NHRA champ Hight to appear at St. Louis Auto Show

(Robert Hight talks to the media after winning the 2010 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

Former NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car champion Robert Hight will be in the STL this weekend to meet fans and sign autographs at the St. Louis Auto Show. Earlier this week, Hight was named the new president of John Force Racing, the team owned by his father-in-law, 15-time Funny Car champ John Force.

Read the full story at the St. Louis Motorsports Examiner.

NASCAR Changes Points System, Chase Format

 NASCAR press release submitted without comment.

NASCAR announced Wednesday that it has added a wild card element to setting the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field and it has simplified its points system for 2011, making it easier for fans, competitors and the industry to understand.

While the 12-driver Chase field remains intact, the final two spots will be determined by the number of wins during the first 26 races.

The top 10 in points following Race No. 26 – the “cutoff” race – continue to earn Chase berths.

Positions 11 and 12 are “wild card” qualifiers and will go to non-top-10-ranked drivers with the most wins, as long as they’re ranked in the top 20 in points. The top-10 Chase drivers will continue to be seeded based on wins during the first 26 races, with each win worth three bonus points. The wild card drivers will not receive bonus points for wins and will be seeded 11th and 12th, respectively. It’s a move aimed towards rewarding winning and consistency during the regular season.

Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, made the announcements at the NASCAR Hall of Fame during NASCAR’s annual media event as part of the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.

“The fans tell us that winning matters the most with them, so we’re combining the tradition of consistency in our sport with the excitement that comes along with winning,” said France. “This makes every race count leading into the 26th race of the season at Richmond, when we set the field for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.”

The new points system – which applies to all NASCAR national series – will award points in one-point increments. As an example, in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, race winners will earn 43 points, plus three bonus points for the win. Winners also can earn an extra point for leading a lap and leading the most laps, bringing their total to a possible maximum of 48 points.

All other drivers in a finishing order will be separated by one-point increments. A second-place finisher will earn 42 points, a third-place driver 41 points, and so on. A last-place finisher – 43rd place – earns one point. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the last-place finisher receives eight points, to account for that series’ 36-driver race field.

“Many of our most loyal fans don’t fully understand the points system we have used to date,” said France, referencing the system that has been in use since 1975. “So, we are simplifying the points system to one that is much easier to understand. Conceptually, it is comparable to our previous system, but it is easier to follow.”

During his remarks Wednesday night, France reflected on the outstanding competition the sport enjoyed in 2010 and expected to see that high-caliber of racing to continue once the green flag drops for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 Feb. 20.

“NASCAR enters 2011 with positive momentum and a great sense of excitement and optimism,” said France. “We’re extremely excited for the launch of the season. Leading the season off with Daytona, Phoenix and Las Vegas, we believe our fans are in store for some of the best racing the sport has to offer.”

NASCAR Adds Wild Card Element To Setting The Chase Field; Simplifies Points System

Other competitive enhancements announced Wednesday:

Pick a Series – Drivers in all three national series now must select the series where they’ll compete for a driver championship. Drivers still may compete in multiple series and help their teams win owner titles in series where they’re not competing for a driver title. The move helps spotlight young talent in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

New Qualifying Procedure – The qualifying order will be set based upon slowest to fastest practice speeds.

Inclement Weather Qualifying – If bad weather cancels qualifying, the final starting lineup will be determined by practice speeds. The same rule book procedures will be used to determine eligibility to start a race. If weather cancels practice sessions, then the starting lineup will be set by points, per the rule book.

Tire Rules Revision – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams now are allowed five sets of tires for practice and qualifying instead of six. They must return four of those sets to Goodyear in order to receive their race allotment, and may keep one set of practice/qualifying tires. Tire allotments for race weekends will vary according to historical performance data.

Closed Loop Fueling System – Introduced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, this goes into effect for all three national series in 2011. It combines a more efficient fueling system with the elimination of the catch-can man, considered the most “vulnerable” pit-crew member. Teams now will use six, rather than seven, over-the-wall pit-crew members.

Evolution Of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Car – NASCAR continues to work with the manufacturers and teams to enhance the look of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. The cars have new fronts this season and the body makeover will continue to help appeal to fans and aid manufacturer identity.

Steffens ready to race after disappointing Chili Bowl

(Kyle Steffens. Photo by Sam Martin)

STL native and SpeedZone fave Kyle Steffens didn't have the best of Chili Bowls due to some mechanical issues beyond his control, but he's a racer and has a lot planned for '11. Check out the article at the St. Louis Motorsports Examiner.

