Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Catherine Hicks' Race Fan Experience

Photo by Catherine Hicks

Just like most of my work days started, I grabbed a cup of coffee, sat down at my computer and begun my day. Part of that day is monitoring twitter for my clients, so I opened my twitter client.

My personal twitter account is full of many different kinds of people. As an avid NASCAR fan, I follow many people and topics related to NASCAR. This is how I found out about Moses.


Moses’ mom, Z, is a very active on NASCAR twitter streams. I’d always been a cursory fan of the Camping World West series, since there is a track that hosts races in my hometown, but being able to follow the trials and tribulations through a NASCAR mom’s eyes gave me a lot different perspective that I wouldn’t have been able to get otherwise.


Knowing that the Camping World race was going to race alongside Sprint Cup at Infineon, which is near where I live now, I was very anxious to meet Z and see Moses race.


Let me tell you, he didn’t disappoint.

Moses had a rough struggle at Infineon, with two penalties and a crash. Throughout it all he handled himself on the radio with the ease and grace of someone who had been there before. Not a hot head about it. Not yelling and screaming or making a fuss about how it was not fair. He just continued driving with head towards the horizon, racing his race.


It was at this point that Moses had me as a fan. I was very impressed with the way he and his entire crew handled the race. Even though he didn’t win, he was a definite winner in my eyes, showing the sportsmanship and dignity that I am sure will take him far in the NASCAR world.


Moses has a fan for as long as he’s racing. I will get out to see him at All American later on this year and I hope if you have the chance to see him race that you will too.


-Catherine Hicks

You can view Photos from the Infineon race on Photographygirl.com

Follow me on twitter at @nascargrrl



Note from NASCAR Race Mom:

You can view Catherine Hicks' photos from the Camping World Series West Race Here



The King Taco 200 - News & Notes

The race … The King Taco 200 is the eighth event on the NASCAR Camping World Series West schedule in 2009.

The procedure … The starting field is 30 cars, including provisionals. The first 26 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 200 laps (100 miles).

The track … Toyota Speedway at Irwindale is a half-mile paved oval with blended banking of six, nine and 12 degrees in the corners and banking of six degrees in the straights. The track has hosted 18 NASCAR Camping World Series events, dating back to June of 1999.

The records … Qualifying: Butch Gilliland, June 19, 1999, 100.722 mph, 17.871 seconds; Race: Jason Bowles, Aug. 16, 2008, 76.255 mph, 1 hour 18 minutes 41 seconds.

Hall of Fame festivities … Leading up to the King Taco 200, special events are planned by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. A golf tournament is scheduled for the afternoon on Friday, July 3. The 2009 induction and dinner, meanwhile, will be at Toyota Speedway on Friday evening, beginning with no-host cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Irwindale winners … Austin Cameron leads winners at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, with five victories.

Other Irwindale winners … NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and two-time NASCAR Camping World Series West champion Brendan Gaughan follows Cameron on the list of winners at Irwindale. Gaughan swept all three series races there in 2001. With his sweep of both events there last year, Jason Bowles (No. 6 Sunrise Ford.com Ford) joined Bobby Dotter and Steve Portenga on the list of multiple race winners, with two victories each.

12 pole winners at Irwindale … The 18 visits to Irwindale resulted in 12 different drivers winning a pole. Cameron, Bowles, Mike Duncan, Eric Holmes (No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota), Scott Lynch and Sean Woodside are multiple winners, with two each.

Getting back to Victory Lane … The Bill McAnally Racing team dominated competition at Toyota Speedway between 2001 and 2007, winning eight of 11 races. Eric Holmes has registered three second-place finishes and one third-place finish in the past five races there, but has yet to win at the Southern California facility.

Front runner … Brendan Gaughan has the most top-five finishes at Irwindale, with six. The Las Vegas native also led the most laps, running out front for 674 laps.

Most top 10s … Scott Gaylord scored the most top-10s at Toyota Speedway – finishing in the top 10 in 11 of 13 races he competed in there.

Widespread competition … In the 18 races at the Southern California track, 157 different drivers have taken the green flag. Austin Cameron and Jack Sellers (No. 15 Aramark Chevrolet) top that list, each starting 16 of those races. Other drivers to compete in NASCAR Camping World Series West events at Toyota Speedway include Kurt Busch, who finished 22nd in the inaugural series race there in June of 1999; Ron Hornaday Jr., who finished fourth in that event; Mike Wallace, who finished fifth behind Hornaday; and Matt Crafton, who finished a close second to Bobby Dotter in 2000.

Comparing the finishes … Among drivers who have raced in four or more races at Irwindale, Eric Holmes has the best average finish of 3.4 in five races.

Manufacturers’ battle … Chevrolet has been in Victory Lane for 14 of the 18 races at Irwindale.

Going the distance … The 18 events have varied in distance. Seven were 250-lap races (two in 1999, two in 2000 and three in 2001); seven were 200 laps (one each in 2002 and 2003, two in 2006, one in 2007 and two in 2008); three were 150 laps (both in 2004 and one in 2005) and one was 300 laps (the season finale in 2000).

Start of the race … Five of the 18 races at Toyota Speedway were won from the pole position, including both events by Jason Bowles last year.

