Mitch Seavey managed to hold off Aliy Zirkle to win the 2013 Iditarod.  Seavey, at age 53, becomes the oldest winner of the 1000 - mile race across Alaska.    The winning time was  9 days, 7 hours, 39 minutes, 56 seconds. Zirkle finished in 9 days, 8 hours, 3 minutes, 35 seconds making it one of the closest races ever.

Seavey last won the race in 2004 and his son, who was the youngest winner, crossed the finish line first in 2012.  An amazing family accomplishment.   Runner up Zirkle seemed to think the Old Dog knew a thing or two in assessing the outcome.  She noted that Mitch knew when to take a break to rest his team while others kept a pace that was not sustainable.   

Until next year, trail lovers....

             HEY GABBERS AND OTHERS!!!!! 

Hi guys. I decided to start a NASCAR fantasy league for Gabbers and others. It's on ESPN. You get to pick 5 drivers. You have a salary cap of $100.00. The list of drivers in order of how they finished last year, their price tag (which will change with their performance) and their record is there too. Seems to be self explanatory but I can answer questions. Never played at ESPN before or this format before but it looks easy. AND it's free. Big plus.

"Checkered Past" is the group and "Gabbers" is the password. Drop a note in my Gab box or post down below your email and I'll send you an invite. Hopefully I get it right. Seemed easy enough for me to set it up and I'm not Ms Tech Savvy.

I will certainly be posting helpful hints on drivers abilities at each track. According to the rules you have till just before race time to pick. Some of the Start & Park guys don't race every week. In fact with the new qualifying rules and the new car package I'm not sure what we'll be seeing.

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Add on.....apparently you can go to ESPN.com and do your entry and pick join a group. I guess it's there you'd pick the group "Checkered Past" and then enter the password "Gabbers".

So you're all welcome........

A Somewhat Somber Island Girl

Many who are not racing fans might think,  that if racecar drivers get hurt or die,  they are tempting fate and that they knew the risks beforehand.    So don’t expect them to shed many tears.

But to the family,  friends and fans of these racers the loss is no less impactful.   Most participants of this sport have a vested interest.    Most are like family and most seen a different side of it all.

Race car drivers and mechanics will spend more time at home preparing for the week’s racing programs than the races themselves.  While racing fans themselves have racing blogs and sports channels to keep them up to date on the latest happenings.

There are various websites like Dirt Vision, Speed Channel and Hoseheads that fans can use to keep abreast of what is happening.   When a member of one these families pass,   there is a ripple-effect throughout the tracks,  across the states and around the world.

The fact that many people actually physically hang out with the drivers makes it all the more personal.

Stephen Allard -   200 career feature wins and 40 year old brother of part time World of Outlaw racer,  Jonathan Allard.

Tyler Wolf -   A young mover and shaker in Outlaw sprint car driving,  the 21 year old lost his life after sustaining multiple injuries at the track,  during a race.

Tyler Morr -   Was a very young driver,  just a boy at age 12.   It looked like his condition was getting better before his injuries took a turn for the worse.    Many will say he was just a child and that kids this age should not race.  

In spite of his death and the three deaths so close together,  racing is still a lot safer than ordinary driving and besides this is no time to bring politics into this.

I will update you as the season goes on to short track racing and my favorite NASCAR hero,  Regan Smith.

Thoughts from an Island Girl

Thoughts from an Island Girl

East Bay Nationals

Just along Highway 41 and past the ports of Tampa where George Steinbrenner had some of his ships fixed in dry docs,   lies East Bay Raceway Park.

But the history of that area (Gibsonton) has it’s own unique twist.  It is home to a carnival and midway that has a rather eclectic story of it’s own.   It is the home of Lobster Boy,  who was featured on a certain crime drama and the now defunct Giant’s Camp Restaurant.

Giant’s camp was actually owned by a giant,  who stood way over 7 foot tall while his wife was a midget.   Race car drivers like Steve Kinser dined there.   Famous for it’s down home country food and it’s reputation for pulling in race cars and their drivers.   It was a prominent land mark.

East Bay Raceway Park will be hosting it’s 37<sup>th</sup> Winternationals from January 31, 2013 through February 28<sup>th</sup>,  2013.  So can you really find a better solution to your entertainment needs?  I think  not!

And here is the kicker,   it is usually very comfortable weather-wise during that time.    And even if it may be cold,   racing fans are like the Packer fans and they come out,  rain or shine,  warmth or cold!

And like the Packers players they mix with the crowds because you see,  these tracks are like family to the fan.  Generations of spectators have seen it all.    Their heroes come and go but one thing is pretty certain,  more heroes will emerge.

For all the money put into the big divisions,   the smaller classes have more fans and more gate receipts.  In the street stocks and mini stock divisions,   you have whole families in the pits or so it seems.   Where else can you have that kind of fraternization with the fan?  I know!  Nowhere!!!!

Keith Nosbisch Wins $2,000 Topless Late Model Feature Event At East Bay Raceway Park

Lasker Picks Up Feature Win, And Possibly A Wife

Buzzie Reutimann - Age 72 - Winning

A few of the racing stars and their families are iconic.   Like the Reutimanns and yes the same family that David Reutimann comes from.   And what’s more,   his dad is a legend with over 1,300 career feature wins and more importantly he is still winning at age 72.

Next in line are the Nosbisch’s.   I am not sure how old Keith is but he still continues to win as well and he is in his late 50s or even early 60s.

He and brother Ken Nosbisch who drove the 41 were the most dominant family racers in the track’s history.   Brother Keith,  the all time winner in feature wins drives the 02 whenever he decides to come back.

The food is not bad either and there are booths that sell souvenirs from racing videos to cars and T-Shirts.  They also love and pay homage to service members and their families.   The whole track also helps out in the community and is another chance for the fan and the driver to work literally side by side.   No 500 dollar autographs here but a lasting legacy of family entertainment that will exist forever in our collective minds and souls.

As most of you know,  I am a big Regan Smith fan and I believe he has earned this shot at racing for real.  Furniture Row was a decent place to start (more or less) but his current arrangement is a markd improvement.

Two years ago,  the week before Regan won his first race,  I declared him as my favorite.   Quite ironically I found out that he won the Nationwide race by a friend.   Considering the fact he came on hard late in the season,  I felt he did deserve more than just Furniture Row and to actually place in the top 5 in Dale Jr's car basically confirmed that.

I have also found out that his new crew chief will be none other than Jimmy Johnson's engineer when Jimmy won his five consecutive titles.  Greg Ives.   When people refer to his momentum,  it is a clear signal that good things are expected and hopefully this leads to a great season and perhaps one of the big cars in maybe the 88 or 24 car in the near future.

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Very soon racing season begins again.   In Florida racing begins at the end of next month along with the World of Outlaws.   One thing I have to say about the Outlaw series is that they also have their own version of the Lucas Oil Late Models on dirt.   And in fact,  they have larger programs at many sprints at the various tracks.

WoO Sprint Car Series

World of Outlaws Late Model Series

World Racing Group Modifieds

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Racing does start next month in Florida as the Winternationals take place.  I will update frequently this year to keep you posted.

I will have specifics on this racing at volusia and East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Florida.   Afterall,  we sometimes get very disenfranchised with professional athletes and their behavior.

Hope you enjoy this and I plan to give a lot of information in the coming months,  so you can enjoy a very family environment and especially with all this calamity these days,  this will be a welcome relief.