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Posts Tagged ‘racing’

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Indianapolis 500 Tickets – Danica Patrick Thirsts for Indy's Oval Course

IndyCar racing is done on both road courses and oval tracks throughout the season, and typically drivers are stronger suited in one versus the other. For Danica Patrick, it's all about the oval course. The Andretti Autosport driver has made it clear she's out to conquer the entire racing league – oval courses and otherwise – but so far this season she hasn't quite hit her mark.

Patrick's foray into the wide world of NASCAR early this year hasn't yet yielded much success, and neither has the start of her 2010 IndyCar season. Patrick hasn't placed better than seventh in any of the IRL's first four races of the season this year, with her seventh place finish at St. Pete standing as her only Top 10 finish so far. To blame Patrick's lukewarm season in the IRL on her juggling NASCAR on the side may be naive, however.

Looking at her record of wins and top placements over the last few years, it's clear that Danica Patrick is better at racing oval tracks than road courses. The GoDaddy spokeswoman won her first career IndyCar race at the 2008 Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi – a road course – and became the first woman to ever win an IRL race, and she's also been fairly consistent at the Indianapolis 500, the most prestigious oval course on the schedule, as well. So far this season, the IRL schedule has taken drivers strictly through road courses at Sao Paulo, St. Pete, Birmingham and Long Beach, but the upcoming stretch of oval tracks over the next two months should be enough to help Danica Patrick boost her stock in the IRL.

In 2010, Danica Patrick has posted four subpar finishes, coming in 21st at both Sao Paulo and Long Beach, 19th at Birmingham and seventh at St. Pete. Speaking to the Indianapolis Star following her disappointing Long Beach finish, No. 7 said, "What am I going to do, be mad for a couple of months while we're racing on road courses? There's a lot of really great drivers out here, and (the tracks) are difficult."

With upcoming oval track races at Kansas City (May 1), Indianapolis (May 30), Ft. Worth (June 5) and Iowa (June 20), Danica Patrick fans can hold their breaths for IndyCar's leading lady to gain traction in driver standings. Considering she has consistently placed better at oval tracks than road courses, the IRL especially shouldn't count her out of contention for this year's Indy 500, one of the most thrilling oval tracks of the year on the racing circuit.

Since her IndyCar debut at the Indy 500 in 2005 (where she even led a lap and became the first woman driver to do so), Patrick has been hot on the heels of a victory in Indianapolis. Her average finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is ninth, and last year the speedster even placed third at the Indianapolis 500, just behind winner Helio Castroneves and runner-up Dan Wheldon.

This year, Danica Patrick is out to take the gold at the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," and the Kansas City race on May 1 will be her chance to gear up for the Indy 500 during Memorial Day weekend. Patrick is a lead seller of <a href="http://www.stubhub.com/indianapolis-500-tickets/">Indianapolis 500 tickets</a> and will continue to be a media magnet at this year's big race, and perhaps she'll soon be sending the following message resounding through the IRL with a mid-season shift from road to oval courses: don't count out No. 7.

 

 

 

About the Author

Jenna Jay wrote this article, which is sponsored by StubHub.com.  <a href="http://www.stubhub.com/">StubHub</a> is a leader in the business of selling <a href="http://www.stubhub.com/indianapolis-500-tickets/">Indianapolis 500 tickets</a>, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and special events tickets.

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Best Used Car Dealers in Denver, Choose Best Used Cars Dealers

5 Critical Things to Remember When Buying a Used Car in Denver

1. On a regular basis, it can be best to head to the dealership on a day when you have a lot of time. The negotiations can take a lot of time, and you donâÂÂt want to feel rushed. A day in the middle of the week will be quieter at the dealership, and a salesperson may feel more pressure to get your sale, because they have fewer customers available. You may also want to head out to the dealership towards the end of the month. Dealers keep track of their monthly sales, and often have monthly goals and targets. A salesperson may be willing to make less of a profit on a car in order to meet a certain target of sales.

2. You may already have a car that you would like to trade-in in order to lower the price of the car. A car trade-in can confuse negotiations, however, as it adds another element to what may already be very confusing car negotiations. You might also be able to get a better price if you sell the car in a separate deal to a private purchaser or to the dealership you bought the car from. A good way to make sure you will get full value from your trade in or sale is to present a very clean car to the potential purchaser.

3. While negotiating, do not sign anything or give any personal information, besides your name. You do not need to sign anything until you are actually buying the car, and you do not need to give your social security number unless and until you are getting financing.

4. Inspecting: When shopping for a used car, it is important to be able to recognize the signs of a potential lemon. A visual inspection can be enough to steer you away from a bad deal. It should not replace a proper inspection by a qualified mechanic, but the visual inspection can tell you if you should continue to that point. The first thing to consider is whether the odometer is reasonable. The average car is driven about 15,000 miles each year. Now the world may be filled with little old ladies who only used their car to drive to church on Sundays, but there are also those who will roll back the odometer to try to get a higher price. If the mileage seems low, check to see if the dashboard shows any sign of tampering, like scratches or missing or mismatched screws. Check the wear of the driverâÂÂs seat and floor mat as well as the steering wheel and pedals. Does the amount of wear seem to match the reported mileage? Try to find an oil change sticker and see if the information on it matches the odometer. Every vehicle has a unique VIN, or vehicle identification number. You can use this number to obtain a vehicle history report. This report will be able to tell you the vehicle's complete history, including its place of assembly, accident, repair, and odometer history, whether the vehicle has been leased or used as a rental car or taxi and whether there is a lien paced against it. Before purchasing the report, however, it is a good idea to check to see if you have the correct VIN. The VIN can be found in three places, on the vehicle registration card, on the bottom of the windshield on the driverâÂÂs side and on the manufacturerâÂÂs label, which is usually found on the driverâÂÂs side door or door jam. Check that the VIN is in all three places and is the same. Also, check to see if any of the labels show signs of tampering. A missing or altered VIN is a sign that the vehicle may be stolen. Next you should look for signs that the vehicle has had bodywork done. These signs include paint splatter or over spray in the seams between panels, areas where the paint doesnâÂÂt match or feels rough to the touch, and bumps, dents, or ripples in the paint. Recent bodywork is evidence that the car has been in an accident. Other things you should look for in a visual inspection include signs of rust, leaking fluids and

excessive tire wear (tires may be expensive to replace, especially immediately after purchasing a vehicle). Also check the condition of the interior. Make sure that the lights and signals have not burned out, and that all the switches and fittings work as they are supposed to. Your goal in doing a visual inspection should be to find that the vehicle appears to have been properly maintained. If everything looks good at this point, you can ask to take the vehicle to a mechanic for a proper inspection.

5. Test Drive Tips:

When buying a car from a dealership, the salesman will often want to accompany you on a test drive. It is better to try to take the test drive without a salesperson, as you can then concentrate on the feel of the car and not the sales pitch. If you appear to be a serious buyer, the salesperson will generally allow you to take the car out without them, unless youâÂÂre young. In that case, consider taking a parent or older adult with you in order to convince the salesperson to let you take the car out without them. The test drive should confirm whether a car that you thought was suitable before actually is. Try not to let it become a chance for a salesman to continue his pitch while you are distracted by the feel of a new vehicle.