By Kevin Green, NASCAR

Car #28 Spins at Infineon

The NASCAR Camping World Series West Car #28 spins at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California on June 20, 2009. Rick Boysal started the race from thirty-third position and rallied to finished in ninetenth.

Sonoma, California - Hasa Hospitality


The Hasa Pool Products personnel were again able to provide the perfect NASCAR race experience for their clientele at the Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, California) on June 20, 2009. Over six hundred Hasa customers filled the huge hospitality tent that was strategically located in the infield of turn two.

After receiving their Moses Smith T-shirt and hat, the crowd enjoyed a buffet style lunch. The #16 Hasa Pool Products / White Flyer Toyota Camry had qualified eleventh in the field of forty. The Hasa crowd created quite a roar when Moses led the race.

“This is a great track for the HASA Pool Products fans; they are really into the road courses. We had 600 plus Hasa customers in the stands all around the track. It was great to have so much support. I want to thank them for coming out. It was a beautiful day in Sonoma. I wish we could have had a better finish for them.” Moses finished in 29th position, ten laps down.

After the race, the fan’s favorite driver made the rounds for a personal meet and greet session. Moses signed autographs and discussed his disappointing finish with his fans.

Hasa Hospitality would like to thank Lisa and Edic, from the Liquid Shade company. They were kind enough to supply six of their remarkable portable and self-contained misting systems to reduce the outdoor heat. The units were easy and effective!

Click here for Event Photo Gallery

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Moses Gets Wrecked At Infineon

#16 Moses Smith and His Crew
Moses Smith, pilot of the No. 16 HASA Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing’s day ended early when he was collected coming to the green flag restart on the final turn of the twelve-corner road course of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California at lap 55. This was the third visit to Infineon for Smith in the West Series.

“My luck continued at Infineon. This is my favorite road course but luck has not been on my side,” said Smith. “The first year we were taken out after leading the race, and then last year my car caught on fire. Once again I was able to lead the race on Saturday, and once again we were unable to finish the race. The No. 16 Hasa Toyota was wrecked during a late in the race restart attempt. Our day was done.”


“This is a great track for the HASA Pool Products fans; they are really into the road courses. We had 600+ Hasa customers in the stands all around the track. It was great to have so much support. I want to thank them for coming out. It was a beautiful day in Sonoma. I wish we could have had a better finish for them.” Moses finished in 29th position, ten laps down.


With the 2009 season coming to the halfway point, Smith is anxious to record his first win. He is currently ninth in the chase and only 70 points out of the top-five.


The NASCAR Camping World Series West Bennett Lane Winery “200” presented by Supercuts will be televised July 2nd on SPEED Channel’s Racing Across America noon pacific time. Please check your local listings. The next race event will be on July fourth at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California.


BMR would like to thank the continued support of our race partners. We would like to welcome Copart Auto Auctions, a web-based automotive reselling agency, to the BMR family. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com.


#16 Hasa Racing Hat

For more information on Moses Smith: please visit www.mosessmith.com. You can visit Moses’ sponsors’ websites at:
www.hasapool.com
www.whiteflyer.com, and
www.tcitransportation.com.


ABOUT COPART:


Copart, founded in 1982, sells more than 1 million vehicles each year online for insurance companies, banks, finance companies, fleet operators, dealers, the general public and others. Copart’s extensive inventory allows buyers to browse more than 50,000 vehicles each day.


(photo by Catherine Hicks, Nascargrrl Photography http://www.catherinehicks.com)


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Moses' Infineon Race Recap

A wild finish left Jason Bowles in Victory Lane on Saturday as the repeat winner in the Bennett Lane Winery 200 presented by Supercuts at Infineon Raceway. Bowles inherited the lead following a last-lap incident between his teammate, Patrick Long, and Joey Logano. Contact from Long’s car on Turn 11 of the final lap left Logano spinning around and eventually finishing 17th. Long was subsequently penalized to the 23rd position in the final rundown, the final car on the lead lap, giving the win to Bowles. Midway through the season, Bowles was able to trim the championship lead of Holmes to just 16 points. Holmes leads 1,190 to 1,174 for Bowles.

Young Hasa FanMoses qualified the #16 Hasa Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry eleventh on the grid of forty. His race went according to plan early on and he led the race on lap twenty. However, hindered by two penalties, Moses found himself battling back from twenty-ninth position. During the restart with ten laps to go, Moses who had charged back into fourteen position, had his race cut short due to contact involving three racers.

Infineon Raceway is one of Moses’ favorite tracks. However, the track has not been kind to his NASCAR statistics. During the last three seasons, Moses has had only five ‘Did Not Finish’; three of them being at Infineon Raceway!

Friday, June 19, 2009

'At the Track' / BENNETT LANE WINERY “200”
presented by SUPERCUT


Tweeting the BENNETT LANE WINERY “200”
presented by SUPERCUT

As in the past, the ‘At the Track’ segment will be blogging all the pre-race activities of the NASCAR Camping World Series West Race.

******* NASCAR Race Mom will also be tweeting Moses’ Race, green flag to checkered!

You can follow the action on twitter by following @MosesRace.

You can also read the updates on the live blog above (coming soon).

If you want to participate in the action:

  1. Leave a tweet using the #MosesRace hashtag. Your tweet will automatically be posted to the live blog also. Tweets will appear in the live blog almost immediately.

