Danica Patrick was extremely shaken up after an accident on pit road. The front wing of Patrick's Dallara-Honda clipped Charles Buckman of Dale Coyne Racing on pit lane during Friday afternoon practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Buckman was taken to Methodist Hospital and diagnosed with a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and a skull fracture.
"I hugged her and she cried a lot more, so I thought that was a bad move on my behalf," Andretti Green Racing teammate Tony Kanaan said. "I said, 'Let it go. Look, if you're driving down the street and somebody runs and jumps on top of your windshield, what are you going to do?' She was like, 'Well, you know, the guy has a family.'
"I said, 'Listen, it wasn't your fault. It's going to get better. There's not a lot to say. You've got to keep your head straight. Go talk to his team. Maybe give a call to his family.'"
In giving a short statement Friday without taking questions, Patrick said, "it was really, really unfortunate what happened. Thoughts and prayers are with him, with his family, and hopefully he can get back to the track soon and be able to do what he loves."
Autoillustrations is offering a FREE Sponsor Placement layout for any race team featuring a female driver.
These personalized layouts show your team's Primary and Associate sponsor placement, and can be freely copied and distributed with your sponsorship proposal literature. They are delivered to you as print-ready Adobe Acrobat .pdf files.
Nineteen year old Midget driving star Brea Lopez and her Brea Lopez Motorsports Team returned to South Sound Speedway last Saturday night for the second scheduled race of the 2008 WMRA series. Less than favorable weather conditions rode with the racing teams in attendance, but the large crowd on hand was undaunted by the unpredictable weather and enjoyed a great night of hot racing action.
For Lopez, she suffered through an unbelievable night of mechanical problems with her Dan Press wrenched racer, but still managed to bring the car home for a fine fourth place when the checkered flag fell on the event.
For the second year in a row, GoDaddy.com will be the presenting sponsor for the Indianapolis 500 television broadcast on ABC.
The sponsorship deepens the Web hosting and domain name provider's relationship with auto racing fans. As part of the deal, GoDaddy.com will have its iconic branding on everything from broadcast segments to aerial and in-car views.
This year's Indy 500 is shaping up to be a tremendous showdown with 'Go Daddy Girl' Danica Patrick on the track and in contention. Analysts have listed her as one to watch and the media have been on a coverage-frenzy since Danica's historic IndyCar win last month, a first-ever for a woman.
"I feel very confident at Indy," Danica said. "I'm especially proud Go Daddy is back again to sponsor the Indy 500 broadcast. They're a company that knows how to do things right and Bob Parsons has been a tremendous supporter from the start."
Formula Atlantic driver Mishael Abbott of Indianapolis returned to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for the Oak Tree Double National, a two-race weekend hosted by the North Carolina Region Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).
"It was a real challenge and experience to drive this car in the rain,� said Mishael afterward. �I accomplished my goal of surviving and vastly improved my lap times by the end of the race where I felt very comfortable driving a high-powered car in these conditions for the first time."
This writer muses about women in NASCAR.
"NASCAR could use more lip gloss and eye shadow.
It needs a whiff of Chanel No. 5 wafting through the garage, mingling with the fragrances of gas fumes and motor oil.
It needs more dangerous curves, and no, we’re not talking road courses.
NASCAR needs a Danica.
If you thought Danica Patrick’s recent Indy Racing League victory in Japan was a blockbuster, imagine its impact in NASCAR, with its gadzillion more fans and media exposure."
Continue reading "Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival - May 15" »
Eddie Sharp Racing announced Wednesday that Tiffany Daniels will drive an ESR entry in the Strutmasters.com 150 at South Boston Speedway. This will be the Smithfield, Virginia-native’s debut in the NASCAR Camping World Series.
“Eddie Sharp Racing is a top-notch organization, so I feel very confident entering the Camping World East Series race at South Boston Speedway,” said Daniels. “South Boston Speedway is an excellent track for my debut in the Camping World East series. I have a great deal of racing experience at the track, so my familiarity with the 0.4-mile oval should translate into a successful CW East race. I believe that I will be very competitive in ESR equipment. Driving this race for ESR is a great opportunity to take a step forward in advancing my driving career.”
Huggies and Pull-Ups brands, along with Rite Aid Pharmacy, are delivering a special “thank you” to all moms this Mother’s Day weekend. Huggies and Pull-Ups brands will be presenting the Women’s Auxiliary of Motorsports with a $10,000 check at Darlington Raceway during the NASCAR race weekend to aid the organization’s commitment to enriching the lives of women, children, and families. In addition to the donation, the Kimberly-Clark sponsored No. 27 Ford Fusion will honor all moms by featuring a special paint scheme of the Huggies, Pull-Ups and Rite Aid brands.