The test drive is an important part of the car buying experience. It should come later in the process, after you make sure that the vehicle is suitable for your needs and within the price range you have set for yourself. Avoid taking a more expensive vehicle for a test drive, as this is just another sales tactic for trying to get you to spend more money than you want.

When test driving a ehicle, there are two areas you should be considering: -Is the car in good condition? Is it the right car for you? To ensure that the vehicle is in good condition, make sure you do the test drive in different conditions, from quiet residential streets to city traffic the highway. Check to see that the vehicle starts immediately and idles smoothly, that the transmission shifts smoothly throughout the entire range of gears, and that the brakes should feel firm and not spongy. The steering should be smooth and responsive at different speeds. Listen for any unusual rattles or other noises. Does the vehicle vibrate at highway speeds?

Get a friend to drive behind you see if blue smoke comes out of exhaust. This is a sign that you are burning oil, indicating leaky gaskets and a potential need for an engine overhaul. In order for this to be the right car, you have to feel comfortable in it. Ask yourself if you could drive it easily in traffic, and not be intimidated by its size or performance. Make sure the seat and steering wheel can be adjusted so that they fit you, and that you can easily reach all of the controls, including radio and climate controls. Check the sight lines and the rear view mirrors. Are you comfortable with your views? Are the blind spots of a reasonable size? If you buy a car in which you donâÂÂt feel comfortable, you will soon hate your purchase. Try out the climate control and audio systems. Does the fan work and is the air conditioning effective? What is the quality of the audio system like? Consider taking a CD with you so that youâÂÂre not reliant on the radio to test the audio system.

About the Author

My name is Jennifer James and I help people learn how to find the best used car in Denver and get the best price.

http://www.BestDenverUsedCars.com

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A Review Of The Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine

There are lots of folks who really enjoy the excitement and mental titillation of playing skill slots, but are reluctant to spend the money and take the time to visit a real Casino. In the last few years some enterprising companies have discovered a niche that allows people to play slots at home with the entire atmosphere that only a real casino can bring, and at a minimal cost.

These companies will sell you a Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine, where you can experience the thrills and spills of your favorite sport and hobby at the same time.

Statistics show that people are spending less time in real casinos than even ten years ago. Online gaming appeals to more people because it's convenience and spontaneity. Players can play for fun online for hors on end, yet for the average person who enjoys gambling it will never replace the excitement of a real land casino, filled with real people enjoying a good time. People, who want the best of both worlds, and play for fun within a casino like atmosphere, are investing in their own home slot machine. And the Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine has become one of the most popular choices, by providing a race track theme, with the sounds of high pitched engines and the screech of brakes reverberating throughout the house.

If you didn't know if before, these slot machines is a real bargain. You might ask," How come they are so inexpensive?' And the answer is that our company imports used machines purchased direct from Japanese Casinos. The law in Japan states that all slot machines have to be removed from their casinos after two years. It doesn't matter how little or often they have been used and how popular they are, they have to and be replaced by a newer model. The machines that have been replaced cannot be used in other casinos in Japan, even the highly popular Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine, so the Japanese have no option but to write them down for export sale, which they do for a fraction of what they cost to build just two years previously. Companies that import them undertake to completely refurbish the slot machines before they put them up for sale. They work out to be a once in a lifetime bargain deal for the stay at home slot player, whilst building a real Casino atmosphere complete with all the flashing lights and specialist sound effects involved in drag racing.

The spins on a Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine can be controlled and the player decides which of the reels to put on hold making play even more exciting. People who have bought one of these machines report that one of the best attractions they can make is to hold a group competition, where players start with the same number of coins, and the player left with the most coins after a set number of spins is the winner. Every one gets to choose their own tactics and decide how many coins to invest in each spin and across a number of lines.

To make it even more exciting, after a while the players can get to choose an additional feature of the Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine. This is the ability to adjust the skill level to make playing the game even more fun.

We undertake to completely refurbish every machine that is sold, with
The slot machine arrives at your home ready to operate mode, coming complete with a two year all-inclusive warranty on all parts.

The Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine coming complete with it own switches off key, which should be kept in a safe place. The idea of having a switch on-off mechanism is to prevent access to the machine without approval. Certain necessary adjustments have been made to the machine's operating system to prevent any attempt to alter the machine's ability to accept any forms of legal coins. This is a very important feature that will prevent the illegal operation of your slot machine.

To further protect your interest, should you purchase a 110 volt ready Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine you will do so in the knowledge that each machine has gone through comprehensive electrical system diagnosis, to make sure that each of the machine's functions will operate at maximum efficiency for your total enjoyment.

We are on standby 24/7 hotline to answer any questions or queries, on both technical and game issues. In addition each machine comes with a full service manual. All shipping details are handled by us and we are very confident that when the Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine arrives to your home, you will not fail to be impressed with her quality finish as well as her reliability and versatility.

We hope that you have found this review worthwhile reading, and wish you lots of free play gaming enjoyment in the future.

About the Author

Visit Brian Garvin and Jeff West's Website and check out our
Drag Racing Skill Slot Machine
and learn more about
Poker Chips
from Poker Stars Direct. You may use this article but please leave bio & all links intact.

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A New Race Car Combines The Best Ideas With The Latest Technology

When the 2004 Taurus made its debut at Daytona, it represented Ford’s most synergistic effort in race car design to date. This synergy comes from all corners of the Ford empire and includes solid representation from not only the NASCAR ranks but also the real world production side.

The prior version of Taurus, originally presented to the public in the 1998 Daytona 500, has provided excellent results. But its humble beginnings came after public, and, at times, cantankerous battles between various team entities that wanted to leave their mark on that specific iteration.

"A lot of times you can build a car that just suits one team’s purpose," said Ford Racing’s NASCAR Field Manager Robin Pemberton, on a pitfall of this type of engineering exercise. Pemberton is in a position to know, as he was one of the principals of a three-team entity that worked on the ’98 Taurus while working at Penske South Racing.

"I think the last couple times we had Penske doing one version, Yates doing one and Roush doing one," recalled Pemberton shaking his head. "During that (’98) project, NASCAR would cut templates off of cars and they were different cars that were constructed in different ways and not all the templates fit all the cars at the same time.

"It was almost impossible."

With lessons learned from 1998, Ford Racing’s Greg Specht knew that he wanted to approach the car design issue differently. With a heftier engineering staff at his disposal, all he needed was word that the production staff wanted a new car developed for the NASCAR circuit.

The call for a new Taurus came approximately 20 months prior to its first on-track experience and included conversations between Ford Racing and Ford production. The result is a race car that is representative of what consumers see on the showroom floor.

"What we have in ’04 is a re-freshening of the Taurus, so that kicks off a process," recalled Specht. "After the decision was made, we say to the production guys, ‘OK, what are your thoughts? Show us your sketches and drawings,’ and so on and so forth.