Rusty Wallace gets extension with ESPN

(Rusty Wallace speaks to the media at a 2010 press conference at the now-defunct Gateway International Raceway. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and STL native Rusty Wallace will continue to be the lead NASCAR studio analyst for ESPN through 2014 after it was announced Tuesday the two reached an agreement on a contract extension. Read the full story at the St. Louis Motorsports Examiner.

Force-Hood to Take Hiatus to Focus on Starting Family

(Ashley Force-Hood, seen here prior to last year's NHRA Full Throttle Series season finale in Pomona, announced Tuesday she will not race this year as she and her husband Daniel are expected their first child. Former Pomona winner and NHRA champion crew chief Mike Neff will fill her seat in '11. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

HUGE news today as John Force Racing announced that "The Franchise" Ashley Force-Hood will take the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Series season off as she and her husband Daniel are expecting their first child. The two-time U.S. Nationals champion will give up her seat to Mike Neff, the tuner who helped John Force earn his 15th Funny Car title last year. In addition to that title and one with Gary Scelzi, Neff also has a win as a driver, taking the Wally at the season finale in Pomona in 2009.

For the full story, check out the STL Motorsports Examiner.

Day 9: My Left Foot

As I'm sitting in my recliner writing this, I'm in a lot more positive frame of mind than I was a couple hours ago. Most of the pain is gone thanks to some post-run stretching and the use of my wife's Happy Company foot roller. This thing is awesome.

It's a good thing, because I was ready to scrap this whole thing today. As I've said in previous entries, I have a severe fallen arch on my left foot (Picture makes sense now. Get it?) and went to Fleet Feet for new insoles and shoes. The Brooks Beasts that I bought definitely helped, but the pain is still pretty intense while I'm running.

The discomfort usually starts since a couple minutes in, but around the halfway point, it either begins to pass or I'm just more successful at ignoring it. Using the 1-9 running clock is definitely helping, but that's for only three miles. I'm planning on a 6-4 running clock for the half-marathon and that's 13.1 miles. Thankfully, the Foot Roller was a tremendous help and did the job after about five minutes of use.

As for the run/walk itself, once again, I didn't stop, but I had to use the gym instead of going outside today due to the weather. Yes, I'm a pansy, piss off. And it doesn't look like I'll be outside anytime soon as temps near the Mudd Compound will be sub-freezing for the next week or so and we're expecting 6" of snow in the next 24 hours.

In addition to not getting the fresh air and road work I need for training by going to the gym, my SmartRunner.com app on my find can't find a GPS signal, so I can't record my run. Yeah, yeah, waaahhh, waaahhh. Roger Bannister didn't use that stuff, so I guess I don't either (look him up). The other problem is, I don't know how long I ran. I did 40 minutes, which should have taken me past the three-mile mark, but I still don't feel good about it because I've only been able to do one day of road work since I've started.

I'm also looking at the weight loss side of the training. Obviously, being as big as I am isn't helping the training at all, so it's imperative that I lose some weight. My goal is to drop 50 lbs. by Race Day (March 26). It's a pretty aggressive goal, but I think it's realistic. So if any of you have any diet tips, I'll be more than happy to listen.

I'm done. I'll probably talk to you tomorrow. Ta.

Steve Wallace to Make Cup Series Debut at Daytona

(Steve Wallace, seen here at the 2009 Gateway International Raceway NASCAR Nationwide Series Media Day at Tri-City Speedway, will race in the 53rd Annual Daytona 500. Photo by Leah Vaughn.)

Steve Wallace, son of St. Louis native and 1989 NASCAR Sprint (then Winston) Cup Series champion Rusty Wallace, is making his Cup Series debut Feb. 20 in the 53rd Annual Daytona 500. He is locked in for the event, using the points the No. 77 team earned last year. That team was piloted by former IndyCar champ and Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. It appears Hornish will not race the full Cup Series season in 2011 and will run a limited NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.

Steve joins his father and uncles Mike and Kenny as the fourth member of the Wallace family to run the Great American Race. For the full release, click HERE.

Day 8: No Cutesy Worldplays, Just Soreness

 Today was a rest day and I did. Yesterday was not a rest day and I didn't. My feet are cursing me in several languages and they have a point.

