the lead Kuno Wittmer pitted first under a full course caution period, handing the 32# car over to SWC Touring Car Legend, Peter Cunningham (RealtimeRL Driver/owner). A low oil pressure alarm soon after the first pit stop, forced Peter Cunningham to make additional pit stop losing the lead and regaining the race in 13th position. Crew Chief Tom Badger called a perfect late stop for Glenn Bocchino who pitted from the lead under yellow. Co-Driver Nick Wittmer, took over the final duties for the 31# car, regaining the race from the lead and never looked back. The rising star Nick Wittmer drove perfect race never to be contended for the lead. While Peter’s (32# car) had to earn his second place finish by passing over 11 cars not including lappers to take second place over the Compass 360 Racing Acura TSX of Travis Walker and Karl Thompson who finished 3rd .
The Fresh From Florida 200 of Daytona season-opener will be televised on the Speed Channel Saturday, February 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Other races on the air in 2008 are the Memorial Day contest at Lime Rock Park (airing May 31 at 8 p.m. ET), followed by the ST feature at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (June 28, 1 p.m. ET), the GS feature at Barber Motorsports Park (July 26, 5 p.m. ET), and combined races at New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 7, noon ET) and Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City (September
Next race is May 23-26 at the challenging Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT.
i-MOTO Racing would like to thank our strategic partners; Acura, Cobalt Friction, Alpinestars, H&R Special Springs, Hytech Exhaust, SPC, Ecocomp Cybernation, and Exedy.
Visit www.i-motoracing.com for more news and future announcements.
Starting the race with an all i-MOTO front row, Kuno Wittmer qualified on pole with a (2:09.312) and teammate Glenn Bocchino qualifying second with a (2:09.580). A first turn mishap caused by a suck throttle on Kuno Wittmers 32# car costing both drivers the lead. Both drivers quickly recovered with Kuno Wittmer later regaining the lead and Glenn Bocchino following in fourth place. From the lead Kuno Wittmer pitted first under a full course caution period, handing the 32# car over to SWC Touring Car Legend, Peter Cunningham (RealtimeRL Driver/owner). A low oil pressure alarm soon after the first pit stop, forced Peter Cunningham to make additional pit stop losing the lead and regaining the race in 13th position. Crew Chief Tom Badger called a perfect late stop for Glenn Bocchino who pitted from the lead under yellow. Co-Driver Nick Wittmer, took over the final duties for the 31# car, regaining the race from the lead and never looked back. The rising star Nick Wittmer drove perfect race never to be contended for the lead. While Peter’s (32# car) had to earn his second place finish by passing over 11 cars not including lappers to take second place over the Compass 360 Racing Acura TSX of Travis Walker and Karl Thompson who finished 3rd .
The Fresh From Florida 200 of Daytona season-opener will be televised on the Speed Channel Saturday, February 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Other races on the air in 2008 are the Memorial Day contest at Lime Rock Park (airing May 31 at 8 p.m. ET), followed by the ST feature at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (June 28, 1 p.m. ET), the GS feature at Barber Motorsports Park (July 26, 5 p.m. ET), and combined races at New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 7, noon ET) and Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City (September
Next race is May 23-26 at the challenging Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT.
i-MOTO Racing would like to thank our strategic partners; Acura, Cobalt Friction, Alpinestars, H&R Special Springs, Hytech Exhaust, SPC, Ecocomp Cybernation, and Exedy.
Visit www.i-motoracing.com for more news and future announcements.
Close But No Cigar
The kind of thing that strikes you as interesting if you are reading a new book about linguistics (pictured right) while keeping tabs on Wall Street's assessment of Amgen Inc.'s prospects going forward: what exactly does "close" mean?Amgen surprised Wall Street by announcing at the JP Morgan conference that its full year 2007 earnings per share would end up "close" to the low end of its initial forecast of $4.30-$4.50 for the year. After a dismal year of regulatory and commercial setbacks, including the company's first ever layoffs, analysts did not expect the company to come near to hitting those numbers.
They dutifully revised upward their projections for the fourth quarter--but Amgen still beat their consensus when it reported earnings of $4.29 per share for the full year. That is as close as you can get to the initial baseline forecast of $4.30, right?
That at least is how it looks to people who follow the company closely.
But not everyone sees it that way. At least one Wall Street observer--a reporter for CNBC--looked at Amgen's JP Morgan announcement and read it as if the guidance itself were still in force, and Amgen's prediction of coming close to the low end as a warning that it would be in the $4.31-$4.35 range. So $4.29 per share was a disappointment. (Check out this exchange between a CNBC reporter and Amgen.)
Guess you've got to pick your words carefully....
They dutifully revised upward their projections for the fourth quarter--but Amgen still beat their consensus when it reported earnings of $4.29 per share for the full year. That is as close as you can get to the initial baseline forecast of $4.30, right?