"With their ideas and goals in place, we went back and started looking at the race car and say, ‘OK, now what do we need to do to the race car to have it look like the production car?’"

Having the production car designers more intimately involved from the start is also something new to the process, as the value of the NASCAR fan base becomes a key factor.

"In the recent past, racing considerations haven’t influenced their (production’s) thinking a lot anyway," explained Specht. "Even going back to the Thunderbird, what they did in the design studio was not affected that much by what was happening on the race track. However, it is starting to change in that they’re asking for [Ford Racing’s] input a lot earlier on in the process and some ideas that will actually improve the production car and truck.

"That happened with the new F-150, in fact, because since aero was such a big thing on the race track, we spent a lot more time in the wind tunnel with our race trucks than the production engineers do with the production truck," continued Specht. "So we know a lot more about balance and downforce and drag and the subtle little things that you can do to increase those characteristics."

Once the basic design concepts were developed, then the aero process began. This is the playground of Ford Racing’s lead aerodynamicist, Bernie Marcus, who spent a considerable amount of time working out the nuances of the new car by using hand sketches and computer modeling before any consideration was given to forming actual metal fenders, hoods and decklids.

Marcus didn’t have a wide-open field in which to draw from because of NASCAR’s "aero-matching" rules, but he closed in on the starting point for the new car by using electronic models and 40-percent clay models.

"I think the reason everything went so well is because we also included NASCAR early on and that was very different from the past," Specht offered. "The previous programs that I’ve been involved in, we’d go off in the corner and do our jobs. The day it was due, we handed it to NASCAR and said, ‘OK, here’s our car. Can we have your approval for this?’"

"We took a very different approach this time around, and before we started fabricating the car and after we went to the teams and had an idea of what we wanted to do. We brought NASCAR up to Dearborn to our design studio and met with our production car designers and walked NASCAR through. ‘Here’s the production car. Here’s what we’re thinking of doing with the race car to match the production car. What do you think?’

This approach resulted in success. The very first time the 2004 Taurus competed in a NASCAR race, Dale Jarrett drove one to victory in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway in early February.

"The piece that we’re ending up with is a very good race car," said Specht, "and it goes to show that two heads are better than one."

About the Author

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Kyle Busch Accomplishes Third Victory of the Year

Kyle Busch overcame the pit-road penalty at Darlington and accomplished his third victory of the year. After the crowd booed him and after calling his vehicle pathetic, despite all he found the victory lane again. NASCAR's least popular driver raced to his third Sprint Cup Series victory of the season Saturday night, winning a battle of destruction at the track "Too Tough to Tame."

"How many times did I hit the wall? I don't know, one, two, three, four, probably five or six," Busch said. "I've got to thank my team, they build them as strong as they can for me, 'cause I like to knock the walls down with them."

Throughout the season this victory has become his eight one; he has achieved most of his victories in a very convincing way. And this one was no different, as Busch led a race-high 169 of the 367 laps in a Toyota that he described early in the race as the "most pathetic car" he'd ever driven.

Busch did show he has got talent indeed; he became the youngest driver to win at NASCAR’s oldest speed way. There is no doubt Darlington is one of the hardest places to compete; an offseason repaving project smoothed the asphalt on the egg-shaped, 1.366-mile superspeedway; the result was a new surface which fits the entire field and the track is now extremely fast and a bit dangerous.

Busch was dropped to number 29 despite leading early in the race but was penalized when his crew left a lug nut off his rear wheel following a pit stop. Lap by lap he battled his way back to the front, patiently picking off Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt and finally seven-time Darlington winner Jeff Gordon to reclaim the top position.

He was advised the turns were pretty dangerous and he had to take it slow and easy, but he couldn’t do it. He slammed the walls so many times, his right side of the car was destroyed. But he was not capable of going slow neither keep his feet off the gas until he finished.

On the other hand; Edwards finished second and was pleased with the outcome after initially disliking the new surface. Gordon finished third, who was happy but frustrated at the same time as he is still looking for his first victory of the season.

Earnhardt finished fourth, David Ragan was fifth followed by Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin -- Busch's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing. Travis Kvapil, Dave Blaney and Burton rounded out the top 10. "I just made a huge mistake," Sadler said. "I just went in too low into Turn 1. I was actually trying to give Tony more room and I just got loose under him and spun into him. I know he's pretty mad at me, but nothing I did intentionally. I've never had any problems with him, and don't want to start it tonight."

About the Author

Claudia Beckford provides outstanding Nascar content as well as information in the online betting industry.

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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Important Things For Aspiring Male Models To Know And Understand

Lots of people think that modeling is dominated by the female gender. Today, this is simply not true as the demand for male models increases every year. Although being a model is a similar professional for both males and females, there are some big differences between the two industries that you should be aware of if you are planning on pursuing a career in male modeling.

To begin, male models usually start their careers a little later in their lives. Most women start their modeling careers in their late teens, when males start in the mid to late twenties. If you are planning or aspiring to become a male model, just know that men have way fewer opportunities for modeling jobs than women have and tend to earn less money for each job than women do.

Because of these differences between male and female models, it is important to understand the industry that you want to enter into. I have compiled a few informational tips that every male model should know before entering this competitive industry.

First, if you are planning on doing any runway or editorial modeling work, there is some height and body requirements that must be met before booking agents will even look at you. Male models should meet the following requirements.

Your height should be somewhere in the range of 5' 11" - 6' 3", your chest needs to be 30 - 40 inches, your waist needs to be 30 - 32 inches, and you must have a 32+ inch inside leg. Obviously, there are exceptions to these standards, but these figures are the considered the "industry standard".

Second, there are age requirements that you need to be aware of. Male models can usually prolong their careers well into their late 40's, while women usually see their careers start to dwindle in their early to late 30's. If you are a male model and take excellent care of yourself, you can have a successful career for decades.

Third, there are different types of male modeling industries that you can get into. One of the more popular industries is the fitness modeling industry, which is becoming quite popular by the younger, fitter men. The fitness modeling industry is way different from the fashion modeling industry.

A few of these differences are, they are looking for different body types. You can be huge and sculpted in the fitness modeling industry and get lots of jobs. However, if you look like that in the fashion industry, you will probably get very few jobs. Geography is not important at all! Fashion models need to be near major cities like LA or NY, but fitness models can be located anywhere across the country.

If you can remember and understand these things, you will have a much easier time getting into the male modeling industry. It is definitely a tough industry to get into, but once you are in, you will have a great, successful career.

About the Author

Tru Talent Management has been working with child actors for over 10 years. Tru Talent will help develop your child's potential skills. Tru Management is one of the most trusted agencies for child actors in the West.

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How is it that tony stewart finished 28th?

The caution was clearly flying when he was hit a 2nd time and spun into the wall at the end of the race. Under nascar rules the field is frozen when the caution flies, he was in 7th maybe 8th when the caution flew, yet the unofficial results list him in 28th? I'm not a huge tony stewart fan but it sucks if he gets jipped out of a quality top 10 run.
Im not complaining or whining that he finished lower, I would just like some sort of an explantion to something that really confused me

Because NASCAR hates Tony Stewart. He needs to shut his mouth and just drive for a change.