    Tweet any questions you have to @MosesRace.. (Please do not leave a dm - it is usually too dark at the track to switch back and forth.)

  2. You can also leave a post in the comment box located at the bottom of the live blog. (However tweeting is much faster)

Important – when NASCAR Race Mom signs off the blog - please feel free to leave any comments and questions while we are gone - NRM will see them as soon as we log back in. If you are a first time user, your input might not appear on this blog until we return and approve them. However, rest assured that they will be saved and answered.

NASCAR Race Mom will be checking for activity on this Blog frequently!

If you are not familiar with Twitter, click here for a cheat sheet.


Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Happy NASCAR Father's Day

The fathers of these NASCAR drivers have seen and done it all with their racing sons, everything from fishing trips to winning racing championships! It's clear that the adage "Like father, like son" applies in these cases as they share a few of their favorite memories to celebrate Father's Day.

Roger Mears
Father of Casey Mears, driver of the No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet

Tell us your earliest memories of your son racing.

One of my earliest memories is when Casey would sit for hours racing his little Hot Wheels cars when he was about 2 years old.

When he was about 3, we took him to watch different bicycle races, and they had kids racing Big Wheels. Next time we went, Casey was racing Big Wheels with them.

By 4, he had moved up to BMX bicycles. Casey was so little that he couldn't touch the ground when he was on top of his bike, so I would have to hold the bike for the start of the race and then run down the hill to catch him when he finished. After BMX, he started riding a motorized Honda three-wheeler in the backyard and then moved on to racing quads at Bakersfield Speedway in California.


Greg Newman
Father of Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet


Tell us your earliest memories of your son racing.


I remember using my foot to show him where to hit the corner when he was racing in quarter midgets at the age of 4. I would put my foot on the track and tell him to hit my foot - that's where he needed to be on the track.


Martin Truex, Sr.
Father of Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet


Tell us your earliest memories of your son racing.


Probably when he was 10 years old racing go-karts at the New Egypt Speedway in New Jersey.


Clyde Vickers
Father of Brian Vickers, driver of the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota


Tell us your earliest memory of your son racing.


Brian was 8 years old, leading a go-kart race in Tyro, N.C. He had a complete straightaway lead on the field, but he kept looking back and all around until he drove off Turn 2 right into the hay bales!


Paul Smith Jr.
Father of Moses Smith, driver of the No.16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota Camry


Tell us your earliest memory of your son racing.


One of my earliest memory of Moses and I going to the races is when he went with me to an off-road race in Riverside. He was about eight. Both Moses and I were working on the pit crew for Mark Hansen.


My earliest memory of Moses actually racing was when he was seven or eight. We went to the desert as a family. I would race my Kawasaki 250 three wheeler. One of the guys I was racing was really skinny and had a weight advantage over me. So I told Moses to go and race him. Moses never even hesitated. He jumped on the bike, but could not reach the kick starter I started the bike for him and off he went. He won that race and boy what a smile he had on his face.


Just click here for more funny/heartwarming NASCAR stories about Drivers and their fathers.

Smith Prepared For Infineon


Moses Smith, pilot of the No. 16 HASA Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing will be racing thru the turns of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California as the NASCAR Camping World Series West makes its return to the 1.99 mile road course on June 20th. This will be the third visit to Infineon for Smith in the West Series.

“Heading back to my favorite road course is exciting, but the last two trips there we were unlucky,” said Smith. “The first year we were taken out after leading the race, and then last year my car caught on fire. Hopefully 3rd time is a charm. This is a great track for the HASA Pool Products fans; they are really into the road courses. I will be in town a couple of days early doing appearances at some local stores. It should be a fun week!”

With the 2009 season coming to the halfway point, Smith is anxious to record his first win. He is currently eighth in the chase and only 48 points out of the top-five.

The NASCAR Camping World Series West Bennett Lane Winery “200” presented by Supercuts will be on Saturday, June 20th at Infineon Raceway. The race will be televised July 2nd on SPEED Channel’s Racing Across America noon pacific time. Please check your local listings.

BMR would like to thank the continued support of our race partners. We would like to welcome Copart Auto Auctions, a web-based automotive reselling agency, to the BMR family. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com. For more information on Moses Smith, please visit www.mosessmith.com. You can visit our sponsors’ websites at www.hasapool.com, www.whiteflyer.com, and www.tcitransportation.com .

ABOUT COPART:

Copart, founded in 1982, sells more than 1 million vehicles each year online for insurance companies, banks, finance companies, fleet operators, dealers, the general public and others. Copart’s extensive inventory allows buyers to browse more than 50,000 vehicles each day.

by Kaye Reshaw


Paul’s Day

Moses Smith and his father Paul

Father's Day is a day honoring fathers and celebrated on the third Sunday of June. This special day celebrates both fatherhood and the importance of male parenting. For my husband of almost thirty-five years, this day will be spent driving home from the Infineon race track. Paul will spilt his father’s day weekend by working on his son’s NASCAR Camping World Series West pit crew on Friday and Saturday; then spending the evening with his youngest son Zachariah on Sunday.