That at least is how it looks to people who follow the company closely.
But not everyone sees it that way. At least one Wall Street observer--a reporter for CNBC--looked at Amgen's JP Morgan announcement and read it as if the guidance itself were still in force, and Amgen's prediction of coming close to the low end as a warning that it would be in the $4.31-$4.35 range. So $4.29 per share was a disappointment. (Check out this exchange between a CNBC reporter and Amgen.)
Guess you've got to pick your words carefully....
ROLEX 24: Chip Ganassi Racing Pulls Off Three-Peat
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates continued its dominance of North America's most prestigious sports car race winning their third straight overall victory on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. The team of Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Dario Franchitti in the No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley won the 46th anniversary of the Rolex 24 by a margin of three laps.
Chip Ganassi Racing's win is the first time a team has won the overall Rolex 24 in three consecutive years. While it's a third straight victory for Ganassi, it's the second straight Rolex 24 win for Montoya and Pruett and the third career overall Rolex 24 win for Pruett.
"This is over the top to come here and win this thing overall, now back-to-back and three in a row for Chip," said Pruett, who was behind the wheel for the checkered flag. "Wow, this is unbelievable."
Franchitti, who is making the jump to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Ganassi beginning with the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17, becomes the third Indy 500 driver to win the Rolex 24 the following year.
"It's been a helluva year," Franchitti said. "These guys, the preparation they put into this car is the reason why we're here. We just tried to stay out of trouble and here we are -- bloody brilliant."
Montoya was behind the wheel of the No. 01 running second to the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley in Hour 21 when the No. 6 car encountered suspension problems and was forced to make repairs. From that point, the No. 01 was in cruise control.
"It's was pretty hard until the last stint," said Montoya, who was Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2007. "We were pretty close with the 6 car. They had a problem and after that it was more of bringing the car home."
Two-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and 2006 Daytona 500 champion Jimmie Johnson came close to that elusive first Rolex 24 win again finishing second in the No. 99 Lowe's/GAINSCO Pontiac Riley with co-drivers Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty and Jimmy Vasser.
Rounding out the podium was the No. 9 Penske-Taylor Racing Pontiac Riley with drivers Helio Castroneves, Kurt Busch and Ryan Briscoe. The competition was tight throughout the Rolex 24. There were a record 15 different leaders and 695 laps were completed in the race.
The finish was shaping up to be a special one for the No. 59 Brumos Porsche team. With just under five hours remaining in the race and Joao Barbosa behind the wheel with the overall lead, the rear suspension failed coming off NASCAR Turn 4. The car spun out, made contact with the inside retaining wall and caused significant front end damage to the car.
"Joao had a great restart and going around the banking coming out of (NASCAR Turn) 4, the lower tie rod broke," No. 59 co-driver and five-time Rolex 24 champion Hurley Haywood. "The bolt that holds it on broke and it just sent him right into the wall. There was nothing he could do about it. You want to cry almost."
Patrick Dempsey, star of the hit ABC show Grey's Anatomy, made his first career start in the Rolex 24 finishing 39th overall co-driving Charles Espenlaub, Joe Foster, Romeo Kapudija and Scott Maxwell. "We had a lot of bad luck but the team has really rallied to keep the car out there," Dempsey said. "We wanted to finish this race. We had a great time and I can't wait to do it again."
The pole winner of the Rolex 24 – the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley driven by Oswaldo Negri – led the 66-car field to the green flag on Saturday afternoon and finished sixth overall.
In the GT class, the No. 70 SpeedSource Mazda with drivers Sylvain Tremblay, David Haskell, Nick Ham and Raphael Matos finished ninth overall and captured the class victory by a margin of seven laps.
"It was pretty special," Tremblay said. "I've dreamt of this since I've started racing. To win at Daytona has been a dream of mine for a long, long time. When I first talked of getting a Mazda running against the Porsches, it seemed like a joke back then. There was so much that had to happen, so many pieces we had to build. Then we had to convince other people to believe in our dream, and pull on from there."
Before the Rolex 24 went green on Saturday afternoon, the crowd was treated to a flyover by three Navy F-5 Tigers based out of Key West and Rolex 24 Grand Marshal Dan Gurney's starting command, "Drivers, start your engines."
From DIS
Chip Ganassi Racing's win is the first time a team has won the overall Rolex 24 in three consecutive years. While it's a third straight victory for Ganassi, it's the second straight Rolex 24 win for Montoya and Pruett and the third career overall Rolex 24 win for Pruett.
"This is over the top to come here and win this thing overall, now back-to-back and three in a row for Chip," said Pruett, who was behind the wheel for the checkered flag. "Wow, this is unbelievable."