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Kart racing

History

Kart racing in the streets of Berlin in 1963

Art Ingels is generally accepted to be the father of karting. A veteran hot rodder and a race car builder at Kurtis Kraft, he built the first kart in Southern California in 1956. Karting has rapidly spread to other countries, and currently has a large following in Europe.

The first kart manufacturer was an American company, Go Kart Manufacturing Co. (1958). McCulloch was the first company, in 1959, to produce engines for karts. Its first engine, the McCulloch MC-10, was an adapted chainsaw 2-stroke engine. Later, in the 1960s, motorcycle engines were also adapted for kart use, before dedicated manufacturers, especially in Italy (IAME), started to build engines for the sport.

Components

Chassis

Rear view of a current CIK-FIA approved race kart equipped with KF engine

The chassis are made of steel tube. There is no suspension therefore chassis have to be flexible enough to work as a suspension and stiff enough not to break or give way on a turn. Kart chassis are classified in the USA as 'Open', 'Caged', 'Straight' or 'Offset'. All CIK-FIA approved chassis are 'Straight' and 'Open'.

Open karts have no roll cage.

Caged karts have a roll cage surrounding the driver; they are mostly used on dirt tracks.

In Straight chassis the driver sits in the center. Straight chassis are used for sprint racing.

In Offset chassis the driver sits on the left side. Offset chassis are used for left-turn-only speedway racing.

The stiffness of the chassis enables different handling characteristics for different circumstances. Typically, for dry conditions a stiffer chassis is preferable, while in wet or other poor traction conditions, a more flexible chassis may work better. The best chassis allow for stiffening bars at the rear, front and side to be added or removed according to race conditions.

Braking is achieved by a disc brake mounted on the rear axle. Front disc brakes are increasingly popular; however, certain classes do not allow them.

Professionally raced karts typically weigh 165 to 175 lb (75 to 79 kg), complete without driver. Avanti, Tony Kart, Trulli, Birel, CRG, Gillard, Intrepid, Kosmic, Zanardi or FA Kart are a few well known examples of the many European manufacturers of race-quality chassis. Margay is an American company producing kart chassis.

Engines

Amusement park go-karts can be powered by 4-stroke engines or electric motors, while racing karts use small 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines.

Electric go-karts are low maintenance, requiring only that the lead-acid batteries of the cars be plugged into an array of chargers after each run. Since they are pollution-free and emit no smoke, the racetracks can be indoors in controlled environments. A fully charged electric kart can run a maximum of 20 minutes before performance is affected.

4-stroke engines can be standard air-cooled industrial based engines, sometimes with small modifications, developing from about 5 to 20 hp. Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh, Kohler, Robin, and Honda are manufacturers of such engines. They are adequate for racing and fun kart applications. There are also more powerful four-stroke engines available from manufacturers like Yamaha, TKM, Biland or Aixro (Wankel engine) offering from 15 hp up to 48 hp. They run to and around 11,000 rpm, and are manufactured specifically for karting. Those are used in some National Championship classes like the two-strokes.

2-stroke kart engines are developed and built by dedicated manufacturers. Comer, IAME (Parilla, Komet), TM, Vortex, Titan, REFO, Yamaha and Rotax are manufacturers of such engines. These can develop from about 8 hp for a single-cylinder 60 cc unit (MiniROK by Vortex) to 90 hp for a twin 250 cc. Today, the most popular categories worldwide are those using the Touch-and-go (TAG) 125 cc units. The recent 125 cc KF1 engines are electronically limited at 16,000 rpm. Most are water-cooled today; however, previously air-cooled engines dominated the sport.

Transmission

Karts do not have a differential. The lack of a differential means that one rear tire must slide while cornering; this is achieved by designing the chassis so that the inside rear tire lifts up slightly when the kart turns the corner. This allows the tire to lose some of its grip and slide or lift off the ground completely.

Power is transmitted from the engine to the rear axle by way of a chain (some rentals use a belt). Both engine and axle sprockets are removable; their ratio has to be adapted according to track configuration in order to get the most from the engine.

In the early days, karts were direct drive only, but the inconvenience of that setup soon led to the centrifugal clutch for the club level classes. Dry centrifugal clutches are now used in many categories (Rotax Max is one example) and have become the norm as the top international classes have switched to 125 cc clutched engines as of January 2007.

Tires

Wheels and tires are much smaller than those used on a normal car. Rims are made of magnesium alloy or aluminum. Tires can support cornering forces in excess of 2 G (20 m/s), depending on chassis, engine, and motor setup.

Similar to other motorsports, kart tires have different types for use appropriate to track conditions:

Slicks, for dry weather. In international level racing these are some of the softest and most advanced tires in motorsport. Some car tire manufacturers, such as Bridgestone, Dunlop or Maxxis, make tires for karts. There are also specific kart tire manufacturers, which include MG, MOJO, and Vega. Slick kart tires come in many different compounds, from very soft (maximum grip) to very hard (amusement and rental karts, less grip but long life span).

Rain tires, or "wets", for wet weather. They are grooved, made of soft compound, and are narrower than slicks. Not all racing classes allow rain tires.

Special, such as spiked tires for icy conditions, or "cuts" for high grip dirt/clay speedways. Cuts are slicks modified with a lathe to optimize handling.

Data acquisition

As in other motor sports, several data acquisition systems have been developed for kart racing. These systems allow the driver to monitor from a display fixed on the steering wheel some parameters such as RPM, timing of laps (including sectors), number of laps, best lap, cooling system temperature, and sometime speed or even gear for shifter karts.

Some of those systems are able to record (logging) laps data from the sensors, allowing replay of an entire running session or/and direct download to a personal computer equipped with a data analysis software. More sophisticated systems allow for more information such as lateral and longitudinal acceleration (or G-force), throttle position, steering wheel position, brake pressure.

External controls

Go-karts used in amusement parks can be fitted with additional electronic controls such as remote speed limiters to help promote a safer operating environment. In the event of an accident or an out of control racer, the track attendant can remotely slow or stop all vehicles on the track via Radio Control. This remote speed control can also be used to limit young riders to a slow operating speed, while a race consisting only of adults is permitted a higher speed. These controls can be applied to both electric and combustion-engine karts.

Racing

Sprint race at Granja Viana, Brazil

Kart racing is generally accepted as the most economic form of motorsport available. As a free-time activity, it can be performed by almost anybody, and as a motorsport in itself, it is one of the sports regulated by FIA (under the name of CIK), permitting licensed racing for anyone from the age of 8 onward.

In the USA, there is not as much FIA involvement; instead, many organizations regulate racing, such as the IKF (International Kart Federation), WKA (World Karting Association), KART (Karters of America Racing Triad), and the more recent Stars of Karting presented by the Indy Racing League.

In the UK, the MSA (Motor Sports Association) regulate Karting. Some associations, such as NatSKA (National Schools Karting Association), organize race meetings throughout the country under the authority of the MSA.

In Australia, kart racing is administrated by the Australian Karting Association on the behalf of FIA and CAMS.