Finally got some roadwork in Monday with the temps surrounding the Mudd Compound finally climbing high enough to melt the snow. I did three miles in a less-than-steller 39 minutes, but the important thing is that I didn't stop. I'm using a ten-minute run/walk clock for my training. Right now, I'm running one minute, walking nine. Next week, I'll run two minutes and walk eight. You get the drift.

The first part of the "run" was a little rough, but at the halfway point, I felt good. My breathing was controlled, I had a good stride set up, and I was pretty happy with my progress. Another huge help has been SmartRunner.com. I originally got the app for my Palm which times my run, charts my trip using GPS, shows my speed and distance, and provides feedback at the end of the run. The website, though, is awesome. I highly recommend it.

I will say this: Listen to your body. I'm finding that my stretching isn't nearly what it should be as my calves and feet are still giving me problems. My calves are just the usual, but the feet issue is becoming a concern. The new shoes from Fleet Feet have been a huge help, but the lack of proper stretching before I run is killing me. My Kinect workouts help with my pre-run stretching and get my cardio going, but not taking the time to work with my feet will definitely hinder me if I don't address it. Basically, I'm stupid. Ask my wife. She'll confirm it.

One thing that concerned me was finishing the half-marathon (only 69 days away). Runners are given 3.5 hours to finish and I have to admit, I was worried. Based on my average speed during Monday's run, I can finish the event using nothing more than the 1-9 clock. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to run at least 50 percent of the race or more, so that's one less thing I have to worry about. Which is nice.

That's it for today. Back to the grind tomorrow. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement. It really means a ton. And no, that wasn't a weight joke. Unless you thought it was funny. If you did, then it was a joke.

Ta.

STL Motorsports Examiner: Drew Blickensderfer

(Drew Blickensderfer, seen here with Carl Edwards after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at The Milwaukee Mile in 2008, heads to Daytona for pre-season testing this week. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

Just finished up a new article on Mt. Zion, Ill., native Drew Blickensderfer and his quest to win a second Daytona 500, this time with David Ragan. You can check it out by clicking HERE.

If you don't remember, Drew was also Carl's crew chief for Carl's second NNS win at the now-defunct Gateway International Raceway in 2008.

STL Well-Represented at Chili Bowl

(Kyle Steffens was among the drivers representing St. Louis last week in Tulsa, Okla., at the 25th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals. Photo by Sam Martin.)

For many in the racing world, the Chili Bowl Nationals is THE race to win. Saturday night, Kevin Swindell made history by becoming the first-ever driver to win two in a row. Making it more special was the fact he beat his father, the legendary five-time event winner Sammy Swindell for the second straight year as well.

It was also a big week for St. Louis-area racers with Brad Loyet and Loyet Motorsports well represented in the A-Main with three cars in the show. Loyet driver and New Zealand native Michael Pickens gave the Loyets a great finish, putting them on the podium with a third-place effort. Also making the finale was Belleville, Ill., native Nick Knepper who ran as high as fourth for much of the 50-lap main and eventually finished 15th.

As a new writer for Examiner.com covering St. Louis motorsports, I will provide a full wrap-up of the Gateway City's drivers from last week. Be sure to subscribe to my Examiner page and you can also follow on Facebook.

Day 4: ...And Miles to Go Before I Sleep...

 

(Left: Me 10 days before I went to Navy bootcamp in May 1991. I had to gain seven pounds because, at 125 lbs., I was underweight. Right: Nearly 20 years later, I'm nearly TWO HUNDRED pounds heavier. Yeah. Tell me about it.)

Took yesterday off. My body thanked me. Picked it back up today. My body informed me that I suck.

I actually did five minutes without stopping today. For most people, that's no big deal. For me, it was a pretty big accomplishment. Did a brutal (for me) Kinect workout this morning and then did my run. I feel good. The cardio is starting to kick on, I'm not as sore, and I'm not praying for death four or five times per run.

The sidewalks are starting to clear off from all the snow so I can start doing some roadwork which is good; I hate running at that little track at the gym. Today was a half-day for area schools, so all the high school kids got to see me lumbering my fat ass around the track while they were playing hoops and working out. There was also a senior citizen outing there and most of them were able to lap me whilst walking fast. No lie. If I truly needed a sign of how bad off I am physically, that was it.