Moses inherited his father’s mechanical prowess and love for everything racing. Zachariah is a third generation plumber. When I started my career twenty-five years ago, my schedule demanded that I be away from home seven days at a time. Paul’s advance skill at parenting allowed me to excel and progress in my profession without worry or guilt. Moses was seven and Zack was five at the time.

"My earliest memories are of my dad working on his street/drag car or building his sand rail in the garage," Moses said. "He was always involved in motorsports as a hobby and I thought it would be cool if I could do it for a living," Smith said.

In my opinion, Paul is a great father! He has always been involved in his sons’ activities and has enjoyed each aspect of their lives. Now a days, when Paul is not working on Moses’ pit crew, he can be found helping Zack with a difficult building code issue.

So this weekend, if you happen by the pit area at Infineon Raceway, stop by the #16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota Camry. If you spot a guy wearing a floppy hat working on the race vehicle; that will be Moses’ and Zachariah’s father. Be sure to give Paul a “Happy Father’s Day” salutation!



Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Camping World Series West Draws Top Drivers

2008 Infineon Raceway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Joey Logano and noted road-racing veteran Boris Said are among the entries for the Bennett Lane Winery 200 Presented by Supercuts at Infineon Raceway on Saturday, June 20. The annual NASCAR Camping World Series West race is a companion event as part of the big NASCAR weekend with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the road course in Sonoma, Calif.

Eighty-One-Year-Old Hershel McGriffAdditionally, eighty-one year old Hershel McGriff has had enough of retirement, and the legendary driver will make his return behind the wheel at Infineon Raceway for the Bennett Lane Winery 200, presented by Supercuts, on Saturday, June 20.

McGriff walked away from racing in 2002, but he will compete in three road-course events on this year’s NASCAR Camping World Series West schedule, including the series’ only stop in Sonoma. If McGriff takes the checkered flag, he would become the oldest driver to ever win in one of NASCAR’s premier series.

Last year’s NASCAR Camping World Series West race at Sonoma, which attracted a record field of 41 cars, featured a thrilling three-way battle for the win in the closing laps. Jason Bowles held on for the win, with Eric Holmes and Jim Inglebright close behind.

Moses Smith 2008 Race … Moses qualified for the 2008 Infineon race in seventh place. An electrical failure plagued the team and Moses finished in twenty-eight in the field of forty-one.


Monday, June 15, 2009

Infineon - News & Notes

The race … The Bennett Lane Winery 200 presented by Supercuts is the seventh race on the NASCAR Camping World Series West schedule in 2009. It is the first of three road-course events this season.

The procedure … The starting field is 40 cars, including provisionals. The first 36 cars will qualify through NASCAR road-racing style qualifying. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 64 laps (127.36 miles).

The track … Infineon Raceway is a winding 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course, with varying elevation. The NASCAR Camping World Series West has visited 28 times, since 1969. In addition to the track hosting 19 stand-alone events, drivers and teams competed in nine companion events with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series between 1989 and 1997.

The records … Qualifying: David Gilliland, June 23, 2007, 91.979 mph, 77.887 seconds; Race: Brian Vickers, June 24, 2006, 67.595 mph, 1 hour 53 minutes 3 seconds.

Big field at Infineon … Another large turnout of cars is expected at Infineon Raceway. Last year’s event attracted a record starting field of 41 cars.

Entries of note … The entry list includes series graduate and current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Gilliland (No. 45 Dreyer’s Ice Cream/Speed Wong Racing Toyota); NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Joey Logano (No. 11 Home Depot Toyota); veteran road-racer Boris Said (No. 57 DenBeste Motorsports Ford); the legendary Hershel McGriff (No. 04 Park Corporation Chevrolet) and Porsche factory driver Patrick Long (No. 9 AASCO Motorsports Ford), a two-time winner in the 24 Hours of LeMans.

Behr Paint on No. 88 entry … The No. 88 Chevrolet of Jamie Dick will have a new look at Somona, as Behr Paint comes on board as his sponsor.

Honor for McAnally … Car owner Bill McAnally, who also serves as the promoter for several series events, is to receive a special honor from the Motorsports Press Association prior to the race on Saturday. The MSPA will present him with the Gordon Martin Award in recognition of his contribution to the sport of auto racing.

Front runners at Infineon … Three drivers – Hershel McGriff (1983, 1985, 1987), Jim Insolo (1978, 1979, 1980) and Bill Schmitt (1981, 1988, 1989) – lead series competition at Infineon, with three wins each. Schmitt also leads in terms of top-five finishes, with eight, and top-10 finishes, with nine. McGriff led the most laps, meanwhile, running out front for 142 laps. Butch Gilliland scored two victories on the legendary road course (1996 and 1997).

Also in Victory Lane … Other drivers to win a race at Infineon include Jack McCoy (1969), Ray Elder (1969), Jim Bown (1984), Jim Robinson (1986), Roy Smith (1982), Doug George (1995), Kevin Harvick (1998), Brian Vickers (2006), David Gilliland (2007) and last year’s winner, Jason Bowles (No. 6 Sunrise Ford Ford).

Pole winners … While Hershel McGriff leads with three poles at Infineon Raceway, Jim Bown, Butch Gilliland, Roy Smith and Tim Williamson each had won two poles there.