Cindi Coleman, mother of NASCAR Nationwide Series No. 27 driver Brad Coleman, and Ann Schrader, Women’s Auxiliary of Motorsports board member and wife of NASCAR driver Ken Schrader, will be joined by Rite Aid representatives Julie Leonard and Lori Camp Rogan to present the $10,000 check. The donation will benefit Children’s Chance, a nonprofit organization based in Columbia, S.C. that provides non-medical resources for South Carolina families who have children facing cancer.
On the opening day of IndyCar Series practice for the 92nd Indy 500 on May 25, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign party swung by the Speedway, Secret Service agents clearing the way in Gasoline Alley as she met with owner-driver Sarah Fisher and Indy Racing League officials in Fisher's team garage.
"I was thrilled to have a chance to meet Sarah and her team," Clinton said. "The first owner-driver who is a woman is a big deal. She's a trailblazer, and I hope to be a trailblazer myself. I've never been to the Speedway before, and to be part of this historic event even in a minor way like today is a thrill for me. I admire people who set goals and do their best to achieve them. I admire people who come together to try and really set their sights high and do their best to achieve them."
Paris Hilton's BFF has decided to get into the car business.
Well, the bling side of the car business.
Kim Kardashian will start a custom line of grills, wheels and other custom bauble.
"So far, designing is the most exciting thing I’ve done," Kim Kardashian told Car Domain, to whom she showed her white 2007 Range Rover, decorated with pink "princess" logos on the wheel’s center caps, pink emblems and color matched pink Brembo brake calipers. "I have a vision of what I want [the clothes] to look like in my mind and it’s fun to see it come alive on paper."
"They wanted to hook up my car to show at the gala," Kim recalled. "It was like a total dream. I love making my cars look good."
NHRA's demographics are changing. Women are loving drag racing and coming out in droves to support it.
Female fans stroll through the NHRA garage by the thousands. Women work on race cars by the dozens. And no fewer than seven women compete behind the wheel in the NHRA's four professional classes, as another wave of females races its way up through the Sportsman classes.
"Are you just now catching on to this?" Three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey said with a laugh. "Man, chicks rule!"
Jenson Button could end up with a female team-mate before very long.
Button's boss Nick Fry says he is willing to consider a role for Indy Series Star, Danica Patrick.
Fry admitted: "We haven't instigated anything, but if Danica wanted to be a test driver we'd be more than happy to talk about it. She's shown over the years how good a racer she is."
Continue reading "Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival May 9 " »
Welcome to the AskPatty Blog Carnival, where we provide a refreshing assortment of female friendly news and interesting automotive tidbits from around the blogosphere. Mother's Day is just a few days away, so we've got a few Mom-friendly gift tips to share. Have you got something of your own you'd like included in our carnival? Email Ask Patty at info@askpatty.com to include your own blog bits in next week's carnival!
After a lifetime of dear ol' mother telling you what to do, how to behave, and where to go, Mother's Day is an annual occasion to show your appreciation. This year, Jeff Bartlett at Consumer Reports suggests you consider returning her maternal favors with a portable GPS navigation system. This smart man also suggests, rather than ordering the GPS device online and shipping it directly to her, that you send it to yourself or purchase it locally. With the device in hand, charge up the device and program it for her. Enter her home address, save into Favorites the addresses for family, friends, and likely vacation destinations where she is likely to use her new electronic assistant. Now that's thinking!
With Mother's Day right around the corner, we know you might still be looking for great gift ideas. Although many tend to gravitate toward traditional gifts like jewelry, a framed photo or flowers, Nascar.com asks "Why not break from the mundane and dress up her car? If Mom spends a lot of time behind the wheel, likely her vehicle is her home away from home, and gifts that enhance her enjoyment of that second home are likely to be appreciated." Take a look at their list of suggestions that will be sure to please your car-loving mom!
BlogHer has launched a special campaign with GlobalGiving to raise money for lifesaving programs for women around the world. Their goal is to find out how many women's lives we can save by blogging to raise small donations -- $10, $15, $25, $50 --for critical clinics and educational programs for women, children and girls specifically in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Darfur, Nepal, and South Africa. By harnessing the power of women online, these contributions will improve maternal health and save women's lives. Why not make a donation to one or more of these projects in Mom's name? Your gift can save women's lives by supplying health care, birthing kits, education, trained birthing attendants, meals, and much, much more. Click the link and give Mom a gift that can truly make a difference!
According to Matt Woolsey of Forbes.com, "The perfect commute is easy, inexpensive and reliable." In an article over at Yahoo! Real Estate, Woolsey identifies the best and worst cities for commuters, saying "In cities boasting such factors, like Buffalo, N.Y., Salt Lake City and Milwaukee, the trip to work is a breeze. But for commuters in Atlanta, Detroit and Miami, the daily grind is just that, thanks to bad traffic, insufficient infrastructure and drivers who resist carpools and public transportation." Is your city mentioned in his article?