Which brings me to this: Don't let this happen to you. Seriously. I've basically done nothing as far as anything physical for the last ten years and my body and health have shut down. I'm fat. I'm diabetic. And not the Type 1 "Oh, that's so sad and they're so brave" diabetes. I have the Type 2 "Put the fork down, fat ass" diabetes. I'm on seven types of medication that I have to take daily. I have sleep apnea and get to sleep with a C-PAP machine every night so I don't choke to death and die overnight. I'm a complete wreck because I was too lazy to do anything about it.

Just cut a little out of your diet, eat some fruit and veggies, and move a little. It doesn't take much. I've learned that I like broccoli, asparagus, oranges, grapes, and other healthy foods. Cut down on the soda. Crystal Light is AWESOME. It's Kool-Aid without sugar! How can you possible go wrong with that? You can't folks, you just can't.

Alright, I'm done for the day. May not be back until Monday. Tomorrow's going to be a long day and there's football Sunday. I'll still be running and working out, I just won't be blogging about it. If something interesting happens, I'll let you know.

TTFN.

Day 2: Feets Don't Fail Me Now

As my odyssey towards the Inaugural Half Marathon Presented by the Alton Telegraph continues (73 days to go), I'm discovering all kinds of things. For example, when you don't make ANY effort to exercise for ten years or so, your body tends to shut down in ways you don't think of.

Today's little bump in the road was severe pain in the arch of my left foot. I was giving yoga a try (the DVD is aimed at beginners, but the woman in the video had no bones. I have bones and they don't move like that. At least not without the need for a Vicodin/Jager cocktail afterwards) when I felt the pain. I always knew I had arch issues, but now that I'm actually putting serious effort into working out, it was excruciating.

Here's where my new friend Jason from Fleet Feet enters the picture.

I peeled myself off my yoga mat (what's the damned point in using a mat? Knees were still killing me...) and headed for the St. Charles outlet of Fleet Feet to look at getting some arch supports. Jason was awesome. Not at all condescending and understood where I'm coming from. When he went to college, he put on a lot of weight and then had to lose it to join the military. After a tour of Iraq, he started running seriously. So he understands what I'm going through i.e. being a big'un and needing some help.

He did a full workup of my feet and provided me with a ton of great advice on what I need to do to get ready. At his recommendation, I picked up some arch supports and a pair of Brooks Beast running shoes. The difference was immediate. My foot still had some pain, but re-learning to run and continuing with my stretching should help tremendously.

Afterwards, did a ten-minute run which was about a 50/50 split between slow painful lumbering and sad-looking limping. After slinking away to my car while all the cool kids at the gym pointed at me and laughed (okay, they didn't, but they should have. I would've.) I came home and did a decent Kinect workout, sucked down some water, and then had a nice bowl of beans. Yes, they're the musical fruit and I ate a lot. Grow up.

I'm finding that I SERIOUSLY underestimated what it would take to run this half-marathon. With little more than two months before the race, I should be at the point where I can run three miles or so. I'm not even close. A more realistic goal would have been a 5K. Or a third-grade track meet. Whatever. I like to aim high. That way if you succeed, you're awesome and if you fail, the crash and burn is equally awesome.

Well anycrap, that's Day 2. I probably won't chronicle every single day unless you want to know how my body is reacting to all the fiber in my diet or if you want pictures of seeing a fat man sweat. So again, not every day but this will be a regular deal. I find it therapeutic to write this all down and it keeps me motivated. Thanks for all your support and advice. Much appreciated folks.

TTFN.

Day 1: Kill Me. Kill Me Now

See that picture? That's what St. Louis looks like today. 14 degrees, wind chill of 0. And that is where I started my ill-advised adventure to compete in a half-marathon on March 26, only 74 days from now.

What the hell am I thinking?

I'm in awful shape. I'm at least three biscuits on the wrong side of "Holy sh*t, look at that guy!" I just started doing Kinect workouts last week and have callouses on my back from my recliner. This is a terrible idea, but since I already paid 50 bones for the entry (in the belief that my cheapness will win over my laziness since the fee is non-refundable), I figure I have to do it. Besides, it's not like I plan on winning the damned thing, just finishing.

So how did Day 1 go? Badly.

As I said, there is no temperature outside. It's zero degrees. It's windy. The snow at the high school's track is drifting and that's where my dumb ass decided to start this odyssey of futility. I was able to run/walk (mostly walk) a half mile in the 10-minute span that I allotted myself based on a guide called "How to Turn From Couch Potato to Distance Runner."

