Spank That Donkey

**  JJ Yeley is not ready for prime time...

Mark Martin, a veteran NASCAR driver of nineteen seasons with Roush Racing had finally worked his way to first place in the Championship points race,  and was coming back on the track with four new tires and a shot to win at Talladega this weekend.

Everything finally falling into place and looking to hook up with team mate Matt Kenseth for the all important drafting edge, until he collided with ROOKIE jj yeley.

What was yeley doing in the middle of track going like 60mph attempting to pit with a hard charing Mark Martin coming up behind him?  Making excuses.  See the story here.

ROOKIE yeley says:

"I had my hand as far out the window as I could," Yeley said. "I know everyone is in a rush trying to pick up as much time as you can and that's the downside to running these small fuel cells. "But at the same time, I've got to try to get in [the pits] as fast as I can. I don't know if he didn't see me or whatever, but I can only wave off so much. I just think he should have run on the outside of me."

Veteran Mark Martin on the incident:

Martin said Yeley tried to get to pit road from "the middle of the racetrack." Even though Yeley -- who fell out of his third consecutive race due to an accident and his sixth of the season -- protested that he was vigorously signaling out his window, Martin said it was a moot point.

(Determination Makes a Winner)

 For Goodness sakes, yeley was even in his back up car because he wrecked his primary after qualifying.  The rest of my post has been censored...  with the exception of this statement. 

Yeley S@*KS!

** Photo shop courtesy of GGD.

(click on Port Security)

 Unfortunately, Brown Hound has this post concerning richard childress racing.... cutting loose the  Coast Guard Racing Team,  as the press release declares:

UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT CONTINUE THIS SPONSORSHIP FOR THE 2007
NASCAR SEASON DUE TO COMPETING FISCAL DEMANDS.

Meanwhile, the Democrats, are all fired up about Port Security... Well, who the Hell Man's the Ships!!!  The Coast Guard, and they should have the $$$ at their disposal to spend on worthy recruiting efforts such as NASCAR sponsorship, but those teams  (NASCAR) also need to step forward as well to do the best they can to retain those sponsorships.  I do find it hard to believe that the Coast Guard budget is doing anything but increasing with the rest of Gubment spending....

 As a caveat to my outrage, the Dems (in my opinion) couldn't give a "rip" about port security, it probably really means hiring a unionized security force that will have their union dues shipped off to some Pac that supports Dems...

If the $$ aren't spent on NASCAR sponsorship, they should be given as re-enlistment and enlistment bonuses to our brave young men and women who (have) step forward to defend us in the Coast Guard!!! 

 So I wasn't right on the net Saturday night telling you that the Freedom Gear.com machine won for the third time in a row at Shenandoah Speedway....  Came in fourth, and really if I had not completely taped the race with a Hi -8 Sony video camera, I could have had film at 11 (it will take awhile before the "caveman" can figure it out).  Anyhow, check out the Staunton NewsLeader's account of the race:

When leaders Kenny Bradley and Sean Ballantine tangled late in the Super Stock feature Saturday night at Shenandoah Speedway, it handed the lead and the eventual win to Bryan Short, his first in six years of trying.

"If that race lasted any longer, I didn't know if we could hold off the 02. He was pretty good," Short said. "Cautions just fell our way ... we were in the right place."

Let me tell you something... he's right.... We had some Ford on Chevy crime Saturday night when the 28 car of Ballentine tapped Kenny (02) from behind and spun him.  The real story is Shenandoah Speedway has had some "noise - political issues", and they have to end the racing at 10 O'clock... because they are making the "Mountain Roar", (track motto), and apparently some neighbors are not happy with the noise levels of "roaring V-8 engines"...

So what also happened is that the 40 lap feature only went 35 or 36 laps before management called for the checkers...  But it was a good race, and Kenny did have the car... and Lord knows the "attitude" to bring that Monte Carlo to the front!!!

You should come see the races this Saturday night they have "Late Model" stock cars there, and on a 3/8th mile banked paved track, that is where you see the best racing!!!!  I mean come on, they wave that green flag and its four barrel carbs wide open, and that sweet smell of gasoline, and rubber!!!  It really is a lot of fun, and as soon as I figure out how to get good new video on the blog it will happen.  Tickets $15 bucks, the thrills are free.. 

Car specs for the UARA-Stars are here.  (small blocks, four barrels).

 Kenny Bradley smoked the 3/8th mile paved Shenandoah Speedway and posted a 16.901 lap to take the pole, and race on to win the Saturday night 50 Lap feature.  (click on all thumbnails for full size)   The Freedom Gear.com machine   (02) was strong and led for the opening dozen laps or so, before being turned around by the Seven (7) Car entering turn one.

This made for a better race as both got put in the rear of the nine car field and had to battle back to the front.  The three (3) car though had other thoughts and battled Bradley as seen in these photos, door handle to door handle for a good dozen laps before the 02 car pulled away with about eight laps to go to the checkers !!!  It was good hard racing, but note Bradley was on the outside of   the three (3) car trying to pull off the pass....  Horsepower and good driving made this a second victory in a row for the 02, which is also sponsored by Peck's BBQ, Rhino Lining of Stuarts Draft, and Mike's Tire and Auto.

See all of the May 20th photos here in the gallery. 

 Kenny Bradley scores his first win at Shenandoah Speedway Saturday night 5-12-06 in the #02 FreedomGear.com Machine.  Kenny had a strong car all night and took advantage of a spin by the #28 car on lap 28 of the 40 lap Super Sport event to win.  The #7 Car gave chase, and you will see in the video where the #7 made his best run at #02 but took it too hard into turn one, bobbled and got loose on lap 36.  Kenny had him "covered" from there on and took it into the winners circle for his first win of 2006.

SpankThatDonkey has created a photo gallery on the right side bar  and here,  for your enjoyment.  Plus all the almost good video (not the best quality, but it gets the job done).  Shenandoah Speedway is a great facility, and had just hosted the Hooters Tour this past Thursday night, bringing some serious quality racing to the Shenandoah Valley.  Crew Chiefs Lee and David Howdyshell worked the set up for Bradley who qualified third in the twelve car field.

It is to be noted that FreedomGear.com is the only Conservative T shirt company sponsoring a race car, and we're dern proud of Kenny, the crew and the car!!! Congratulations Kenny on a clean race and your first win.