California Assemblyman Bill Maze wants a ban on motorists driving with pets in their laps. A blurb we found at Simply Dumb says "According to the Associated Press, the bill overwhelmingly passed the Assembly Monday and now heads to the senate for approval. Maze said he conceived the idea after seeing a woman driving with three dogs on her lap." The ban is not dumb, but driving wih a dog on your lap is! We've all seen what happened when Britney Spears drove with her dog on her lap.... YIKES!
Auto insurance isn't that hard to understand, but if you don't understand what you're buying, your family can be devastated. It's worth a little reading to be sure you and yours are properly covered. This informative article at All About Insurance helps explain the top ten most misunderstood auto insurance terms.
If you're a motorcycling family, or if your kids wish to experience the freestyle feeling of open motoring on two wheels, this helmet article is just for you, with tips designed to help parents find their child the right youth helmet to fit their individual needs and style. Read up here to ensure you buy a motorcycle helmet that fits properly, provides ample protection to his face and head, and has the correct amount of retention.
Looking to buy a used car? Consumer Reports' latest assessment of used cars has been published in its April Autos Issue, and identifies the best and worst used vehicles for the last 10 model years (from 1998 through 2007). The magazine compiled lists of "Good Choices" and "Used Cars to Avoid," based on all the models that ranked with above or below-average overall reliability in Consumer Reports' 2007 Annual Car Reliability Survey, which drew responses on about 1.3 million vehicles.
Hey, check it out: Edmunds.com has created the "Edmunds Savvy Shopper" interactive sweepstakes game, in which participants can guess the price of a showcased vehicle in a game show setting to be entered into a weekly drawing for a $200 cash prize, as well as the Grand Prize of $3,500 cash that can be used towards a down payment on a new car. Players are eligible to play and win with each weekly vehicle refresh between now and when the sweepstakes ends on June 12, 2008. Have fun!
Is it true that spending extra on gas can actually be good for your car? With gas prices at a record high, is it ever a good idea to opt for the more expensive premium? According to "I Want Better Gas Mileage" the answer is "Yes... sometimes." Read the article to find out if YOU need premium fuel.
The Driving Woman's Sheila Scarborough interviews NASCAR team co-owner Lori Morgan about running a race team, finding sponsors in a tough economy, and getting more women into NASCAR garages and haulers. This hardworking farm girl from Ohio may have some rough days shepherding her team from track to track, but, according to Scarborough, Morgan remains upbeat about her sport.
Continue reading "Ask Patty Around the World Blog Carnival: May 7, 2008" »
Ashley Force beat father John on Sunday in the NHRA Southern Nationals to become the first female driver to win national Funny Car event.
Ashley had a winning run of 4.837 seconds at 320.36 mph in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to take a 59-point lead over Tim Wilkerson in the season standings.
"I'm just happy to win an event," Force said. "That was the main thing. Being a female, that's exciting for the record books and everything, but my team, we just wanted to get our first win. To get it finally done here in Atlanta , we're just a little bit relieved but so excited as well."
The next big thing?
Shannon McIntosh, 18, plans to run sprints at Limaland Motorsports Park on Fridays and jump in a Super Late Model on Saturdays during the summer. She's also working for the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Lowes Motor Speedway.
She started racing at the age 5 in a quarter midget, or age 11 in a micro sprint, or age 16 in a midget, you know! You know she's always elbows up and on a mission, with no time to waste. She looks for an opportunity and she takes it!
This article says that Janet Guthrie may have summed it up best. The pioneering woman of U.S. open-wheel racing said that those who were surprised by Danica Patrick's history-making IndyCar Series win "haven't been paying attention."
Indeed, Patrick's triumph in Japan on April 20 was years in the making. Until 1971, women were not even allowed inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Gasoline Alley. Five years later, Guthrie tried to earn a spot in the Indy 500 field, which she accomplished for the first time in 1977. She finished ninth the next year, and the stage was set for the likes of Desire Wilson, Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher, Patrick and Milka Duno.
Don’t say there aren’t any women ready to storm NASCAR’s ranks.
Megan Reitenour, 16, won the Super Cup Stock Car Series' inaugural event at North Carolina back in March. She also plans to run some ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series events, which includes visits to Kil-Kare Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Megan is a three time Quarter Midget Track Champion. She is the 2004/2005 Ohio State Bandolero Champion and the 2006 Young Lions Semi Pro Legends State Champion. Please feel free to check out our online home!
Help Sloan Henderson live the dream!