The run itself was miserable. It was cold, for some reason I was wearing ankle socks, I was sucking air like a fish out of water, and the ankle I sprained a couple months ago still hurts.

But the interesting thing about running is how amazing you feel afterwards. I ran cross country in high school (varsity letter, thankyouverymuch) and to say I was the best at it would be akin to saying Andy Dick is a cat who really has his sh*t together. But I ran enough to know that the running itself tended to suck. There were times when it was fun because I was in shape, but the "runner's high" came after. I would have tremendous energy and a sense of accomplishment for whatever distance I ran, knowing that not everyone could do that.

So I'll run and work out tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. Because I'm going to do this, dammit. I'm a fat tub of goo who needs to get healthy and actually see something to completion. So I'll see you tomorrow. I hope.

I'm Running a Half Marathon (or, Yes, I've Finally Lost My Mind)

Well, after years of saying I was going to do it, I'm finally going to do it: I'm running a half-marathon. It's the Inaugural Alton Half Marathon on March 26. I've already paid the $50 entry fee and, since I'm cheap, I got no choice; I have to do it now.

My guide for this momentous event (we all get medals...yay!) is MarathonRookie.com.  Apparently, one is supposed to have 18 weeks of training to go from piece-of-crap slob like myself to someone who can finish 13.1 miles without praying for death. I have around 12 weeks. The goal is to finish. That's it. I'm not aiming for a time or finishing order. I just want to finish the thing.

I will using my blog here to chronicle my stupidity, er, training for the next couple months. To find the information easier (that is, if you actually care), scroll down to the tag cloud and click on 'marathon'. That will bring you to my deathwish pages.

And to answer the no. 1 question I've received since announcing this, no, I'm not drunk. Just bored. Unemployment will do that to you.

This will also be the location of my obituary for everyone who is going to say, "I told you so."

Training begins tomorrow. I can do this. I am Superman. I can do anything.

STL Native Steffens Ready for Chili Bowl

TULSA, Okla.  – Cars are on the track today practicing for the 25^th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals, one of the most prestigious races in the country featuring such stars as NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, NHRA champion Cruz Pedregon, USAC Triple Crown winner JJ Yeley, and five-time event winner Sammy Swindell. Among the 260+ teams competing for the Golden Driller is St. Louis native Kyle Steffens who is making his second attempt to make Saturday night’s 50-lap A-main.

It was here last year where Steffens not only made his Chili Bowl debut, but his debut in an open-wheel midget sprint car. Although he normally drives dirt late models and modifieds and asphalt late models at tracks all over the Midwest, Steffens impressed many in the racing world with his efforts in 2010.

“It is a mix of emotions heading back to the Chili Bowl,” he said Saturday afternoon after arriving in Tulsa. “I feel incredibly lucky to have another opportunity in great equipment. On the other hand it is also stressful getting all of the sponsor obligations together at the last minute, but that is what makes this deal fun. It is a controlled chaos.”

This year, Steffens, 26, is racing for Zach Daum Motorsports, one of the top midget series teams in the Midwest. It is the combination of top-notch equipment and the foundation he built during last year’s Chili Bowl that gives Steffens an injection of confidence this week.

“To be in good company with Zach Daum, and the whole Daum team, gives me a chance to obtain anything with a little bit of luck,” Steffens said. “When you are rolling into a track to compete it is crucial to be in top notch equipment, and have a great crew chief. Daum Motorsports has every bit of this!”

While Steffens, who hopes to run more midget races throughout the 2011 season, knows that only the best of the best have the chance to be one of the 25 drivers to race for the win Saturday, he has high hopes that a combination of luck, ability, experience, and equipment will get him and Zach Daum Motorsports to the A-Main.

“My goals for the 2011 Chili Bowl are as follows: Run top 2 in my heat race, and then have a good run in the qualifier Thursday night to help set me up for Saturdays main event,” he said. “Last year we caught some bad luck, and this year I would really like to capitalize on the knowledge I gained from the 2010 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

“I really have to thank everyone that came together to support me in my efforts for the 2011 Chili Bowl. Daum Motorsports, I-44 Speedway, Brennon Willard Motorsports, Blue Ridge Motorsports, Performance Plus, and Engines Overnight. Without these people I would not have the great opportunities I have had.”

For full coverage of the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals, visit RacinBoys.com for analysis and lap-by-lap commentary. For more information on the Chili Bowl, go to ChiliBowl.com.