The Autosportradio 2013 Show will stream live from McGilverys Speedway, 3009 No High School Road this Tuesday November 12th, at 7PM ET. The show can be seen/heard live by logging onto autosportradio and clicking on the Current Show tab. When the guest page opens just click on where shown. You can also ask questions live via the live chat. Scheduled guests... Mike Hull Target Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull has “been there and done that” in the world of auto racing. Hailing originally from Los Angeles, he became involved with the sport in his youth and displayed plenty of ability behind the wheel in the early days of Formula Ford before realizing his calling lay elsewhere. An accomplished mechanic, Hull began plying his trade in a variety of junior open-wheel categories, including Formula Super Vee and Indy Lights, before moving up to the Indy cars and eventually joining Ganassi in 1992. He was promoted to the role of team manager in 1996, at which point the organization could boast a mere two race wins. Over the course of the next four years, Hull presided over 30 race wins as Ganassi became the first team ever to win four consecutive championship titles – one apiece with Jimmy Vasser and Juan Pablo Montoya sandwiching a pair for Alex Zanardi. The team has since added five more INDYCAR titles under Hull’s stewardship, two with Scott Dixon (2003 and 2008) and three straight with Dario Franchitti between 2009 and 2011. Its tally of 89 race wins, including four Indianapolis 500 victories, ranks second only to Penske Racing. Hull also has overseen an astonishingly successful foray into sports cars, claiming six Rolex GRAND-AM titles in just nine years. “Proven long-term success in motor racing defines a true team sport – it’s the ultimate people business,” said Hull. “It can be a lot of fun but also requires real dedication and an unselfish trust in others. I have been impressed by what the RRDC has been doing with SAFEisFAST and am delighted to have been asked to provide some feedback to anyone who is willing to commit themselves to a career in the sport.” Don Kenyon Saying that Don Kenyon has seen it all in the world of midget racing is an understatement. One of the most successful owners and crew chiefs of all time, he teamed with his brother Mel Kenyon to dominate the midget racing scene through the 1980s. In his Hall Of Fame Career as an owner, Don Kenyon won a record nine USAC National Midget titles and 92 career feature wins – third only to Steve Lewis and Doug Caruthers. Kenyons legacy also includes the development of the Kenyon Cars, full-bodied midget cars with 1200cc motorcycle engines that serve as a stepping stone between quarter midgets and full midget cars. So it means something to say that someone with Don Kenyons legendary background is embarking on uncharted territory. But thats just whats happening in 2010 as Kenyon has left USAC and formed the United States Speed Association to sanction Kenyon Car and Thunder Roadster races throughout the Midwest this season as part of his DK Promotions. While some people might consider the task of starting a new racing organization daunting – especially in the current racing climate – for the plain-talking Kenyon its a natural fit. Back in the 1970s, when I first moved to the Hoosier State, pavement sprint car racing was sanctioned through USAC with plenty of racing on tracks in central Indiana. Since then, times have changed. Racing fans still can remember the Thursday Night Thunder programs on ESPN that showcased pavement sprint car racing to a national television audience. Two years ago, USAC dropped paved ovals from the schedule for the sprint car division, opting instead to run all the races on dirt tracks. The staple for pavement sprint car racing has been and remains the annual Pay Less Little 500 at Anderson Speedway, the richest pavement in the world. The newly formed United States Speed Association stepped forward and sanctioned several races in 2012 at Anderson Speedway and continued again this year with sponsorship from the United Auto Workers union. During its annual banquet, the tentative 2014 schedule was released with four sprint car races on the schedule including the Glen Niebel Classic on April 13, the Pay Less Little 500 on May 24 at Anderson, another big race on Oct. 4 at Anderson and a visit to Angola Speedway on July 26. Aaron Pierce In what many observers are calling one of the greatest 50 lap series races in history, Aaron Pierce of Indiana did a spin to win, coming all the way from the back of the pack to win the feature 50 lap feature at Auto City Speedway. USSA 2013 Champion Aaron Pierce put things in perspective when he accepted the hardware for the championship. Pierce, who has never lost a USSA race at Anderson Speedway except for the Little 500, commented that he’s fortunate his favorite track is close to home. “This whole series is really good,” he said of the efforts of Mel and Don Kenyon, Eric Bunn and Norm Shields and Rick Dawson, owner of Anderson Speedway, to keep pavement sprint car racing alive. “Keep it going,” Pierce implored. “If we don’t have a place to race, there won’t be any pavement racing left.” The USSA sprint cars need to return to such Indiana tracks as Winchester and Salem speedways and Lucas Oil Raceway. The tracks in Toledo, Ohio, and Berlin, Mich., also would be good locations for sprint cars on pavement. In Florida, a track has committed to running the sprint cars on pavement once a month and to encourage teams from the Sunshine State to make the trek to Anderson for the Little 500. Officials with the UAW indicated their desire to continue their association to return the roaring and lighting fast sprint cars will continue to compete on paved ovals. I, for one, hope this effort is successful. Come join us live at McGilverys Speedway.. 3009 No High School Road
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 23:07:55 +0000
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