Series experience at Infineon … Jack Sellers (No. 15 Aramark Chevrolet) has the most series experience at Infineon of any active driver. He competed in 10 stand-alone series events, finishing as high as 11th in 1989, and six combination events, finishing 40th on two occasions.

Moses Smith 2008 Infineon Moses Smith 2008 RaceMoses qualified for the 2008 race in seventh place. An electrical failure plagued the team and Moses finished in twenty-eight in the field of forty-one.


Saturday, June 13, 2009

NASCAR Camping World Series West
Photo Gallery - Oregon

Click on the photo above to view the NASCAR
Camping World Series West Photo Gallery.


V Sessions Heineken V.I.P. - Not Too Old

Ludacris (Christopher Bridges) and NASCAR Race Mom (me)Ludacris (Christopher Bridges) and NASCAR Race Mom (me)

When I started my journey into the inner circle of VIBE magazine, I promised to refrain from reacting like a star-struck fan. Old enough to be the artists' mothers, I was well past that age after all. And yet it was a promise that I inevitably and rather quickly released.


The adventure started with an entry to an online essay contest. The prize assured the winner a trip to the VIBE V Sessions event held at The Loft in Atlanta. The assignment: In 100 words or less, give a description of your favorite music experience. The question elicited fond yet faded memories. My passion flowed into words on that type-written page and those 100 words flew by:

My favorite music experience was sitting quietly next to my mother as she played classical music on our ancient beat-up piano. I was a hardcore rocker- hippie chick, all of 16 years old. Naturally, there really was not anything Mom and I could agree upon or enjoy together…except the music. She introduced me to Chopin, Beethoven, Strauss, and Mozart. Her fingers expressed the timeless emotions, and our love, both of music and each other, nurtured with each stanza.


Immediately after clicking the submit button, the contest and its prize escaped my mind. Surely my story of maternal bonding would not impress the judges from the popular rap magazine, I assumed. So you can imagine my shock upon receiving the "congratulations" e-mail.

VIBE expertly coordinated all the arraignments. My husband, Paul, and I boarded our flight a short week later. We were very excited, yet a tad apprehensive. We were not rap aficionados. How would our hosts react to two old rockers who blossomed in the s'70s?

The moment we entered The Loft, we were in awe of the positive energy filling the room. Located on the second floor of The CW Midtown Music Complex, on West Peachtree Street, the club is equipped with top of the line sound, full-service bars, and a view of the midtown skyline.


Paul and the Heineken SpokeswomenPaul and the Heineken Spokeswomen

I did not feel like a guest at this party. It felt like a family gathering. I could not believe the degree of politeness afforded us. The Heineken spokeswomen checked on us often. VIBE Senior Marketing Manager Diana, our hostess, herded us deftly through an overabundance of exciting activities.

We were to be treated to offerings from four different artists during this event. On the bill was Rudy Currence, a vocalist with Ludacris' Disturbing Tha Peace label, Julie Dexter, a classically trained musician, Teairra Mari, an R&B artist with Warner Bros. Records and Yung L.A., a rapper for T.I.'s Atlanta-based Grand Hustle Entertainment.

When the music started, the sound quality of the nightclub became apparent. There was an opulence to it that could never be captured on disc. We watched the opening act backstage with rap legend Ludacris.

Rudy Currence's piano solo on "A Song For You" permeated my soul. I was reminded of the subject of my winning essay. Mom and Rudy would have had much to share regarding piano keyboarding techniques. Currence's musicality won me over immediately. When we were introduced, I found him to be incredibly polite and friendly. Of course, his sweet good looks did not hinder his appeal either. I became a huge fan immediately.


We moved to the V.I.P. room and I sipped on some cold Heineken Light for Julie Dexter's performance. She has been described as influenced by Bob Marley and Nancy Wilson, but I heard a lot of the great Ella Fitzgerald. It was obvious that she was not a rookie to the business as she captured the crowd almost immediately. She gave an awesome performance.

Teairra Mari and Yung L.A. also worked their magic on the crowd. I especially enjoyed the music and dance on Ms. Mari's "Make Her Feel Good." When Yung L.A. rapped "Ain't I," the crowd responded and rapped along with him. To top off the night, former 112 member Slim performed his hit single, "So Fly."

The event was hosted by Kenny Burns, who conducted a very entertaining short question and answer session after each performance. Teairra Mari raced off stage, but Burns managed to coax her back. DJ Don Cannon expertly kept the place hopping between the live acts.

After the music ended, Diana made sure to introduce me to all the performers and celebrities attending the event. I was photographed with Rudy Currence, Yung L.A., Julie Dexter, Teairra Mari, Ludacris, Slim, and Yung Joc, to name just a few. I felt very significant. The evening was an overwhelming, once in a lifetime opportunity.


My husband and I had a spectacular time at VIBE's V Session in Atlanta. I learned and experienced so much. The people and music were extraordinary. I will remain a true fan forever.


The good news is that VIBE magazine is conducting another contest. You can win a trip to Chicago for two to attend a VIBE V Sessions LIVE! (http://www.vibe.com/contests/vsessions_contest/) Trust me, you will have the time of your life!


Click here for story on Vibe.com.



Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Top Five In Roseburg, Oregon

Moses Smith, pilot of the No. 16 HASA Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing finished the Toyota/Bi-Mart 150 in fifth. He is currently eighth in the chase for the series championship and only 68 points out of the top five.Smith put the No 16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota Camry outside of row two in the starting grid in a field of eighteen NASCAR Camping World Series West racers for the 150-lap event in Roseburg, Oregon.



“I have always liked racing in front of the Douglas County fans,” said Smith. “They are great!”


“The Hasa Pool Products Toyota Camry was fast all day. Although I qualified in fourth, I was not excited about starting on the outside, but we held our own at the start and on the restarts.”


“During the race, the car started to get loose off and I had a hard time getting the power down. We still managed a fifth place finish with relatively little damage to the Hasa Toyota. It was good, tight, short track racing.”


There were over four hundred and thirty-five Hasa Pool Product customers in attendance at Douglas County Speedway cheering on Moses Smith, their favorite driver. Smith was greeted by Hasa fans at an autograph session in front of the Toyota display in the midway before the race. It was evident that the fans looked forward to seeing Smith race as they erupted in cheers as their driver was introduced before the race.


The NASCAR Camping World Series West race the Toyota/Bi-Mart 150 had a near capacity crowd on hand. Over 1000 fans took advantage of VIP Hospitality. The NASCAR Camping World Series West race will be televised nationally on SPEED Channel’s Racing Across America on June 18th at noon PST. The next race will be at Infineon Raceway on June 20th.


BMR would like to thank the continued support of our race partners. We would like to welcome Copart Auto Auctions, a web-based automotive reselling agency, to the BMR family. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com. For more information on Moses Smith, please visit www.mosessmith.com. You can visit our sponsors’ websites at www.hasapool.com, www.whiteflyer.com, and www.tcitransportation.com.

by Kaye Reshaw


Monday, June 8, 2009

Ride-A-Long With Moses Smith

NASCAR Race Mom was lucky enough to be one of the guests of HASA Pool Products who were given a special treat Saturday at the Douglas County Speedway, located in Roseburg, Oregon. The Camping World Series West was scheduled to race there later in the evening.

Courtesy of Bill McAnally Racing's two-seater Ride Car, NRM was given an exciting two-lap ride around the .375-mile oval. Hasa Driver, Moses Smith (my favorite driver) of the #16 Hasa Pool Products / White Flyer Toyota Camry took time out of his busy schedule, to personally take us on the ride of a lifetime. There were definitely a lot of smiling faces as the participants climbed out of the race car after their two-lap excursion around the track.


When it was my turn, the first thing I noticed was how difficult it was to wiggle into the passenger seat, through the window with a helmet on. “That’s why we put them on once we are inside the car!” Moses bantered with a smile. (Hum, probably something he could of told his mother earlier.)


After I was belted in snugly, the order came down to shut off the motor. There was a problem on the track. You cannot believe how quickly the inside of that race vehicle heats up when parked on the track. I felt my clithrophobia threaten to flare.


However, it was all worth it. Moses brought the car up to speed quickly. I was shocked at the limited visibility the “windows” offered. The importance of a good spotter became immediately obvious to me.


The two laps were over in a flash. However, the education those two laps bestowed will forever enhance my appreciation of the degree of intricacies a NASCAR Driver experiences every race. I cannot imagine being inside that car for one hundred and fifty laps, racing with traffic all around me.


Photos by Sitara Wilson


Plenty Of Action at the Toyota/Bi-Mart 150

Photo by Jason Christley

Bill McAnally driver Eric Holmes not only took pole at the Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg Oregon, Eric led every lap and won his third race of the 2009 season. However, there was plenty of action amongst the other seventeen Camping World Series West Drivers who took the green flag.


The race which lasted just under an hour brought out six (6) caution flags for a total of twenty-nine (29) laps. The first caution came out early on lap three. It is believed that an oil line failure from the back of the #15 car of Jack Sellers spread oil all the way down the back straightaway and into turn three.


Rookie of the Year contender, Paulie Harraka became the victim of that oil spill. He spun and slammed into the wall forcefully. Crew Chief Duane Knorr and the #12 crew assessed and repaired the damage to the right rear of the race car to get Paulie back on the track; however, he was six laps down.


Harraka’s teammate, Moses Smith (#16 Hasa Pool Products / White Flyer Toyota Camry) almost became the second victim of that oil spill as he slid through it. Moses just managed to avoid spinning and rejoined the pack.


Jim Warn’s spin, coming out of Turn 2 brought out caution two (lap 38). Caution three (lap 44) was caused by a spin in Turn 3 by Travis Bennett as Mike David and Brett Thompson battled for the fourth-place spot. Moses was running closely behind Thompson. Bennett's car was taken off the track on a hook.


On lap 92, race leader Eric Holmes got into the back of Phil Dugan as they exited Turn 4; Dugan went around and brought out the yellow for the fourth caution. Caution five (lap 112) was for debris on the backstretch. The last caution (lap 118) involved Johnathan Hale, Phil Dugan and Paulie Harraka in a three-car spin in Turn 1.


The race action remained passionate until the very end. On lap 121, during the final restart, Jason Bowles who had been biding time in third place to maintain the favored inside position for the restarts, passed David Mayhew to take and keep second place.