A variety of kart circuits permit the sport to be practiced, although only homologated tracks can have official races in Europe (see Kart circuits).

Racing classes start at age 7 or 8 (5 in the US with "Kid Karts") and generally run in 3-year age groupings or weight divisions until enior status is reached at age 15 or 16, depending on the series.

Racing formats

Typically, race formats are one of the following:

Sprint

Sprint racing takes place on dedicated kart circuits resembling small road courses, with left and right turns. Tracks range from 1/4 mile (400 metres) to over 1 mile (1,600 metres) in length.

The sprint format is a series of short-duration races, normally for a small number of laps, that qualify for a final, with a variety of point scoring calculations to determine the event's overall winner. Typical duration does not normally exceed 15 minutes. Here, speed and successful passing is of the most importance. It normally occurs in the format of three qualifying heats and a final race for trophy positions.

The FIA championships, including the Karting World Championship, take place in this format.

Endurance

Pack of Laydown Enduros at Daytona, USA

Endurance races last for an extended period, from 30 minutes up to 24 hours or more, for one or more drivers. In general, consistency, reliability, and pit strategy is of greater importance than all out speed.

Called "Enduro" racing in the USA, most WKA & IKF sanctioned events typically last 30 minutes (Sprint Enduro) or 45 minutes (Laydown Enduro) and are run continuous without pit stops. Enduro events are held on full-size road racing circuits that are usually between 1.5 & 4 miles in length.

As well as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race for automobiles there is also a 24 hours event for karts which takes place at the kart circuit Alain Prost at Le Mans, France. This race has taken place since 1986 and its winners list include four times Champ Car champion Sbastien Bourdais (in 1996).

Speedway

Speedway racing takes place on asphalt or clay oval tracks which are normally between 1/6 mile and 1/4 mile long. Tracks primarily consist of two straights and four left-turn corners, few tracks are symmetric and often the shape parallels that of an egg or a tri-oval.

'Offset' kart chassis have been developed for precise handling and adjustability in left-turn-only racing competition taking place on oval and tri-oval tracks.

Speedway kart races range in length from 4 laps for a trophy dash, to 20 laps for a main event.

The two chief racing formats used in dirt speedway karting are heat races and timed laps qualification:

The International Kart Federation (IKF) runs a racing format of two 10 lap heats followed by a 20 lap final. Finishing positions in the two heat races are used to calculate the starting position in the feature race.

The World Karting Association (WKA) uses time qualifying. Karts equipped with transponders are sent out onto the track in groups of 5 or less to try to achieve the fastest lap time. Positions for the 20 laps feature event are determined by qualifying time.

The American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) uses group transponder qualifying to calculate starting positions for 20-lap features.

Racing categories

There are many different classes or formula in karting.

International

KZ1 kart at the CIK-FIA European Championship 2008

Superkart

The CIK-FIA sanctions international championships in KF1, KF2, KF3, KZ1, KZ2 and Superkart. These are regarded as the top level classes of karting and are also raced in national championships worldwide. The World Championship (KF1) is decided here. The current 2009 World Champion is Arnaud Kozlinski from France.

CIK-FIA categories:

KF1 (the top level), KF2, KF3, and KF4 (so-called asic category). All are using the same water-cooled no-gearbox 125 cc ong life two-stroke engines with starter and clutch, each with different technical specifications (mufflers, air boxes, carburetor, rev limit etc.).

KZ1 and KZ2, both 125 cc gearbox categories.

Superkart, a 250 cc gearbox category.

National

In the UK, the most celebrated karting series is the National karting series, also known as Super 1. There are three types of Super 1 championships:

MSA series: Formula A, ICA, Junior ICA, Formula 100 and Formula Cadet

Rotax series: Minimax, Junior Max, Senior Max, Senior Max 177 and Rotax DD2

TKM series: Formula Junior TKM, Formula Junior Intermediate, Formula TKM Extreme, TKM Junior and Senior 4-stroke and since 2006, Honda Cadet

NatSKA is a budget karting association set up for schools and youth groups in the UK, with 13 classes.

In the United States, the biggest proportion of racers are in the dirt oval classes which often use Briggs & Stratton industrial engines. This style of racing is prominent in the Southeast and Midwest. In the West, European style sprint racing is much more common.

In Australia, classes include Midget, Rookie, Junior and Senior.

Many people race worldwide in Spec series such as Rotax Max (a Touch-and-Go class) or those using the Yamaha KT100 engine.

Driver equipment

Fully equipped kart driver

For their safety, kart drivers are required to wear proper equipment :

Full-face helmet (Snell SA2005 or K2005 certification is required for racing, K2005 is same as SA2005 without fire resistance)

Driving suit (abrasion resistant overalls with at least one Cordura external layer, CIK-FIA Level 2 homologation for top level racing)

Gloves

Driving boots (ankles must be covered)

Rib protector and neck collar, although highly recommended, are optional in most countries. None of the above need to be made of fire retardant material. Superkart drivers are required to wear leather overalls, similar to those used in motorcycling.

Karting as a learning tool

Kart racing is usually used as a low-cost and relatively safe way to introduce drivers to motor racing. Many people associate it with young drivers, but adults are also very active in karting. Karting is considered the first step in any serious racer's career. It can prepare the driver for high-speed wheel-to-wheel racing by helping develop quick reflexes, precision car control, and decision-making skills. In addition, it brings an awareness of the various parameters that can be altered to try to improve the competitiveness of the kart (examples being tire pressure, gearing, seat position, chassis stiffness) that also exist in other forms of motor racing.

All current and many former Formula One World Championship drivers grew up racing karts, most prominent among them Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Rikknen and Lewis Hamilton. Many NASCAR drivers also got their start in racing from karts, such as Darrell Waltrip, Lake Speed, Ricky Rudd, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon.

In August 2009, in anticipation to a possible return to F1 with Ferrari, Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher did some preparation driving a kart in Lonato, Italy. Felipe Massa also used karting in September 2009 to test his condition in Brazil, two months after his Hungarian Grand Prix freak accident during qualifying.

Recreational, concession and indoor karts

Besides traditional kart racing, many commercial enterprises offer karts for rent, often called "recreational" or "concession" karts. The tracks can be indoor or outdoor. Karts are rented by sessions (10 to 15 minutes usually), they use sturdy chassis completed with dedicated bodywork providing driver safety. Most of these enterprises use an "Arrive and Drive" format which provide customers with all the safety gear (helmets, gloves and driver outfits) where necessary and allow them to show up any time to race at a reasonable price, without the hassle of owning one's own equipment and gear.

Indoor kart racing

Outdoor tracks can offer low speed karts strictly for amusement (dedicated chassis equipped with low powered 4-stroke engines or electric motors), to faster, more powerful karts similar to a racing kart (powered by 4-stroke engines up to 15 hp and more rarely by 2-stroke engines) but designed to be more robust for rental use. Typically, these outdoor tracks may also be used for traditional kart races.