Henderson , 15, has moved up to KOIL Legends and after success at every stop prior. She has an eye on landing a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ride, but she can’t do it without some help.
They can no longer afford to Fuel the Vision on our own anymore. This is why we are asking you to get involved! For just $.25 cents a day from individuals like you, we can fill the tank and pursue her vision in 2006 and on to NASCAR.
The Driving Woman profiles Lori Morgan, co-owner of the Gaffney, South Carolina-based JD Motorsports team that currently races in the Nationwide series this week.
"I was a farm girl from northeastern Ohio -- Rootstown," she said. "I'd never been to a NASCAR race, didn't really know what it was all about, had no idea what they did. I was an engineer for Eaton Corporation, a hydraulic engineer, and then a warehouse manager with U.S. Foods and PFG. My kids are all raised and married, I've got six grandchildren; was ready to retire, and then I met Johnny [Davis, the other JD Motorsports owner."
Lori runts the RaceGirl Chevrolet team that features Johnny's son Kertus Davis as the driver.
Continue reading "Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival May 2" »
Congratulations to Danica Patrick who became the first woman driver to ever win an Indy Car race. Patrick won the Indy Japan 300 after the top contenders were forced to pit for fuel in the final laps.
"It's a long time coming. Finally," Patrick said. "It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me. I knew I was on the same strategy as Helio and when I passed him for the lead, I couldn't believe it. This is fabulous."
Danica Patrick’s first career Indy Car Series win is causing some sports reporters to call for a dusting off of other female racers to follow suit. Especially in NASCAR, where female forms are mainly kept in the soft soles of public relations shoes.
“Maybe it’s time to dust off Erin Crocker and give her another chance, and drag Sarah Fisher back to NASCAR and give her another look,” says NASCAR expert Mike Mulhern in his new column. “Now that Danica Patrick, with her first Indy-car victory, in the Japan 300, has put women-in-racing front and center again.”
Gabi DiCarlo (driver of the No. 90 Great Clips Toyota in ARCA for Stringer Motorsports), Alli Owens (driver of the No. 12 ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevrolet in ARCA for DGM Racing) and Ashley Parlett (car chief of the No. 09 Zaxby’s-SPS-BB&T Ford iN ARCA driven by John Wes Townley and fielded by RAB Racing with Brack Maggard), are scheduled to gather in Kansas Speedway’s hospitality village for Women in Racing on Saturday, April 26th.
Guests attending the Women in Racing event will have the opportunity to tour the pits, enjoy Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and speak with women leaders in motorsports. Proceeds go to the Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City. Details are available at www.sportkc.org.
The NHRA would like to remind people that it’s diversity program for women has been working for years.
Shirley Muldowney (18 victories) and Angelle Sampey (41 wins, most among women), seven other females have won national events in the 57-year history of the NHRA. The most recent, Peggy Llewellyn, became the first black woman to win in the NHRA with a Pro Stock Motorcycle victory in the Powerade Drag Racing Series in Ennis, Texas, in September.
"We haven't gotten that kind of publicity in drag racing because we've won races before and nobody thinks it's that big a deal," Sampey says. "I'm sure (Patrick) was as thrilled with her win as I was mine 11 years ago.
"I hope Danica makes it not that big a deal (if she wins). When people look at us whether we're women or minorities and expect the same result, that's when we'll all be equal and will get the same attention from sponsors, fans and competitors that we all deserve."
Kristin Bumbera and her #40 TXI-MAXIMIZER CONCRETE Chevrolet made their NASCAR Grand National Division debut in the Allstate Texas Thunder 150 in Kyle, TX as the only female driver in the race and the only driver from the Lone Star state.
She passed four cars in the final few laps of the race to bring home an 11th place finish on the lead lap. After the biggest race of her career Bumbera was pleased with the results.
“I definitely had a lot of fun racing with this group of talented men,” said Bumbera. “Avoiding all the wrecks was challenging and I’m glad after all of that we were still able to have a successful night. I had a front row seat to much of the action. It seemed like things were happening right in front of me every time but I knew I would be fine with the help of my spotter. I can’t wait to join these guys again in Irwindale.”
Cindi Lux showed she’s got the goods at the Grand Prix of Long Beach (Calif.). The female driver scored her career-high finish in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) SPEED World Challenge GT Series with a ninth-place result. Lux, who will represent the parts division of Chrysler as the road racing representative to Team Mopar in 2008, ran has high as sixth in the hour long event. However, three caution periods, including one that was still waving when the checkered flag fell, broke the forward momentum of the No. 2 Mopar/CORSA/MOMO Dodge Viper Competition Coupe potentially costing Lux an even higher finish. Today's event was Lux's first with Mopar and her first SPEED GT race of the season.