Franchitti, who is making the jump to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Ganassi beginning with the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17, becomes the third Indy 500 driver to win the Rolex 24 the following year.
"It's been a helluva year," Franchitti said. "These guys, the preparation they put into this car is the reason why we're here. We just tried to stay out of trouble and here we are -- bloody brilliant."
Montoya was behind the wheel of the No. 01 running second to the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley in Hour 21 when the No. 6 car encountered suspension problems and was forced to make repairs. From that point, the No. 01 was in cruise control.
"It's was pretty hard until the last stint," said Montoya, who was Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2007. "We were pretty close with the 6 car. They had a problem and after that it was more of bringing the car home."
Two-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and 2006 Daytona 500 champion Jimmie Johnson came close to that elusive first Rolex 24 win again finishing second in the No. 99 Lowe's/GAINSCO Pontiac Riley with co-drivers Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty and Jimmy Vasser.
Rounding out the podium was the No. 9 Penske-Taylor Racing Pontiac Riley with drivers Helio Castroneves, Kurt Busch and Ryan Briscoe. The competition was tight throughout the Rolex 24. There were a record 15 different leaders and 695 laps were completed in the race.
The finish was shaping up to be a special one for the No. 59 Brumos Porsche team. With just under five hours remaining in the race and Joao Barbosa behind the wheel with the overall lead, the rear suspension failed coming off NASCAR Turn 4. The car spun out, made contact with the inside retaining wall and caused significant front end damage to the car.
"Joao had a great restart and going around the banking coming out of (NASCAR Turn) 4, the lower tie rod broke," No. 59 co-driver and five-time Rolex 24 champion Hurley Haywood. "The bolt that holds it on broke and it just sent him right into the wall. There was nothing he could do about it. You want to cry almost."
Patrick Dempsey, star of the hit ABC show Grey's Anatomy, made his first career start in the Rolex 24 finishing 39th overall co-driving Charles Espenlaub, Joe Foster, Romeo Kapudija and Scott Maxwell. "We had a lot of bad luck but the team has really rallied to keep the car out there," Dempsey said. "We wanted to finish this race. We had a great time and I can't wait to do it again."
The pole winner of the Rolex 24 – the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley driven by Oswaldo Negri – led the 66-car field to the green flag on Saturday afternoon and finished sixth overall.
In the GT class, the No. 70 SpeedSource Mazda with drivers Sylvain Tremblay, David Haskell, Nick Ham and Raphael Matos finished ninth overall and captured the class victory by a margin of seven laps.
"It was pretty special," Tremblay said. "I've dreamt of this since I've started racing. To win at Daytona has been a dream of mine for a long, long time. When I first talked of getting a Mazda running against the Porsches, it seemed like a joke back then. There was so much that had to happen, so many pieces we had to build. Then we had to convince other people to believe in our dream, and pull on from there."
Before the Rolex 24 went green on Saturday afternoon, the crowd was treated to a flyover by three Navy F-5 Tigers based out of Key West and Rolex 24 Grand Marshal Dan Gurney's starting command, "Drivers, start your engines."
From DIS
NBIS to become "Speedway 660"
FREDERICTON, NB - Entertaining a new generation is the focus of one of Canada's top stock car racing facilities for the 2008 season. A new name and a commitment to a new era of entertainment had race teams and fans excited at the annual awards banquet at the Fredericton Inn on Saturday night.
Speedway 660, located on Route 660 near Geary, will be the home of 'Wic-Kid Family Fun' when the racing season begins in May. Entertaining long time racing enthusiasts and a new generation of fans will be the focus every week of the upcoming season.
"Our drivers and crews provide an on-track product unequalled in Canada, but now we are going to raise the bar around the entertainment value of that product," said Speedway 660 co-owner Steve Burns. "We are repackaging the entire racing program with a focus on entertainment for the kids and families who come to visit us."
Speedway 660 has an extremely loyal fan base, but needs to reach new fans to grow to the next level. In the coming weeks, more work will be done as the branding exercise currently underway is completed.
"As much as some people may think we are in the racing business, we're actually in the entertainment business," said Speedway 660 co-owner Chris Johnston. "We've been doing this for 12 years and realize, with the help of our fans, sponsors and race teams we have built one of Canada's best speedways, but now its time to make it bigger and better."
Speedway 660 will see many changes during the 2008 season highlighted by a complete fan-focussed entertainment package each and every race date. As part of the branding exercise, the speedway has unveiled the new face of the speedway, Speedway the Moose. The mascot made his debut in front of over 350 fans, sponsors, race teams and speedway staff at the Fredericton Inn on Saturday night.
"I know people now have big expectations for the 2008 season and we intend to live up to them and more, so be prepared to be entertained," said Burns. "In addition to new ways to entertain our race fans, we are developing innovative ways to attract more fans to the speedway."