Indoor kart tracks can be found in many large cities in different parts of the world. These tracks are often located in refurbished factories or warehouses and are typically shorter than traditional outdoor tracks. Indoor karts are typically powered by a 4-stroke gasoline engine producing anywhere from 5 to 13 horsepower, or sometimes by an electric motor. Many tracks offer competitive races and leagues. At the top level, an Indoor Karting World Championship (IKWC) exists.

There are nearly 80 indoor kart tracks in the United States.

Notes

^ a b Superkart at Magny-Cours - 2007

^ What is a Shifter Kart?

^ 50 years of karting 1956-2006 - CIK-FIA

^ How the kart was first introduced to Europe - by Burton Reinfrank - June 2004

^ The McCulloch Kart Engines

^ 1959 - McCulloch's Entry into Kart Racing

^ Example of a CIK-FIA homologation form - Chassis, 2005

^ a b Technical picture of a racing chassis - Margay chassis

^ "Article 21 ; Speci Regulations for KF1 ; Engine speed limited to maximum 16,000 rpm." - CIK-FIA 2010 Technical Regulations

^ "2.8) TRANSMISSION; Shall always be to the rear wheels. The method is free but any type of differential, whether through the axle, the wheel mounting hub or by any other means, is prohibited." - CIK-FIA 2010 Technical Regulations

^ (French) Kart circuit Alain Prost - 24 hours

^ 2009 CIK-FIA Karting World Championship - Official Classification

^ 2009 CIK-FIA Karting Technical Regulations - Article 3 : Kart and Equipment Safety

^ Michael is karting in Lonato - Michael Schumacher official website, 05 August 2009

^ Felipe Massa takes wheel for first time since accident - The Times, 29 September 2009

^ Indoor Karting World Championship

^ Indoor Kart Tracks

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Karting

Kart Racing Championships

Kart circuits

Kart manufacturers

Kart racing drivers

Related :

Crosskart

Cyclekart

Electrathon

Micro kart

Off road go kart

Capeta

Formula Zero

External links

Kart racing at the Open Directory Project

Governing Bodies:

CIK-FIA web site

MSA - Motor Sports Association - Governing body for motor sports in Great Britain

IKF - International Kart Federation - Governing body for the sport of kart racing in the US

WKA - World Karting Association - Governing body for karting in the US

AKRA - American Kart Racing Association - Governing body for speedway oval karting in the US

AKA - Australian Karting Association - Governing body for karting in Australia

ASN Canada - Governing body for kart racing in Canada

NatSKA - National Association of Schools and Youth Group Karting - UK

VKA - Vintage Karting Association - Association for support of karts from karting 1956 inception to 1975

Categories: Karting | Open wheel racing | Leisure activities
About the Author

I am China Manufacturers writer, reports some information about tercel body kit , hks boost gauge.

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The NASCAR Vehicle Past and Present

The original concept of a NASCAR race car was that is was supposed to be composed of stock parts you would buy in an auto parts store. In some respects that is true but not totally. The race car is a high performance racing machine designed to withstand high G-forces when banking on turns. Lets look at what makes up this vehicle.

The first component most are interested in is the engine of a NASCAR racing vehicle. This engine actually is very close to that which you have in your car (provided you have a big engine) but it is customized so that it can withstand high temperature and torque. All parts in the engine of a are machined to within very tight specifications so that there is a minimum of friction. The carburetor is designed to let in the volume of air and fuel mixture required to sustain high speeds for lengthy spans of time. There are no fuel injectors in the race cars engine.

The first modification to the NASCAR vehicle was to smooth out the ride. Early races were run on tracks that were very bumpy and this causes a lot of damage. Today, the NASCAR vehicle is basically a body molded from sheet metal on a frame supported on the inside by bars made of sheet tubing. The vehicle is not a stock vehicle any longer as each component is hand-crafted and assembled. The car is built with safety in mind while giving it the ability to maintain speeds approaching 200 mph. Driver comfort is not the focus.

The NASCAR vehicle at one time was able to reach speeds in excess of 200 mph and that all changed in 1987 when Bobby Allisons race car flew into a section of fence at the Talladega Speedway in Talledega, Alabama. Fans were injured in the stands and NASCAR took action to restrict the speed of the vehicle through what is known as a restrictor plate. This also gave birth to the term restrictor-plate racing.

The physics of the restrictor plate have to do with reducing air intake into the intake manifold of the engine. Less air will result in lower combustion thus reducing horsepower. The restrictor plate is a sheet of metal with four holes bored in it at precise tolerances. The plate is then mounted between the intake manifold and the carburetor. After that, the NASCAR vehicle should not be able to exceed speeds of 200 mph.

It would seem like the restrictor plate would resolve the safety problem but many professional drivers have been asserting that it creates more potentially unsafe situations in a race. If you think about the difference between a motor scooter and a motorcycle you can see where a restrictor plate could create problems. Many times a motor scooter has an accident where a motorcycle could have avoided it because of its increased ability to accelerate (a motorcycle can accelerate quicker to avoid an oncoming threat). It is the same complaint among almost all of the racers with restrictor plates. They have identified situations where the cars bunch up and the driver only has one choice and that is to slow down. Speeding up to avoid the congestion is not an option because the other cars may be at the restrictor plate limit too.

But as for now, the restrictor plate is a requirement in the race car vehicle on the majority of tracks.

About the Author

For the largest selection of Nascar Merchandise along with up to the minute News, NASCARsupershop offers this and more. We carry everything NASCAR including NASCAR Helmets and NASCAR Hats s all at the best prices everyday! I'm not only the owner of NASCARsupershop.com I'm also the senior editor, website developer and a HUGE fan of NASCAR!

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Corvette Grille – For Style of Your Choice

Chevrolet Corvette is known as America's only true sports car. It is one of the world's best known sports cars and is also one of the oldest brands that still finds favor in the market. It debuted in 1953, and though it was not immediately considered a top class car it subsequently established its position in the market. From 1955 onwards several improvements were made from time to time. To be considered a favorite amongst car enthusiasts it kept abreast of changing trends and preferences of the buyers and also adopted the new technological developments that came up during its very long and continuing run. For example in the 1960s more power was added to its engines, in the 1970s its styling was upgraded, and in the 1980s electronic aids were introduced. It was further refined and improved and now it is considered as one of the world's best. It combines high performance, comfortable drive, sleek style, fuel economy, and all at a much lower price than the other cars in its category.

For car owners it is not enough that a car is stylish, they want it to have a distinctive look that can set it apart from other cars. Grilles are one of the items used to give a personalized look to a car. They immediately attract an onlooker's attention and they are available in a number of designs and styles. A buyer is very likely to find one that appeals to him. a Corvette grilles are generally made of stainless steel, or aluminum, or ABS plastic. They have their own characteristics. Stainless steel is very tough, and resistant to corrosion and rust. Aluminum is light yet strong and does not corrode. ABS plastic is not as strong as stainless steel or aluminum but is still durable and light and is cheaper. You will enjoy the experience of browsing through the options online and choosing the grille that appeals to you the most.

Corvette is a sports car which is also good for day to day use, and is comfortable to driver as well as passengers. A Corvette grille will give the car a personalized look of the owner's choice. You can see the latest Corvette grille at www.ilovebodykits.com.