"We rolled the dice on setup like we never had before,” said Lux. “We uncharacteristically made some huge chassis changes before the race and we were either going to be a hero or a zero in the deal. Thanks to my engineer Matt Bejnarowicz we looked like heroes but he is the real hero of the weekend. In a typical street race you have to drive the wheels off this thing and there is absolutely no hanging back and that is what we did. This Mopar Viper was phenomenal in the first half of the race. It was the best it has ever been in my career in the World Challenge. We had to fight the differential at the end but one of the great things about the relationship with Mopar is that they had the Motorsports Engineering group here. They were already in development mode before the race was over. It is great to have that kind of support from a partner. We just keep chipping away at this deal and the team is getting more solid each weekend. I am pretty excited to head to Salt Lake City next month."
Continue reading "Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival - April 24" »
Welcome to the AskPatty Blog Carnival, where we provide a refreshing assortment of female friendly news and interesting automotive tidbits from around the blogosphere. April is drawing to a close, but the fun is not ending: we've got plenty of useful stuff to share. Have you got something to share? Email Ask Patty at info@askpatty.com to include your own blog bits in next week's carnival!
BlogHer has launched a special campaign with GlobalGiving to raise money for lifesaving programs for women around the world. Their goal is to find out how many women's lives we can save by blogging to raise small donations -- $10, $15, $25, $50 --for critical clinics and educational programs for women, children and girls specifically in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Darfur, Nepal, and South Africa. By harnessing the power of women online, these contributions will improve maternal health and save women's lives. Your donation to one or more of these projects can save women's lives by supplying health care, birthing kits, education, trained birthing attendants, meals, and much, much more. Click the link and make a difference!
Ideally, a dealership should help you find the right vehicle at a fair price. But some dealers place more emphasis on their profit margins than on satisfying their customers. When buying a car, keep your interests front and center--and avoid common pitfalls that can cost you extra money--by following these five steps to getting the best price at Yahoo!autos.
Leave it to those Jalopnik dudes to find (and share) the aftermath of this horrific Acura NSX wreck. The car is destroyed, its various parts litter the street, and surprisingly, the driver survived with a fractured neck, and (probably) some pretty hefty lawyer's fees ahead of him.
SurferSam thinks life's a beach, and his laid-back site features this kickin' article full of useful info about new cars and their brand-new features for fun and safety. You don't need to be a surfer to sail through his educational intro to all things automotive.
She's 30 days into her cross-country drive in a cool collection of Saturn vehicles, and wrapping up the final leg of the stunt she calls "Bossy's Excellent Road Trip" in a brand-new Saturn Astra. Bossy embarked on this five-week journey to meet her blogging family -- and Saturn was nice enough to loan her the cars. Check out her adventures in her extremely entertaining blog entries at www.iambossy.com. Go Bossy, you're almost home!
The fuel efficient driver at I Want Better Gas Mileage has posted a brief but educational blog on E85 Ethanol Vehicles. It appears to be a fledgling site, so stop by and let him know what you think of his efforts.
Who wouldn't want to own a Ferrari? Who wouldn't want to own one at a discount? Well watch out, because if the price is too low, it could be a fake, as this segment at CNNVideo explains. These knockoffs are so good, even the experts can't tell them apart.
As the days grow longer and warmer, driving season is upon us. Long weekends beckon, and we jump into our cars and head out and away. Spontaneity is the name of the game, but just a little planning can make sure that not only do we get to our destinations, but also get back again in one piece. You're prepared to take a break, so check out this guide at Love-my-car.co.uk and so make sure your car is too by following her common sense guide to car safety.
This week's pink car: Barbie, your TT has arrived, and Ken's jealous. Here's one you don't see every day - a gorgeous Audi TT in Barbie pink pearl. We can thank the car lovers at the Fourtitude Forums for archiving this car conversation. Would you drive it? Heck yeah! Sign me up!
Continue reading "Ask Patty Around the World Blog Carnival: April 23, 2008" »
The old adage that everything that can go wrong will seemed to come true for Gabi DiCarlo and the Great Clips Race Team during the ARCA/REMAX series stop at Salem Speedway in Salem, IN. What looked to be a promising start quickly turned into a long weekend as the Great Clips Team unloaded what was a very fast race car only to have it back into the wall during practice.
The backup car was quickly prepared, but was unable to make a qualifying attempt forcing Gabi to the 31st starting spot. DiCarlo was then caught up in a early race crash that decimated the 35 car field.
The team was able to repair the damaged racer and get Gabi back into the race where she salvaged a 25th place finish.
Kristin Bumbera will make her NASCAR Grand National Series debut on April 19th at Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, Texas. At the age of 20, Kristin Bumbera is driving for Next Generation Racing, Inc. in the NASCAR Grand National Division this year and also a full season in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program for Frank Jordan’s Golden State Racing in the NASCAR Whelen Late Model Series at All American Speedway in Roseville, CA.