Speedway 660 will also see some major improvements to the facilities infrastructure as well. An electronic scoring system and race management software will be implemented for the new season, providing immediate scoring results and information to race teams.
A sneak peek of the 2008 schedule was released Saturday night with the major events that make up a great summer of racing. The entire 2008 schedule is expected to be released in February in conjunction with the launch of a brand new Speedway 660 website.
Awards were also handed out to the top drivers for the 2007 season. Dale Hatheway, Benji Ruff, Mike Francis, Brian Gillespie and Glenn Rasmussen took home the top awards as Championship winners.
CARQUEST Pro Stock Champion: Glenn Rasmussen, New Denmark
Martin's Home Heating Sportsman Champion: Brian Gillespie, Nackawic
COAST TIRE Street Stock Champion: Mike Francis, Saint John
Martin's Home Heating Rookie of the Year: Chris Garnett, Saint John
COAST TIRE Rookie of the Year: Brian Fox, Burton
Enduro Division Champion: Dale Hatheway + Benji Ruff,
Sportsman of the Year: Brian Campbell, Saint John
Traveled Farthest to Compete: Glenn Rasmussen, New Denmark
Hughie Yorke Dedication to the Sport: Speedway 660 Ambulance Crew
Crew of the Year: #23 Street Stock Mike Francis
Hard Luck Driver of the Year: Shawn Hyslop
Phil Cox Ironman Award: Ted Rankin
Macleans Sports Haulmark Most Laps Completed - Pro Stock: Paul Gahan
Macleans Sports Haulmark Most Laps Completed - Sportsman: Brian MacNaughton
Capital Flat Roof Inspection - Most Trips to Victory Lane
COAST TIRE Street Stock: Shawn Hyslop
Martin's Home Heating Sportsman: Brian Gillespie + Randy Moore
CARQUEST Pro Stock: Greg Fahey
Most Improved Driver
COAST TIRE Street Stock: Derrick Christie, Fredericton
Martin's Home Heating Sportsman: Richard Atkinson, Geary
CARQUEST Pro Stock: Greg Fahey, St. Stephen
Best Appearing Car as Voted by the Fans
COAST TIRE Street Stock: Derrick Christie, Fredericton
Martin's Home Heating Sportsman: Brian MacNaughton, Lower Coverdale
CARQUEST Pro Stock: Greg Fahey, St. Stephen
Most Popular Driver as Voted by the Fans
COAST TIRE Street Stock: Derrick Christie, Fredericton
Martin�s Home Heating Sportsman: Brian MacNaughton, Lower Coverdale
CARQUEST Pro Stock: Greg Fahey, St. Stephen
Fivestar Stock Car Bodies by Tucker Racing
CARQUEST Pro Stock Division: Dave O'Blenis
Martins Home Heating Sportsman: Jeremy Graham
Speedway 660 is the place for 'Wic KID Family Fun'. The 1/3 of a mile high-banked paved oval features three classes of racing on a weekly basis: CARQUEST Pro Stocks, Martin�s Home Heating Sportsman, and Coast Tire Street Stocks. Over 70,000 people are expected to attend events during the 2008 season. Speedway 660 is located off highway 7 on Route 660 in Geary, NB, and is within minutes of Saint John and Fredericton.
For further information, please contact: Chris Johnston, Co-owner
Web: http://www.nbisonline.com/ // Soon to be http://www.speedway660.com/
Herbert's Two Sons Lost in Tragic Automobile Accident
LINCOLNTON, N.C. (January 26, 2008) The two young sons of Top Fuel racer Doug Herbert were killed in an automobile accident Saturday morning in Lake Norman, N.C. Jon, 17, and James, 12, died instantly when their Mazda3 collided with a second vehicle.
Herbert, who was in Phoenix for preseason testing, is devastated and headed home to be with his family.
Condolences can be sent to Raymer Funeral Home, 16901 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, N.C. 28078.
In lieu of flowers, Herbert asks that people make a donation to the Speedway Children's Charities in Jon and James Herbert's name.
Details regarding a memorial service will be forthcoming.
From Lisa Powers // Public Relations // Doug Herbert Racing
UPDATE:
STATEMENT FROM DOUG AND SONNIE HERBERT
CORNELIUS, N.C. (January 26, 2008) "Our kids have always been our best friends and the bond between the two of us. As you can imagine, the loss we are both feeling for Jon and James at the moment is unimaginable.
As brothers, they were always together and were each other’s best friend.
Jon loved music and cars. He was a dreamer, happy, peaceful and was most pleased when everyone got along.
James loved to skateboard and ride dirt bikes, but he had the kindest heart and was compassionate to all.