Moses Smith, who was running in fourth for most of the race, had to contend with starting on the outside each restart. Moses was successful in the restarts; however, in lap 144 of the 150 lapper, Smith was being pressured by Mike David. On lap 146, David moved inside of Smith and took the spot.


The Coca-Cola Move of the Race Award went to Jamie Dick (88 Viva Auto Group/Johnnie Walker PerfCtr Ford). Mr. Dick qualified in fifteenth position and finished tenth.


We were pitted next to the #21 hauler of Blake Koch, and I was privileged to converse with Jim. He was very nice. Despite a spin on lap one, Blake, in his GodSpeaks.com Chevrolet, managed a seventh place finish, earning him the Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award. Hopefully, one day I will be able to taste the some of the team’s Golden Gate Meats that Paul Harraka Sr. always boosts about!


NASCAR Race Mom was also able to spend time with the mother of Paul Pedroncelli, Jr. Paul, known as PJ has five previous starts in the NASCAR Camping World Series West. They are currently sponsored by Lee Body Shop and Stinger Auto Graphics. However, they are a family-based team looking for further sponsorship to advance in the series. For now, Pedroncelli Motorsports will be running a limited schedule in 2009. PJ will be racing at Infineon Raceway on June 20th. Paul qualified thirteenth and finished twelfth at Douglas Speedway.


The NASCAR Camping World Series West will race next at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on June 20 as part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at the road course.



Race Results:

(1) #20 Eric Holmes; ( 2) #6 Jason Bowles; (3) #17 David Mayhew; (4) #2 Mike David; (5) #16 Moses Smith; (6) #61 Brett Thompson; (7) #21 Blake Koch; (8) #26 Greg Pursley; (9) #10 Jim Warn; (10) #88 Jamie Dick; (11) #34 Phil Dugan; (12) #0 Paul Pedroncelli, Jr; (13) #12 Paulie Harraka; (14) #5 Johnathan Hale; (15) #44 Travis Bennett; (16) #15 Jack Sellers; (17) #07 Greg Rayl




Thursday, June 4, 2009

'At The Track Live' / TOYOTA BI-MART “150”

Tweeting The TOYOTA BI-MART “150”

As in the past, the ‘At the Track’ segment will be blogging all the pre-race activities of the NASCAR Camping World Series West Race.

******* NASCAR Race Mom will also be tweeting Moses’ Race, green flag to checkered!

You can follow the action on twitter by following @MosesRace.

You can also read the updates on the live blog above (coming soon).

If you want to participate in the action:

  1. Leave a tweet using the #MosesRace hashtag. Your tweet will automatically be posted to the live blog also. Tweets will appear in the live blog almost immediately.

    Tweet any questions you have to @MosesRace.. (Please do not leave a dm - it is usually too dark at the track to switch back and forth.)

  2. You can also leave a post in the comment box located at the bottom of the live blog. (However tweeting is much faster)

Important – when NASCAR Race Mom signs off the blog - please feel free to leave any comments and questions while we are gone - NRM will see them as soon as we log back in. If you are a first time user, your input might not appear on this blog until we return and approve them. However, rest assured that they will be saved and answered.

NASCAR Race Mom will be checking for activity on this Blog frequently!

If you are not familiar with Twitter, click here for a cheat sheet.

A Weekend Filled With NASCAR Racing!

NASCAR is offering a weekend filled with racing. The list below will be helpful if you plan on staying updated on all the NASCAR action.

June 5
5:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Camping World Truck Series
Texas Motor Speedway
WinStar World Casino “400”

******

June 6
4:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Nationwide Series
Nashville Superspeedway
Federated Auto Parts “300”

June 6
7:00 a.m. Pacific Time
NASCAR Camping World Series East
Watkins Glen
Tioga Downs Casino 125


June 6
8:30 p.m. Pacific Time
NASCAR Camping World Series West
Douglas County Speedway
Toyota Bi-Mart “150”


******

June 7
9:30 a.m. Pacific Time
Sprint Cup Series
Pocono Raceway
Pocono “500”

Douglas County Speedway - SCHEDULE

NASCAR Race Info Page

Friday, June 5:
4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Driver Autograph session.
6:45 p.m. Haulers enter.

Saturday, June 6:
7:30 a.m. Registration opens.
8:00 a.m. Garage opens.
8:30 a.m. Inspection begins.
10:00 a.m. Mandatory Rookie Driver Meeting.
10:30 a.m. Mandatory Driver/Crew Chief Meeting followed by drawing to determine order of qualifying.

11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Practice.
1:00 to 1:45 p.m. Final Practice.
2:00 p.m. Qualifying Technical Inspection opens. Groups determined by qualifying draw.

5:00 p.m. Qualifying. (2 Laps.) (Fastest 14 cars earn starting positions 1st thru 14th.) “Impound”

5:45 p.m. Mandatory Driver Autograph session.
6:00 p.m. Mandatory Spotter Meeting.
8:00 p.m. Driver Introductions.
8:30 p.m. TOYOTA BI-MART “150”

(The schedule is subject to change)

Douglas County Speedway - News & Notes


The race … The Toyota/Bi-Mart 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts is the sixth event of a 13-race schedule this season for the NASCAR Camping World Series West.


The procedure … The starting field is 18 cars, including provisionals. The first 14 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 150 laps (56.25 miles).