The Allstate Texas Thunder 150 will be broadcast live on HDNET and delayed on The Speed Channel.
History was made Sunday at the NHRA Funny Car race in Las Vegas, Nev. Ashley Force, who made it to the final round in her Castrol GTX Mustang, jumped up four spots in the standings to become the first woman to ever lead the Funny Car standings after an event.
“The thing about drag racing that we all know is you can go from hero to zero very quickly,” said Force. “We are enjoying (success) now while we have it, but we know there are three other teams in our camp alone who are gunning for that number one spot.
“(Actually), I didn’t know I was the points leader until after the race. I was surprised. It definitely made not winning a little better, and losing to Wilkerson made it a little bit easier because we’re such good friends with he and his family.”
Brazilian driver Ana Beatriz’s third-place finish in Saturday’s Indy Lights support race was the best finish by a woman in the seven-year history of the series. Beatriz made only her second start.
“If I start to think that this is my second race of the season and I’m already on the podium, that surprises me,” Beatriz said.
“It was a great race,” said Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver Beatriz. “I didn’t imagine that I would pass Richard (Antinucci). I just thought that Richard and Rafa (Matos) would just pull away and I wouldn’t be able to catch them.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s race and trying to finish on the podium again. We’ll have to make some changes on the car because we’ll probably start further back in tomorrow’s race and work on passing through the straights and trying to overtake people.”
Seventeen year-old Mackena Bell of Carson City, NV has started her rookie season in the NASCAR Whelen Series with a top 10 finish of the 22 car field, in the 50-lap season opener, at the infamous All American Speedway in Roseville, California.
Bell has 4 Rookie of the Year awards and a “Most Inspirational Driver” title under her
Focused on learning as much as possible throughout this 2008 season, Bell says the most important part of running this series is progressing from week-to-week and earning the respect of those already successful in the series.
“By pushing myself each time I enter the track, being patient and up-on-the-wheel, my goals are simple for the season. Improve each week, stay positive and finish races.”
With a relatively small race team compared to other drivers within the series, the #11 Late Model is headed by Mackena’s father, Kelly, and Crew Chief Dave Sciarroni of Sciarroni Bros. race team.
“She has a ton of potential as a late model driver,” said Sciarroni. “I have no doubt that she will find success at this level as she is mature beyond her years. I was impressed at how well she analyzes what the car is doing and surprised at how clearly she can communicate that information back to me. ”
Hillary Will has a self-described love it -- hate it -- relationship with Las Vegas.
“That was our first win, and we were on top of the world. That was such a great feeling. We were a fairly new team, and that was a big, big accomplishment for us,” Will recalled.
“The Strip instantly became my favorite track because of that. It stayed that way until, well, the crash.”
Continue reading "Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival, April 18, 2008 " »
Welcome to the AskPatty Blog Carnival, where we provide a midweek fix of female friendly news and interesting automotive tidbits from around the blogosphere. It's April, but we're not fooling around here: we've got serious stuff to share, from life-saving and educational programs at BlogHer and ConsumerReports to fun family travel. Have you got something to share? Email Ask Patty at info@askpatty.com to include your own blog bits in next week's carnival!
BlogHer has launched a special campaign with GlobalGiving to raise money for lifesaving programs for women around the world. Their goal is to find out how many women's lives we can save by blogging to raise small donations -- $10, $15, $25, $50 --for critical clinics and educational programs for women, children and girls specifically in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Darfur, Nepal and South Africa. By harnessing the power of women online, these contributions will improve maternal health and save women's lives. Your donation to one or more of these projects can save women's lives by supplying health care, birthing kits, education, trained birthing attendants, meals, and much, much more. Click the link and make a difference!
Speaking of saving lives, Consumer Reports says 200 lives a year would be saved if all pregnant women wore seatbelts. According to CR, the myth that pregnant women should avoid wearing seatbelts because they may be unsafe for unborn children has been debunked by a team of researchers at the University of Michigan. The study found that as many as 200 unborn babies would be saved each year if expectant women properly buckled up every time they get in a car.
Why we like Manuals: In this item over at LeftLaneNews.com a man was re-arrested just moments after being released from the Palm Beach County Jail, after an unsuccessful carjacking attempt in which he tried to steal a Nissan 350Z and then realized he didn't know how to drive the six-speed stickshift. But wait, it gets better: a Pastor who mentors and teaches inmates at the jail pulled a gun on the would-be carjacker until Sheriffs could take him into custody.