Our very special boys also loved their little sister, Jessie, who already misses her big brothers.
Our family is deeply grateful for the wishes and prayers from our friends, the community and the boy’s classmates at SouthLake Christian Academy.
Our boys would not like everyone to be upset and cry right now, so please smile when you think of them."
Thank you for keeping Jon, James, Jessie and our entire family in your prayers as we work through this time of sorrow.
Herbert, who was in Phoenix for preseason testing, is devastated and headed home to be with his family.
Condolences can be sent to Raymer Funeral Home, 16901 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, N.C. 28078.
In lieu of flowers, Herbert asks that people make a donation to the Speedway Children's Charities in Jon and James Herbert's name.
Details regarding a memorial service will be forthcoming.
From Lisa Powers // Public Relations // Doug Herbert Racing
UPDATE:
STATEMENT FROM DOUG AND SONNIE HERBERT
CORNELIUS, N.C. (January 26, 2008) "Our kids have always been our best friends and the bond between the two of us. As you can imagine, the loss we are both feeling for Jon and James at the moment is unimaginable.
As brothers, they were always together and were each other’s best friend.
Jon loved music and cars. He was a dreamer, happy, peaceful and was most pleased when everyone got along.
James loved to skateboard and ride dirt bikes, but he had the kindest heart and was compassionate to all.
Our very special boys also loved their little sister, Jessie, who already misses her big brothers.
Our family is deeply grateful for the wishes and prayers from our friends, the community and the boy’s classmates at SouthLake Christian Academy.
Our boys would not like everyone to be upset and cry right now, so please smile when you think of them."
Thank you for keeping Jon, James, Jessie and our entire family in your prayers as we work through this time of sorrow.
L'ESTAGE WINS RALLY AMERICA SEASON OPENER
ATLANTA, Mich., Jan. 28, 2008 Canadian Antoine L'Estage won the Sno*Drift rally, the first round of the 2008 Rally America National Championship Series season, after race leader and two-time series champion Travis Pastrana struck a deer and retired late in the event.
Fellow Canadian and winter-driving veteran Andrew Comrie-Picard who won the event in 2006 earned second place. Eighteen-year-old American Kyle Sarasin, the 2007 Rally America rookie of the year, finished third overall in his debut in the series elite Open class.
I'm very happy for our win, but I'm speechless, said LEstage. Travis was the designated winner. He beat everybody until the end. It's a very good start to the year for us.
L'Estage and co-driver Nathalie Richard, the 2007 Canadian rally champions, plan to compete in select Rally America events in 2008 in addition to a full Canadian rally series schedule.
Matthew Johnson, the 2007 Rally America PGT champion, performed well in his move to Open class competition for 2008, finishing fourth overall.
BMX superstar Dave Mirra, who was making his American rally debut at Sno*Drift, finished 18th overall in a Subaru Impreza fielded by Vermont SportsCar.
What had looked like an easy victory for Subaru Rally Team USA driver Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom turned to disaster when they hit a deer on the course late in the rally, causing irreparable damage to their car and forcing them out of the race.
The duo, who had led the contest from the start, was almost two minutes ahead of the rest of the field when the accident occurred on the 16th of 17 stages in the Sno*Drift event. Both Pastrana and Edstrom were unhurt.
The snowy and icy course conditions at Sno*Drift the only winter-weather event in Rally Americas nine-event championship were treacherous, and several podium contenders ran into trouble that knocked them out of contention.
Last season's championship runner-up, Rockstar Energy Drink Rally Team Andrew Pinker and co-driver Robbie Durant, found themselves out of the rally before it really began. The pair retired early on Day 1 with a blown engine in their Subaru WRX STi rally car.
Their teammates Tanner Foust and Chrissie Beavis were charging hard on Day 2 when they wound up in a snow bank and lost seven minutes trying to get out.
Pastrana and Edstroms Subaru Rally Team USA teammates Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino also ran into trouble on Day 2, losing 10 minutes to an off-road excursion.
The nine-event 2008 Rally America National Championship season continues with the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood from Feb. 22-23 in Salem, Mo.
POST-EVENT QUOTES:
Quotes from selected Rally America National Championship Series drivers following the season-opening Sno*Drift Rally from Jan. 25-26 in Atlanta, Mich.:
ANTOINE L'ESTAGE (First place) (No. 17 Royal Group Yokohama Hyundai Tiburon): I have mixed feelings. I'm happy, but at the same time, I feel so bad for (Pastrana and Edstrom) because they did a great rally. They were the fastest, but well take the win. On those last stages, we were cruising to the end, but well take it. We worked hard. I don't like to win like that, but sometimes that's the way it is. Its happened to me before. (About the Sno*Drift rally): It was the first time I had run Sno*Drift, and there were a few tricky spots where I made some mistakes. We took notice of that, and it will be different next year if we come back. It's a great rally, with very challenging roads, different surfaces and changing rhythms. It's a nice event.