About the Author

Louie Liu has been in the car aftermarket products industry for 5years. He specializes in body kits, headlights, cold air intakes & other aftermarket products. You can learn more about a Corvette grille and other Grilles at his site www.ilovebodykits.com.

What To Look Out For When Buying Fishing Rod Reels

Fishing rod reels are a vital part of any fishing gear. The markets are full of different varieties of fishing reel, which differ in style and price. It is practically impossible to succeed in fishing without a good fishing reel.

One may get confused, when it comes to purchase an apt fishing reel. The search can be narrowed down, by knowing the kind of fishing for which the reel is required. If it is required for fly fishing, then according to the need some specific reels can be bought, and for the casting purpose, spinning reels are the best. So in fact the purchase should be based on the kind of fishing, which has to be done using it.

The most expensive, fly casting reels fulfill the purpose of specialized skills, which are needed during fly fishing. They are especially designed in a light weighted pattern so as to provide the user with a smooth and effective cast. These reels are not provided with any kind of gears so that when the handle is turned once, the spool also gets turned simultaneously. A special expertise is needed to handle these dish shaped and narrow reels.

Spinning reels cater to the needs of everyone, starting from a child learning to cast to the most perfect anglers. The beginners should go for closed face reels as they are quite easy to handle. It is extremely easy to operate these reels with the help of a button, which lets the line out. An enclosed case is used to keep the fishing line for such reels. The only disadvantage of using closed face reels is that they are very difficult to clean. The debris, which comes along with the reel, gets trapped in the closed case, causing hindrance with the drag.

If done as a beginner, then better to go for an open faced reel, which has an exposed fishing line having a bail attached to it. This bail can slide over and can easily be held down while casting while the line flies out at the last minute release. These reels come in an infinite variety and most experts have many of them in their collection.

The mounting of the reel is influenced by the kind of fishing for which it is being used. While being used for fly fishing, the reel is mounted at the base of the handle, quite below it. This is done to balance the fishing rod with the help of the reel. While using spinning reel, the reel is placed at the top of the fishing rod. A drag system is also attached to it in order to prevent the line from breaking when the fish is on.

Hence considering the requirement and the budget, the reel can be chosen accordingly.

About the Author

Martin helps people learn about fishing equipment. You can read more of his work like Fishing Rod Reel Combos by
visiting the Fishing Rod Reel website.

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Hating The New Car Buying Experience?

A friend of mine was in the market to buy a new car. He wanted to spend about $25,000, and just about the only thing he could get to work at his price, including the features he wanted, was a Honda Accord. He just did not want to pull the trigger. Nothing against the Accord he said it is a great car. But they are so typical.

I then mentioned to my friend about luxury/exotic car selling companies located on the Internet. We went to some sites together and he immediately said wow. Here, if you are ready to plunk $25,000 down, you can really get some value on a late 1980s Porsche with 50,000 miles, all decked out, for just $23,000 or so.

Many online customers buy a Porsche and then resell it years later for another one at about the same price. You see, Porsche's hold their value better than any other luxury car.

It dawned on my friend, drive a luxury car and get most of your money back when you go to sell it a few years later! Chances are you are out only a small amount when you sell the car. Since not everyone is a Porsche lover, perhaps a Ferrari, Lamborghini or a Bentley or an Aston Martin is a better option if you are not sure what you want.

There are several good web sites that sell late-model used cars owned by private sellers across the country. No pushy salespeople. An online representative asks a few questions about what you are looking for and explains the concept. I think that qualifies as the alternative people are seeking. It is all about value.

Far be it from me to push a friend or someone into a luxury vehicle. Actually, we are about saving money, but we are also all about spending it wisely. And we all earn our money through hard work. Sometimes we need to stretch out once in a while to enjoy it.

If we look at a car as a value investment, we are looking to get the most payback, short term and long term, for the price. If you throw the pleasure factor in, and look at the long-term resale value of these luxury cars, they may just be the best value. It is the same logic that makes a growth stock a value stock if it is priced right.

It took some time for this concept to sink in for my friend. Two things eventually excited him: the availability of really nice cars for roughly the same cost as an ordinary new car and the choices and ease of buying offered by the online experience.

Here are some pointers about the pre-owned luxury-car segment:

Surprisingly low prices. Prices for a late-model used luxury car might be $10,000 to $20,000 or more lower than the equivalent new one. Like most cars, most depreciation is in the first two years. But wealthy luxury car buyers want new and shun the others, giving a larger initial price drop. After that two-year period, they tend to hold their value better.

Better warranty. Most luxury cars have a five-year, 50,000 mile warranty, two years and 20,000 miles better than most ordinary cars. Compared with buying new, you may get just as much warranty with one of these vehicles.

Better care. Most people take better care of luxury cars. They are kept in garages, and people do not drive the wheels off of them. Most have low mileage.

Price and facts are out in the open. True, the price is lo-haggle and you will mot be able to negotiate it down too much. Further, the company is usually not compensated by the amount of a deal.

More choices. Part of what differentiates the online buying experience is choice. It is not just two or three cars in a given category, like you would find in a traditional dealership. It makes it much easier to shop.

Getting more respect. My friend ultimately bought a car online. He said this is an easy, non-threatening process. No push, no up-sell, no price games. All questions answered all facts available online.

One of the biggest concerns is reducing risk. Buying a luxury/exotic vehicle may seem expensive and risky, but the combination of lower price than a new car, usually a warranty and better care by the owner removes a lot of what we call luxury car product risk. Credible online luxury/exotic car buying experiences take out a lot of the luxury car purchase risk.

Buying a luxury car still has its hurdles, like $700 brake jobs and higher insurance costs. But these may be an Ok price to pay to get more enjoyment for what you dream for.

Maybe buying a luxury/exotic car still seems like an extravagance. But, before you settle for that Honda, Toyota , or Impala, knows that you may have a better choice.

About the Author

Victor Martel is a successful Internet specialist for buying and selling Luxury and Exotic cars online. You can view his website at http://www.finestmotorsports.com to learn more about buying a luxury or exotic motor car. You can also visit his blog at http://www.finestmotorsports.com/blog

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The Jimmie Johnson Era

As Jimmie Johnson closes in on his third consecutive Sprint Cup championship, it is time for all fans, and that includes haters of the 48, to concede that we are smack dab in the middle of the Jimmie Johnson era.

Some fans will argue that Johnson’s success is due to superlative equipment supplied by Hendrick Motorsports. However, he consistently outperforms all of his teammates, including the four-time champion and future Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. Others will bemoan his achievements due to his personality, or lack thereof. To the majority of fans, especially traditional fans, he is considered vanilla, or bland.

However, you cannot argue with success. Johnson entered NASCAR's highest level of competition in 2002 as Jeff Gordon’s protégé. Prior to his rookie campaign, he was an also-ran journeyman in the Nationwide (Busch) Series. Gordon, Rick Hendrick, and the powers that be at Lowe’s Improvement believed in the 26-year-old aspiring NASCAR star.

