NASCAR PICTURES

[joseywalestx]

Obama Orders Chevrolet and Dodge Out Of NASCAR - Car News

With their racing budgets deemed “unnecessary expenditures,” GM and Chrysler are ordered to cease racing operations at the end of the season.

BY JARED GALL, ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC WOODWARD
April 2009



In a move sure to spark outrage, the White House announced today that GM and Chrysler must cease participation in NASCAR at the end of the 2009 season if they hope to receive any additional financial aid from the government. Companies around the globe—Honda and Audi, to name two—have drawn down racing operations, and NASCAR itself has already felt the pinch in the form of reduced team spending. A complete withdrawal from America’s premier racing series is expected to save more than $250 million between GM and Chrysler, a substantial amount considering the drastic measures being implemented elsewhere.

“Automakers used to operate on the principle of ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday,’ but the Auto Task Force’s research just doesn’t validate that as true,” said the statement from President Obama. While fans have decried the Car of Tomorrow for heavily limiting what little personalization the cookie-cutter series had previously allowed to participating manufacturers, and drivers have slammed its brick-like aerodynamics and unpredictable handling, even the governmental oversight committee sees that the full-scale regulation of the cars leaves the manufacturers very little space for research and development. “NASCAR is a racing series that regulates down to the smallest detail of the cars, where a car badged a Chevrolet or Dodge differs only marginally from a Ford or a Toyota. There’s no technological development to speak of.”

The statement goes on further to say the same demand will be made of Ford if it asks for government assistance. “In order to receive this money, corporations must demonstrate they will spend it wisely. Racing has been said to improve on-road technology, but frankly, NASCAR almost flaunts its standing among the lowest-tech forms of motorsport. NASCAR is not proven to drive advancements that transfer from the racetrack to the road, and this nation’s way forward does not hinge on decades-old technology. We need new, and we need innovation.”

The President realizes this will be an unpopular call, but stands behind the decision, saying, “This is an obvious cut to make, but it is not an easy one. This administration is not ignoring the tremendous sentimental value and emotional appeal NASCAR holds for so many Americans. But now is not the time for sentiment and nostalgia; now is a time for decisive financial action. If our automotive industry is to emerge from this recession intact, then these difficult decisions must be made.”

Both Chevrolet and Dodge see the move as only temporary, and fully expect to resume racing in NASCAR as soon as they have stabilized and the government’s hand in their operations is minimized. “There is nothing really to say at this point,” said one representative, who wished to remain anonymous. “We’ve been doing this since the beginning, and we always assumed we’d be doing this until the end. Heck, nobody ever thought to think that there would be an end. But we ain’t done. As soon as this is over, we’re taking back our spot at the top.”

NASCAR officials remain tight-lipped about the call, but sources say series president Mike Helton and team managers are exploring several options, including other manufacturers to fill Chevrolet and Dodge’s vacated positions. Given the company’s recent interest in motorsport and the steady cash-flow and V-8 engine provided by its new Genesis sedan, sources indicate that NASCAR is pinging Hyundai to gauge the Korean company’s interest in occupying a spot in NASCAR. “Toyota was not well-received their first year in the sport, nor was their first season an easy one,” the source says. “But they learned, they applied the lessons, and they have proven very competitive this year.”

If Hyundai does indeed join the series, there will no doubt be a steep learning curve, and the move would leave Ford the lone domestic battling a pair of Asian makes in America’s most popular racing series. We wonder, however, how long NASCAR could hold that title without two of its most storied participants.


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/motorsports/obama_orders_chevrolet_and_dodge_out_of_nascar_car_news

[Seminole Red]

RACE #13...Kyle Busch does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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RACE #12...NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. ....KASEY KAHNE...

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darlington winner

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

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[Newhampsha]

Thank you, he will be fine if someone keeps their thumb on him. I am sure Gibbs is doing that.

Nh

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i think hes a great driver and hes not doing anything that any of the other great drivers havent done

[Newhampsha]

Don't ya just love him? Ask JR.

NH

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RACE #10...DARLINGTON WINNER....KYLE BUSH...

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lolol...yep

[mnfats]

Is that what Elvis would look like if he were alive today?

[Newhampsha]

Great picture.

NH

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the king

[mnfats]

I know, but you get used to it. lol

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

LOL

Let's take this banter back to the Nascar board.

I prefer to save this board for discussing the pics.

TIA,
Phil

[Newhampsha]

Fats, he'll complain if you hang him with a new rope. LOL

NH

[mnfats]

No problem.

[Newhampsha]

Nope, youse guys are just WEIRD down theya.

NH

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

Ya'll have some weird sayings up that way.

I'm glad we don't.

LOL

Phil

[Newhampsha]

Sorry, up here it is cocked. I have heard crocked, but we must be too lazy to put in the r, in Canada, it is pissed, so WTF!!!!!!!!

NH

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

If you don't mind, in the future, please identify all of the people in a pic, if you know who they are.

Thanks,
Phil

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

I've never heard it called cocked.

I thought that's what you did to a gun.

LOL

Phil

[mnfats]

That be Harlen, IA native, Tiny Lund. A man with a big heart.

[Newhampsha]

up hea it is cocked. same same.

NH

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

You mean crocked?

It does look like he has had a few too many.

LOL

Phil

[Newhampsha]

He looks cocked!!!!!!!

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

I know one of them is Petty, who is the other one?

Phil

[mnfats]

A couple of old timers.

[iamshazzam]

Daytona 1974

[iamshazzam]

Tiny Lund

[iamshazzam]

Far Too Soon!!! We miss him.

[iamshazzam]

Dale Sr's last victory - Talledega

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

LOL

I wouldn't limit the posts as far as who posts what, just the links in the Ibox.

I can see it getting way too long, unles I can fure out how to put the drivers side by side.

Phil

[mnfats]

Phil-Good idea for a separate board. Limiting driver pics may not be a bad idea. We wouldn't want this board to be 75% JR. lol

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

I need to talk to Pete tonight after he gets off from work and get him to move the whole list to the archives board and just put a link to it on the main board.

That will free up that space for you to post a winners pic on the board after every race.

I'm sure he will get it done before Sunday.

Phil

[MOPAR10R/T]

G'm Phil! Thanks and OK, will do from now on!...))

[Seminole Red]

i noticed the 500 club list is really takeing up space.....couldnt you put an xtra asterick or something by there name instead to save space.

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

No problem.

This board will be a work in progress, and it will be a while before we get it ready for people to spend some time on.

I'm trying to decide if we should limit the links to the pics in the Ibox.

Maybe to five links per driver.

I don't want to get the Ibox too big.

As far as posting picks on the board, I don't think admin cares how many we post.

I need to learn how to line the drivers up in the Ibox side by side too. That would help.

Phil

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my favorite

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ok i found it....i wont get anything done today....it will probably be next monday/tues/wed.

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

OK,

I added you as an assistant.

Phil

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

I put the link to your post in the Ibox, but I prefer to post individual pics.

Phil

[Seminole Red]

ill help

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ill help

[iamshazzam]

Richard Petty wins number 200 at the Firecracker 400, 1984

[MOPAR10R/T]

Phil! "The King" Richard Petty, with pictures. You or I could post the pics by themselfs, if you want to?

http://www.jeromegoolsby.net/racing2.html

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

Fireball Roberts

[Phil(Hot Rod Chevy)]

Fireball Roberts