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.

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY OWNERSHIP GROUP MAKES OFFER FOR MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK

Jupiter, Fla. (December 15, 2010) - Moroso Investment Partners, the ownership group of Palm Beach International Raceway, was the high bidder in an auction held yesterday. The group’s bid of $1.875 million was the highest among the bidders vying for the property. The high bid is for all 342+ acres, including the ¼ mile drag strip, the ¾ mile paved oval, and the road course. All equipment, furniture and fixtures were sold separately at the auction. The closing is scheduled to take place within thirty days.

The group hopes to have the facility reopen for the racing season in April of 2011. Staffing the facility will begin immediately after the closing takes place and some of the experienced team members that were previously at Memphis Motorsports Park will likely return to the management team. The staff will work to bring back some of the major events the facility has hosted in the past.

“It’s great that our investor group stepped in and decided to bid on the Memphis facility,” said Jason Rittenberry, President & CEO of Palm Beach International Raceway. “We know that there’s a lot of work that needs to go into renovations, but I’m confident that it can be done and the facility will reopen in time for the 2011 season once the closing takes place. We’ll get the right people in place and re-establish the facility in the racing industry.”

Rittenberry previously spent10 years with Dover Motorsports, Inc. as Vice President & General Manager of Memphis Motorsports Park before coming to lead the team at Palm Beach International Raceway.

Staffing and event dates will be announced in the coming weeks once the closing is finalized.

Day 1 of Qualifying at Pomona

Lots of fun at the NHRA season finale here in Pomona, Calif. and great weather. Here's TJ Zizzo making his run.

TJ Zizzo: Vote Lagana for NHRA Hardworking Crew Award

(Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

Last Sunday at the NHRA Full Throttle Series' event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Dom Lagana did what many people thought was impossible: he and his family-owned team nearly beat seven-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher in the class finals and beat current points leader and two-time champ Larry Dixon to get there.

In recognition of their achievement, NHRA and Full Throttle have nominated Lagana and his team for the Full Throttle Hardworking Crew Award, an award voted on by the fans. There are four nominees in each of the four NHRA Pro classes and the winning team will be announced at the Auto Club Raceway this weekend in Pomona, Calif. as part of the 2010 season finale.

TJ Zizzo, an Illinois native who also races a limited schedule for a family-run team, Zizzo Racing, isn't among the nominees in the Top Fuel category, but is asking fans to visit www.NHRA.com/HardworkingCrew this week and vote for Lagana.

"I've known Dom and the Lagana family for a long time and I'll admit, I'm a little jealous of what they accomplished in Vegas," said the 35-year-old Zizzo from his home Sunday. "But at the same time, I'm happy for him and proud of what he and his family-owned team was able to do and I can't imagine another team more deserving of this award than them.

"It also gives us hope because we're a family-run team that competes on a limited schedule and when I see what he was able to do, it makes me think that we can get our PEAK/Herculiner Top Fuel dragster in the same situation and hopefully, win all four rounds on a Sunday afternoon."

Fans of TJ Zizzo and Zizzo Racing can find updates and photos of the PEAK/Herculiner Top Fuel team by checking out ZizzoRacing.com, Twitter.com/ZizzoRacing, and Facebook.com/ZizzoRacing. Videos of TJ and Zizzo Racing can be found at YouTube.com/TJZizzo.

Zizzo will race his PEAK/Herculiner rail in the NHRA Full Throttle Series' season finale at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., at the 46^th Annual Auto Club NHRA Finals. The first round of qualifying is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local time, Thursday, Nov. 11. For information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit NHRA.com or call 800-884-NHRA (6472).

OK, let's try this again...

So after the entire sports staff left the STL Globe-Democrat and after the announcement that Gateway International Raceway would no longer host NASCAR events, leading to its eventual shutdown, I kinda let my blogging go by the wayside. I'm going to give this another shot. I'm going to Pomona this weekend for the NHRA finale, so I might have some insight on that. I may also post about the last days of Gateway. Haven't decided yet.

BTW, if you know of anyone needing a PR guy or a racing media guy, hook a fella up. Thanks.