It's only been a couple weeks since Blogger Bossy waved goodbye to her husband, kids, and dog, and began a drive across the country in a cool collection of Saturn vehicles in a stunt she calls "Bossy's Excellent Road Trip." Bossy has embarked on this journey in order to meet the bloggy friends she knows solely through her comment section--because they have become like family to her -- and because Saturn is sponsoring it. More than 250 bloggers across 182 cities in 42 states have signed up to participate in Bossy's Excellent Road Trip and meet the hellafunny woman. Check out her adventures in her extremely entertaining blog entries at www.iambossy.com. We likey!
There's no shortage of places to visit in Seafarer's carnival of cities over at blogs.BootsnAll.com.
If you're already thinking about taking a road trip with your family over the summer, why not start here and browse the collection of offerings on places to eat, locales to visit, and events to attend across the United States and around the world. Whether you want to see museums, amusement parks, historical locations, or just watch a baseball game or look at pretty flowers, there is something here for everyone!
Speaking of travel, what's more enriching to the spirit and soul than travel? FREE travel, of course! The folks over at AutomotiveTraveler.com are wading through the internet to find the most exciting opportunities for FREE travel, and posting the contests for users to browse. Stop by and check out their collection of automotive related travel sweepstakes and contests from around the web including a trip to Maui sponsored by Jaguar, a 2009 BMW 750Li, or a chance to attend the 2008 Baja 1000. Be sure to let us know if you win anything!
Continue reading "Ask Patty Around the World Blog Carnival: April 16, 2008" »
From Danica and the Girl Scouts to Ashley's MySpace page -- AskPatty.com has all the news from around the world of women in motorsports.
Danica cleans it up for the Girl Scouts.
The latest Go Daddy TV commercial features a smiling young girl, fully-clothed and who looks like she’s about to sell a box of Girl Scout cookies. However,what she's really selling is GoDaddy.com.
“Everyone has a dream,” the girl tells viewers. “Build yours today with a domain name from GoDaddy.com.”
This pitch is made after she is given a checkered flag from her heroine, auto racer Danica Patrick - and after the little girl beats a bunch of boys racing her go-kart as she aspires to become another Patrick.
Lady golfers will have a chance to show off their best game.
The 13th Annual Women’s Charity Golf Tournament will be held on May 20 at the Eagle Creek Golf Course in Indianapolis, Ind. The event honors the generosity of the late Mary Fendrich Hulman and benefits the USAC Benevolent Foundation.
Joyce Vukovich, wife of 1973 Indianapolis 500 runner-up and former USAC driving star Bill Vukovich, is the honorary chairperson for the tourney. “As the USAC Benevolent Foundation assists the USAC and IRL families, events such as this are so important and I am honored to be associated with the event,” she says.
Looking for something interesting for Mom this Mother’s Day?
Dodge has got an idea for you. According to a spokesperson from Dodge, it’s a great opportunity to solve that Mother’s Day gift dilemma. He said, “Dodge is looking for the best NASCAR mom to wave the Green Flag at the Darlington Race on May 10, 2008—Mother’s Day Weekend.”
He continued, “Here’s how it works: NASCAR fans simply visit www.dodgeboysracing.com and enter the Wave the Green Flag contest. Fans simply fill out the required information—including a 100-words-or-fewer essay on why their mother should be declared the best NASCAR mom—and click on the Submit button. If they win, their mother (and three guests) will receive an all-expense-paid travel package to the Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway over Mother’s Day weekend and mom will wave the green flag to start the race. It’s a great gift for any NASCAR mom.”
Shelley Jory, from Southampton, UK, will be the first female to participate in the ‘Evolution Class’ -- a daredevil section of the race with no speed limit.
Speaking about the race Shelley said: “I am nervous but honored!
“I am very excited to be part of Powerboat P1 2008 - it’s one of my racing challenges coming true. I have made it to the top of my sport, I just have to perform well now.”
Love auto racing? Really love drag racing?
Check out NHRA diva Ashley Force’s new MySpace page.
“Hi everyone! I have officially joined MySpace, and this is my "Official Site". My name is Ashley Force, I was born into a tradition of drag racing, so where else did anyone think I would end up but behind the wheel of an 8,000 horsepower Funny Car myself. I started off slow working my way through the ranks of Super Comp and Top Alcohol Dragster before taking that big leap into Nitro Funny Car back in January of 2007. Since that time I have been working hard and learning the ins and outs of the sport. Many of you have probably already seen the learning curve I have been on this year. Thank you all for checking out my site, I love the opportunity to give the fans a little more of a behind the scenes look at my life. I will check in periodically to update things in my life both on and off the track! You can also learn more about the entire team at: www.johnforceracing.com Learn more about NHRA POWERade Drag Racing at: www.nhra.com.”