ANDREW COMRIE-PICARD (Second place) (No. 20 Slowboy Racing Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX): It's an awesome result. We were actually not going as fast as we could have all weekend, and I felt really frustrated by that. The car wasn't set up right. I was having trouble under braking, so I couldn't really go that fast, but in the end, that sort of helped us out because we didn't make any big mistakes. That's the real key in a snow rally to just suck less than everybody else, like we did two years ago when we won. You just have to be there at the finish and not make any big mistakes. I feel really badly for the other guys who had problems, but you've got to really judge your pace to go just fast enough to win. Kudos to Antoine it was a really great drive for him. I'm both proud and a little embarrassed that the Canadians came down and put in such a strong performance because it looks like we are snow ringers. But Antoine's a great driver, and Ill be in for hopefully the whole Rally America championship if our sponsorship comes together, and well be looking to be just as competitive on gravel.
KYLE SARASIN (Third place) (No. 55 CPD Racing Subaru Impreza WRX STi): It's my first overall podium, and I'm super excited. Sno*Drift usually has some weird stuff happen, like today. I'm used to the conditions, so I think I had a little bit of a head start coming in here. Our game plan was to be consistent, try to stay in the race and get a top-10 finish. Some stuff happened, some people went out, and we ended up getting third overall, which was awesome. It's a good start to the season. This was my first race in Open class, and it went really well. Hopefully the rest of the season has some good battles like I had here and goes just as well.
KEN BLOCK (Fifth place) (No. 43 Subaru Rally Team USA Subaru Impreza WRX STi): We had a great rally. We were comfortably in second overall behind Pastrana when on Leg 2 we got stuck in a snow bank for over 10 minutes. That ruined any chances of a good points result, but we had the speed here. We won over half of the stages and could have been on the podium or even won. It's upsetting because we were not really pushing hard. It wasn't a big mistake. We just got sucked into the inside snow bank of an easy left turn. Now I can't wait until the 100 Acre Wood rally next month. I've won there the past two years, and I have a lot of confidence on those roads.
DAVE MIRRA (18th place) (No. 40 Monster Energy Subaru Impreza): My one goal for this rally was to just finish and get some experience. The roads were slick everywhere, and although we were not pushing hard, it was definitely a huge challenge to stay clean and out of the snow banks. This was such a good time. Now I'm really looking forward to the next rally where we'll be on gravel.
ANDREW PINKER (DNF; engine) (No. 2 Rockstar Energy Drink Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STi): We should have been there battling with the top guys, but unfortunately, we had an engine blow up on the first stage. We got three miles in and all of sudden, it just went. It's a real shame. This has been a good event for me the last couple of years. In 2006, it was the first rally I ever did in the U.S., and we took the lead on the first day. It worked out very well for us last year, as well, so we were hunting for a win this year, but sometimes, its not to be. This was only my second mechanical failure in the U.S., and I'm in my third year now, so I cant complain too much. Everyone's got to get their fair share.
TRAVIS PASTRANA (DNF; accident) (No. 199 Subaru Rally Team USA Subaru Impreza WRX STi): Because of the lead we built on Friday and everyone else's problems, it meant we could just sit back and relax on the final leg, which for me isn't very exciting. But on the second-to-last stage with a huge lead and just a few miles to the finish, we hit a deer at over 60 mph. It all happened so quickly, we were shocked. The car sustained heavy damage and couldn't continue. Amazingly bad luck!
FINAL RESULTS: SNO*DRIFT RALLY
Antoine LEstage
Andrew Comrie-Picard
Kyle Sarasin
Matthew Johnson
Ken Block
Tanner Foust
William Bacon
Piotr Wiktorczyk
Patrick Moro
Bryan Pepp
About Rally America
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., Rally America sanctions the premier rally racing series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2008, Rally America will conduct nine National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Wash., to Bethel, Maine. Rally America competitors reach speeds well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses of gravel, dirt or snow. Additionally, through a partnership with ESPN, qualifying Rally America drivers are invited to compete in the Summer X Games, the annual leading action-sport event that is broadcast live on ABC and ESPN. For more information, visit www.rally-america.com.
From: Ashleigh Lockhart // Rally America/WMG
Fellow Canadian and winter-driving veteran Andrew Comrie-Picard who won the event in 2006 earned second place. Eighteen-year-old American Kyle Sarasin, the 2007 Rally America rookie of the year, finished third overall in his debut in the series elite Open class.
I'm very happy for our win, but I'm speechless, said LEstage. Travis was the designated winner. He beat everybody until the end. It's a very good start to the year for us.
