Indianapolis. Indiana - Brickyard week officially ended on Sunday with the conclusion of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. My past week has been filled with visiting old friends, meeting new people and spending time at the track!
While I was here in Indy, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series wrapped up the Western Swing with the FRAM Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, Calif's wine country at Infineon Raceway. And a Ringers' supporting team driver reached a milestone in NHRA history.
With Sunday's victory, Mike Ashely Racing's Antron Brown became only the eighth driver (seventh professional class driver) in NHRA history to win all three Western Swing races (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma). In only his second full year of Top Fuel competition, Brown joins the elite group of Swing sweepers with the likes of Joe Amato, Greg Anderson, Larry Dixon, sportsman racer Dan Fletcher, John Force, Cory McClenathan and Tony Schumacher. Brown also left Sonoma with a commanding lead in the championship point standings; he sits 199 points ahead of reigning champion Tony Schumacher.
The Pro Stock class saw an all KB Racing final with teammates Greg Anderson and Jason Line dueling for the Sonoma Wally. Line left on his teammate at the Tree with a 0.024-second reaction time on the way to pick up his fourth win of 2009.
The Pro Stock Motorcycle class also saw a pair of teammates battling in the final round. Sonoma marked the third straight Vance & Hines' final for Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec. In Norwalk, it was Hines in the Winner's Circle and Denver saw Krawiec holding the Wally. For Sonoma, the Wally went back to Hines as he also left his teammate on the Tree with a 0.007-second reaction time and 6.972-second, 189.82 mph win.
The Full Throttle Drag Racing Series enjoys a couple weekends off before heading north to Brainerd International Raceway for the Lucas Oil Nationals, August 13-16.
Brickyard festivities kicked off with Kroger SpeedFest at O'Reilly Raceway Park on Thursday with the USAC K&N Silver Crown Series "J.D. Byrider 100." Ringers' supporter Bud Kaeding BK Motorsports-owned No. 29 home to a podium-finish in third; Kaeding currently sits atop the point standings 21 points over Tracy Hines.
On Saturday, the 0.686-mile oval saw NASCAR Nationwide Series action with the Kroger 200 Benefitting Riley Hospital for Children. Penske Racing's Justin Allgaier has visited ORP many times in his young 23-year-old life, but he had never raced at the track; Saturday marked his first time on the oval. Unfortunately the track didn't treat Allgaier like he had hoped. The No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge spun in practice, as it did on lap 167 in the Kroger 200. Allgaier did a fabulous job of keeping his hot rod off the wall and was able to pit to take on new Goodyear rubber. Allgaier finished the race in 21st.
Ringers' supporter Brendan Gaughan started the Kroger 200 in ninth and finished the race in the 12th position.
The Nationwide Series heads to Iowa Speedway in Newton, Ia., for the Nationwide Series 250.
David Stremme led the trio of Penske Racing drivers to the finish line on Sunday in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in the 16th position; his teammates Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr., finished 27th and 37th, respectively.
The Sprint Cup Series continues onto the Pocono Raceway for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the tri-oval.
The Andretti Green Racing Firestone Indy Lights and the IndyCar Series teams competed at the Edmonton City Centre Airport in Alberta, Canada.
Both the AFS/Andretti Green Racing sat on the podium at the end of the Grand Prix of Edmonton, with the No. 26 ARPRO entry picking up the victory, after having a frustrating weekend two weeks ago in Toronto.
A scary moment occurred for the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven entry after a pit stop during the race. The fuel probe stayed open after the team fueler pulled the hose out, igniting the side of the car. Competing teams rushed onto pit road to douse the fire; the No. 11 driver suffered burns on his hands and face.
The AGR teams finished 10th (No. 26 Mott's Clamato Caesar), 14th (No. 27 Formula Dream) and 20th (No. 11 Team 7-Eleven), respectively.
The Indy Racing League heads to Kentucky Speedway for the IndyCar Series Meijer Indy 300 and the Indy Lights Kentucky 100 on Saturday.
Ringers Gloves, an ISO 9001:2000 certified company, is the title sponsor for the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Ringers Gloves is a full-line manufacturer of high-end, task specific gloves, SFI 3.3/1, 3.3/10, 3.3/20 racing gloves, UnderX protective undergarments, UnderX Performance gear, crew shoes, as well as a full line of accessories for every need. Isn't it time you bring in the Ringers? Check us out at www.ringersgloves.com.