The track … Douglas County Speedway is a .375-mile paved oval with 11 degrees banking in the corners. The track – located just off Interstate 5 on the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Roseburg, Ore. – hosted four races between 1966 and 1971, when it was a quarter-mile oval. The NASCAR Camping World Series has made seven visits to the track since it was renovated and expanded in 2001.


The records … Qualifying: Eric Holmes, July 11, 2008, 90.168 mph, 14.972 seconds; Race: Brian Ickler, June 30, 2007, 65.768 mph, 51 minutes 19 seconds.


Annual festivities … The traditional driver autograph session at Roseburg, Ore., which is open to the public, will be from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, June 5, at the Bi-Mart at 1381 NW Garden Valley Road.


Race winners … The 11 races at Douglas County Speedway featured nine different race winners. Austin Cameron and Jack McCoy are the only drivers with multiple wins there, with two each. McCoy’s wins were in 1966 and 1969 – while Cameron’s were back-to-back in 2002 and 2003.


Pole winners … The 11 races at Roseburg also featured nine different pole winners. McCoy and Mike Duncan lead that list, with two each.


Leading the way … Duncan leads several other categories at Roseburg in the modern era (since 1971). He has led the most laps of competition, running out front 318 laps. He has the most top-five finishes, with four, and the most top-10 finishes, with five. With an average finish of 5.0, Duncan also leads among drivers with at least four starts at Roseburg.


Returning drivers … Mike David (No. 2 Bennett Lane Winery Toyota) is the only driver to compete in all seven NASCAR Camping World Series races at Douglas County Speedway since 2002.


Stat of the race … Five of the eight races in the modern era were won by the pole winner.

By Kevin Green, NASCAR

Listen To Moses On Siruis Radio - Dialed In Show

Moses Smith #16 Hasa Pool Products
Moses Smith, driver of the #16 Hasa Pool Products/ White Flyer Toyota Camry, will be a guest on Siruis Radio today 6 p.m. pacific time on Claire B. Lang's “Dialed In” show.

Get Dialed In to the latest news and information from the track wih veteran NASCAR host Claire B. Lang. Count on one of the most trusted voices in the garage for the latest inside scoop, exclusive interviews and to take your phone calls. If you want to be in the know about NASCAR, don't miss this wildly popular original program.

Claire B. Lang To Interview Moses Smith, #16 Hasa Pool Products / White Flyer Toyota CamryClaire B. Lang is an award-winning journalist and broadcast anchor who has hosted Dialed In since 2001 when NASCAR first launched on satellite radio. She has been an omnipresent fixture in the NASCAR garage every weekend, providing her listeners with the most up-to-date news and interviews with the sport’s biggest personalities. Lang has covered the world of NASCAR in print as a freelance columnist and on national television and radio. A native of Green Bay Wisconsin, Claire graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in journalism and a minor in Radio/TV.

Moses' next race is on June 6, 2009 at Roseburg, Oregon. The “Toyota / Bi-Mart 150.” promises 150 laps of action by the NASCAR Camping World Series West drivers as they race around the three-eights mile Douglas County Speedway.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

NCWS West Driver Moses Smith Fired Up


Moses Smith, driver of the No. 16 Hasa Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry is looking for a win at Douglas County Speedway on June 6th as the NASCAR Camping World Series West returns to the heart of Oregon. NASCAR Camping World Series West driver, Smith from Bill McAnally Racing and the Hasa team are all fired up for the Toyota Bi-Mart 150 presented by NAPA AUTO PARTS.

Qualifying will begin at the 3/8ths short track at 5 pm. Smith was on the inside of row two for the start of the race in 2008. The No. 16 Hasa Pool team will be looking to put the Toyota Camry on the front row for the 150-lap race.

“We had a great Hasa Toyota Camry last year for this race,” said Smith. Smith was one of only three drivers that led laps in last year’s race. He took the lead at lap 98; gaining valuable bonus points for leading the race. He would lose the lead at lap 103 to record a top-ten finish. “Crew chief Mario Isola and all of the team did an awesome job preparing a car for this race. We know we can run up front and give the Hasa fans a lot to cheer about.”

“We always have great support from our race partner, Hasa Pool Products,” continued Smith. “There were over 400 Hasa customers cheering for us at Douglas County Speedway last year. At driver introductions, they were yelling ‘Hasa’ from turn four. It was great to have them there. I look forward to getting a chance to spend some time with them once again.”

The NASCAR Camping World Series West Toyota Bi-Mart 150 will be on Saturday, June 6th at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Oregon. Great seats are still available. The event is expected to be a sellout once again. For tickets and information on the available VIP Hospitality package, please visit the speedway’s website at www.co.douglas.or.us/dcfair/speedway.html, visit the speedway box office or your local Bi-Mart store.

The race will be televised June 18th on SPEED Channel’s Racing Across America noon pacific time. Please check your local listings. BMR would like to thank the continued support of our race partners. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com. For more information on Moses Smith, please visit www.mosessmith.com. You can visit our sponsors’ websites at www.hasapool.com, www.whiteflyer.com, and www.tcitransportation.com .




NEW – We will be tweeting Moses’ race in Oregon LIVE. Whether you are a Twitter expert, or a novice, it should be easy to follow the race. You can follow the action on twitter by following @MosesRace.