L'Estage and co-driver Nathalie Richard, the 2007 Canadian rally champions, plan to compete in select Rally America events in 2008 in addition to a full Canadian rally series schedule.
Matthew Johnson, the 2007 Rally America PGT champion, performed well in his move to Open class competition for 2008, finishing fourth overall.
BMX superstar Dave Mirra, who was making his American rally debut at Sno*Drift, finished 18th overall in a Subaru Impreza fielded by Vermont SportsCar.
What had looked like an easy victory for Subaru Rally Team USA driver Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom turned to disaster when they hit a deer on the course late in the rally, causing irreparable damage to their car and forcing them out of the race.
The duo, who had led the contest from the start, was almost two minutes ahead of the rest of the field when the accident occurred on the 16th of 17 stages in the Sno*Drift event. Both Pastrana and Edstrom were unhurt.
The snowy and icy course conditions at Sno*Drift the only winter-weather event in Rally Americas nine-event championship were treacherous, and several podium contenders ran into trouble that knocked them out of contention.
Last season's championship runner-up, Rockstar Energy Drink Rally Team Andrew Pinker and co-driver Robbie Durant, found themselves out of the rally before it really began. The pair retired early on Day 1 with a blown engine in their Subaru WRX STi rally car.
Their teammates Tanner Foust and Chrissie Beavis were charging hard on Day 2 when they wound up in a snow bank and lost seven minutes trying to get out.
Pastrana and Edstroms Subaru Rally Team USA teammates Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino also ran into trouble on Day 2, losing 10 minutes to an off-road excursion.
The nine-event 2008 Rally America National Championship season continues with the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood from Feb. 22-23 in Salem, Mo.
POST-EVENT QUOTES:
Quotes from selected Rally America National Championship Series drivers following the season-opening Sno*Drift Rally from Jan. 25-26 in Atlanta, Mich.:
ANTOINE L'ESTAGE (First place) (No. 17 Royal Group Yokohama Hyundai Tiburon): I have mixed feelings. I'm happy, but at the same time, I feel so bad for (Pastrana and Edstrom) because they did a great rally. They were the fastest, but well take the win. On those last stages, we were cruising to the end, but well take it. We worked hard. I don't like to win like that, but sometimes that's the way it is. Its happened to me before. (About the Sno*Drift rally): It was the first time I had run Sno*Drift, and there were a few tricky spots where I made some mistakes. We took notice of that, and it will be different next year if we come back. It's a great rally, with very challenging roads, different surfaces and changing rhythms. It's a nice event.
ANDREW COMRIE-PICARD (Second place) (No. 20 Slowboy Racing Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX): It's an awesome result. We were actually not going as fast as we could have all weekend, and I felt really frustrated by that. The car wasn't set up right. I was having trouble under braking, so I couldn't really go that fast, but in the end, that sort of helped us out because we didn't make any big mistakes. That's the real key in a snow rally to just suck less than everybody else, like we did two years ago when we won. You just have to be there at the finish and not make any big mistakes. I feel really badly for the other guys who had problems, but you've got to really judge your pace to go just fast enough to win. Kudos to Antoine it was a really great drive for him. I'm both proud and a little embarrassed that the Canadians came down and put in such a strong performance because it looks like we are snow ringers. But Antoine's a great driver, and Ill be in for hopefully the whole Rally America championship if our sponsorship comes together, and well be looking to be just as competitive on gravel.
KYLE SARASIN (Third place) (No. 55 CPD Racing Subaru Impreza WRX STi): It's my first overall podium, and I'm super excited. Sno*Drift usually has some weird stuff happen, like today. I'm used to the conditions, so I think I had a little bit of a head start coming in here. Our game plan was to be consistent, try to stay in the race and get a top-10 finish. Some stuff happened, some people went out, and we ended up getting third overall, which was awesome. It's a good start to the season. This was my first race in Open class, and it went really well. Hopefully the rest of the season has some good battles like I had here and goes just as well.
KEN BLOCK (Fifth place) (No. 43 Subaru Rally Team USA Subaru Impreza WRX STi): We had a great rally. We were comfortably in second overall behind Pastrana when on Leg 2 we got stuck in a snow bank for over 10 minutes. That ruined any chances of a good points result, but we had the speed here. We won over half of the stages and could have been on the podium or even won. It's upsetting because we were not really pushing hard. It wasn't a big mistake. We just got sucked into the inside snow bank of an easy left turn. Now I can't wait until the 100 Acre Wood rally next month. I've won there the past two years, and I have a lot of confidence on those roads.
DAVE MIRRA (18th place) (No. 40 Monster Energy Subaru Impreza): My one goal for this rally was to just finish and get some experience. The roads were slick everywhere, and although we were not pushing hard, it was definitely a huge challenge to stay clean and out of the snow banks. This was such a good time. Now I'm really looking forward to the next rally where we'll be on gravel.