Sad news. One of NASCAR’s only full time female officials, Brienne Davis was killed on Tuesday in a one-car accident on Interstate 77 near Huntersville, North Carolina. In 2004, Davis joined NASCAR as one of its full time inspectors that travel each week to Sprint Cu
p, Nationwide and Truck series races.
Previously, she had worked at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Racing as an engine builder, she was 28.
"We are deeply saddened at the loss of NASCAR Sprint Cup official Brienne Davis. She was a key member of our team of inspectors and will be missed by the NASCAR community,” stated NASCAR.
by Linda Przygodski
Contributing Editor
AskPatty.com
↑ Grab this Headline Animator
Continue reading "Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival - April 10" »
Welcome to the AskPatty Blog Carnival where every Wednesday we provide a midweek fix of interesting automotive tidbits from around the blogosphere. This week's edition is full of useful information about earth-friendly alternative vehicles as well as additional resources for shopping for a new car and insuring it once you bring it home. Have you got something to share? Use the form at the end to send us your own blog bits to be included in next week's carnival!
Do you ever write poetry to your car? MadKane shared this limerick:
Those dents seem to come right on cue
A few days from your auto's debut.
A scratch or a nick
Will show up mighty quick.
How do dents know your car's spanking new?
Madeline Kane is a humor columnist who blogs about cars - read more of her car commentary at madkane.com/car.html
 With the price of gas over $3 per gallon, these two Iowa women
are thankful to drive hybrids, simply because they aren't filling up as
often as they used to. While they might have originally bought the cars
because saving the environment felt important to both women, they're
reaping the rewards in their pocketbook now.
Are hybrid cars too quiet? This video at Yahoo! News discusses the dangers of those super-quiet hybrid engines to vision-impaired pedestrians who might rely on hearing the sound of a combustion engine to identify that a car is nearby. Apparently, a new bill is being introduced in congress that will look at the quietness of hybrid cars and ways to make them more audible to the blind.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the road for electric car makers is full of potholes. Tesla, Fisker, Zap, and more than two dozen other start-up companies -- most based in California and backed by piles of venture capital -- are in a feverish race to develop a viable electricity-powered alternative to the internal combustion engine. However, lacking the acumen of traditional automakers, these startups are struggling with production problems.
Hybrid cars have become synonymous with a lot of things lately. Love them or hate them, it seems everyone has an opinion on what they are, what they should be and what they are going to be in the future. This blogger recaps some of the biggest myths surrounding hybrid electric vehicles while also sharing additional information about the debatable value of these cars.
If you're in the market for a new vehicle, this "Car Shopping Toolbox" includes 100 guides, tools, and resources to help with your research before taking the plunge. Whether you're looking for a car that can help you get more miles to the gallon or for a luxury vehicle to impress the ladies, this guide will help you choose a car that's right for you with it collection of online car sales and classifieds, vehicle history reports, research and ratings, pricing, safety, insurance, financing, guides, blogs, and much more
Trucks are great for hauling stuff but aren't so great for insurance because it generally costs more to insure trucks than cars. This comprehensive article at BeSafeInsure explains why truck insurance costs more, and shares tips to help you find cheap truck insurance.
Female Friendly Dealer: Irwin Lincoln Mercury Mazda
Irwin Lincoln Mercury Mazda of Freehold, New Jersey, is a second-generation, family owned dealership. Hal Irwin began this dealership with the Mercury-Comet Franchise in 1960. Since Hal's retirement, his daughter, Shelly Irwin LoCascio, has operated the dealership. Irwin Lincoln Mercury Mazda's Team of Professionals earned Lincoln Mercury's Presidents Award & Mazda's Gold Cup Award for Superior Customer Satisfaction. Shelly's philosoph
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Danica Patrick was extremely shaken up after an accident on pit road. The front wing of Patrick's Dallara-Honda clipped Charles Buckman of Dale Coyne Racing on pit lane during Friday afternoon practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Buckman was taken to Methodist Hospital and diagnosed with a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and a skull fracture.
Autoillustrations is offering a FREE Sponsor Placement layout for any race team featuring a female driver.
Nineteen year old Midget driving star Brea Lopez and her Brea Lopez Motorsports Team returned to South Sound Speedway last Saturday night for the second scheduled race of the 2008 WMRA series. Less than favorable weather conditions rode with the racing teams in attendance, but the large crowd on hand was undaunted by the unpredictable weather and enjoyed a great night of hot racing action. 
For the second year in a row, GoDaddy.com will be the presenting sponsor for the Indianapolis 500 television broadcast on ABC.
Formula Atlantic driver Mishael Abbott of Indianapolis returned to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for the Oak Tree Double National, a two-race weekend hosted by the North Carolina Region Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).
This writer muses about women in NASCAR.