ANDREW PINKER (DNF; engine) (No. 2 Rockstar Energy Drink Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STi): We should have been there battling with the top guys, but unfortunately, we had an engine blow up on the first stage. We got three miles in and all of sudden, it just went. It's a real shame. This has been a good event for me the last couple of years. In 2006, it was the first rally I ever did in the U.S., and we took the lead on the first day. It worked out very well for us last year, as well, so we were hunting for a win this year, but sometimes, its not to be. This was only my second mechanical failure in the U.S., and I'm in my third year now, so I cant complain too much. Everyone's got to get their fair share.
TRAVIS PASTRANA (DNF; accident) (No. 199 Subaru Rally Team USA Subaru Impreza WRX STi): Because of the lead we built on Friday and everyone else's problems, it meant we could just sit back and relax on the final leg, which for me isn't very exciting. But on the second-to-last stage with a huge lead and just a few miles to the finish, we hit a deer at over 60 mph. It all happened so quickly, we were shocked. The car sustained heavy damage and couldn't continue. Amazingly bad luck!
FINAL RESULTS: SNO*DRIFT RALLY
Antoine LEstage
Andrew Comrie-Picard
Kyle Sarasin
Matthew Johnson
Ken Block
Tanner Foust
William Bacon
Piotr Wiktorczyk
Patrick Moro
Bryan Pepp
About Rally America
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., Rally America sanctions the premier rally racing series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2008, Rally America will conduct nine National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Wash., to Bethel, Maine. Rally America competitors reach speeds well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses of gravel, dirt or snow. Additionally, through a partnership with ESPN, qualifying Rally America drivers are invited to compete in the Summer X Games, the annual leading action-sport event that is broadcast live on ABC and ESPN. For more information, visit www.rally-america.com.
From: Ashleigh Lockhart // Rally America/WMG
The SurveyUSA Mystery Unlocked
I've pointed out several times here that I am struck by how many more people say they're decided when SurveyUSA polls in North Carolina than when we do.
For instance our last Democratic Senate primary showed Kay Hagan at 19% and Jim Neal at 7%. Theirs showed Hagan at 37% and Neal at 29%.
Republican Governor is another good example. We showed Pat McCrory at 18%, Fred Smith at 16%, Bill Graham at 13%, and Bob Orr at 8%. They had McCrory at 27%, Smith at 18%, Graham at 15%, and Orr at 6%.
Well Pollster.com answered the question for me:
PPP and Civitas probably give a more solid look at what the state of the races really is today, but SurveyUSA gives more of an indication of how the vote would come down if the election was already here.
For instance our last Democratic Senate primary showed Kay Hagan at 19% and Jim Neal at 7%. Theirs showed Hagan at 37% and Neal at 29%.
Republican Governor is another good example. We showed Pat McCrory at 18%, Fred Smith at 16%, Bill Graham at 13%, and Bob Orr at 8%. They had McCrory at 27%, Smith at 18%, Graham at 15%, and Orr at 6%.
Well Pollster.com answered the question for me:
SurveyUSA, the pollster with the smallest undecided in South Carolina (1%), typically inserts a pause in their automated script, so that respondents have to wait several seconds before hearing they can "press 9 for undecided."The effect that pause is having in North Carolina is to get 'leaners,' people who are mostly undecided but might be leaning toward one candidate, to say they support that candidate rather than saying they're undecided. So SurveyUSA's numbers are probably a greater reflection of what would happen in the ballot booth if the election were today, but they're likely also more volatile because 'leaners' are much more likely to change their mind about who to vote for between now and the election than people who have pretty firmly made up their mind.
PPP and Civitas probably give a more solid look at what the state of the races really is today, but SurveyUSA gives more of an indication of how the vote would come down if the election was already here.
Survey Says?! Too Little, Too Late
Lets have another quiz. The above chart illustrates ...a. Reaction to last night's State of the Union address
b. The results of the IN VIVO Blog poll about Schering-Plough and Merck's reaction to critics of the Enhance study
c. Both
Lets not get too carried away though. Although we all know that you IVB readers are smarter and better informed than your average bear, only a very small minority of you (compared to how many visits the site gets) decided to vote. Slackers!
(It'll take a whole mouse-click but if you can muster up the energy you can find our ongoing Vytorin coverage here.)
Villeneuve dumps Pollock
Craig Pollock is no long Jacques Villeneuve's manager. Apparently, he's been replaced - in part - by Villeneuve's wife.
Sportsnet has the story of the amicable split here.
Playing catch-up
Was a little under the weather yesterday, so I didn't have a chance to post anything. Just going through messages now, so there should be plenty to post.
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