His rookie season was a pleasant surprise, as he won three races and finished fifth in the final championship standings. He failed to win the Rookie of the Year honors, as that accolade went to Johnson’s rookie counterpart, Ryan Newman. In 2003, Newman again outshined Johnson, as Newman won eight races compared to Johnson’s three. Newman won multiple Driver of the Year awards. Johnson finished second in the Sprint Cup standings to Matt Kenseth, however.

In 2004, Johnson won eight races, and finished eight points behind the eventual champion Kurt Busch. Johnson was emerging as one of NASCAR's elite drivers. He failed to capture the championship again in 2005, as it was Tony Stewart’s year to shine. In 2006, Johnson and the 48 crew finally earned the opportunity to sit at the head table, as they were crowned champions. Johnson won five races and edged out Matt Kenseth by 56 points for the ultimate prize.

In 2007, Johnson won four of the final ten races, all consecutively, and handily beat Jeff Gordon for the championship by 77 points. He won ten races total, the first time anybody had reached double digits since Gordon in 1998. He was the unambiguous favorite to win the Sprint Cup title as the 2008 season commenced.

After the season began, Johnson seemed to struggle at times, especially the intermediate tracks such as Las Vegas and Atlanta. Meanwhile, young hotshots, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards dominated the first twenty-six races, as they combined for 14 wins. While Johnson was running well, he was an afterthought. That all changed once the Chase for the Championship began. Johnson pieced together a remarkable run of consistency, with his worst finish being 15th at Texas. He won races at Kansas, Martinsville, and Phoenix, and owns nearly an insurmountable lead of 141 points over Edwards heading into the season finale at Homestead. In fact, a 36th place finish would be the clincher.

For fans of Johnson, as well as fans who appreciate greatness, this is an exciting time in NASCAR. This is comparable to the New York Yankees in the 1950’s, Green Bay Packers in the 1960’s, or even the Chicago Bulls of the 1990’s. However, Johnson has far more detractors than supporters, so his run at history does not magnetize much fanfare.

Fans, we have read about the Lee Petty era. Some of us were fortunate enough to witness the Richard Petty dominance, and even the Cale Yarborough three-peat. We are all aware of the Darrell Waltrip and Junior Johnson dynasty in the early 1980’s, which was a precursor to the decade-long Dale Earnhardt ascendancy that included six of his seven championships.Along came Jeff Gordon, a young interloper from California who seized the torch from the great Earnhardt, and proceeded to score four championships in seven years. Tony Stewart enjoyed some bright spots, with titles in 2002 and 2005, but he is not the driver people will point to when they discuss the driver of the decade. That driver is Jimmie Johnson.

When the NASCAR preview publications are released in January of 2009, do not be surprised if Jimmie Johnson is projected to capture a fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship.

About the Author

Jeremy Dunn writes nascar racing articles for http://www.nascapper.com and handicaps nascar weekly. Check out his nascar racing picks in his articles.

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What Does Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bring To Nascar Besides Racing?

There is no question that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the top racers in Nascar. He has built up a reputable image through fine racing and countless wins. However, racing is not the only thing this incredible person brings to the sport.

As many are well aware of, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a third generation driver in a family that has been connected to the sport of stock car racing for years. He has a flare of charisma, originality, and character that have propelled him to become one of the most popular figures in sports today. Five times Nascar fans have selected him as the winner of the most popular driver award. Thousands of fans line up at every track at his merchandise trailer just to get something with his name on it. It is hard to see where he has time to meet with so many of his fans but he does. That is what makes him so popular.

His appeal certainly branches outside of just Nascar fans though. He has appeared many times on Harris Interactive's annual polling for America's Top 10 favorite athletes. This has put him in the company of such athletes as Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, and Tiger Woods. In 2002, Dale was named one of People magazine's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors.

Outside of racing, he has become a role model for young ones with his business savvy as well. He has pursued the role of team owner and businessman while ascending in this too. In 2002 JR Motor sports consisted of just six employees and a street-stocked camaro was the only race car. Today, the company encompasses over 100 employees and a plethora of different vehicles that compete in the Nascar Racing Nationwide series.

If that were not enough, he has appeared on over 150 magazine covers and has been featured in high profiled publications such as Rolling Stones, GQ, Men's Journal, Sports Illustrated and People Magazine. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also made guest appearances on 60 minutes, the Late Show with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live and many more talk shows. He has also appeared in numerous commercials for his sponsors.

But that was just not enough for this Nascar racing star either. He has played cameo roles in Talladega Nights and Cars, and was the subject of an episode of MTV's Diary. To further add to his resume, in 2001 he became a best-selling author with Driver 8. This is a documentation of his rookie season in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has done tremendous things for the sport of Nascar. Through his countless victories and ambitious personality, he has become a true role model for people all over the world. He has shown that there is life outside of sports with cameos and his documentary book and has given kids a reason to strive for their goals. There really is no question why he is one of America's Top 10 favorite athletes.

About the Author

Come read more Nascar related articles at
http://nascarracing4you.com
. You can check out the Nascar schedule, standings, and results. Also, there is a wide selection of Nascar merchandise and memorabilia at the Nascar Store.

download need for speed carbon

Need for Speed: Carbon click here:

Need for Speed: Carbon, also known as NFS Carbon or NFSC is an Electronic Arts video game belonging to the Need for Speed series. Released in 2006, it is the tenth installment, preceded by Need for Speed: Most Wanted, succeeded by Need for Speed: ProStreet in release order and succeeded by Need for Speed: Undercover in chronological order. This was the first game to gain the PEGI Rating of 12+[citation needed] The game is a sequel to Need for Speed: Most Wanted.

The PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions of the game are called Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City, set in a fictional city named Coast City with a significantly different storyline and also featuring different AI teammate abilities[3]. In 2009, a version of Own the City was also released on the Zeebo as pre-installed game,[4] though it was marketed as the original Need for Speed: Carbon, creating some confusion as to which version was in fact released.[citation neede

After chased by the cops in Rockport City, the player drives through Carbon Canyon on a route to Palmont City, a flashback (or nightmare) of what seems to be a race against Kenji, Angie, and Wolf comes to the player's mind. A police incident at the end of the race forces the player to make a hasty escape from Palmont. In present day, former Police Sergeant, now turned bounty hunter, Cross in his Chevrolet Corvette Z06 chases the player down the canyon [5] leading to his BMW M3 GTR being wrecked. Shortly before Cross can arrest the player, Darius and his crew arrive. Darius gives Cross $150,000, and the player meets up with Nikki (Played by Emmanuelle Vaugier), an ex-girlfriend, on bad terms.[6]

Darius tells the player with the help of Nikki to clean up his image by beating the rival racing crews to gain territory and to reclaim his reputation as a respected street racer in Palmont. Winning races one by one, the player acquires territories and ultimately districts from Kenji (Downtown), Angie (Kempton), and Wolf (Fortuna). After beating each racer, the player meets up with a former member of that racer's gang, who want to join the player's crew and reveal their observations regarding the night the player took off from Palmont.[7]

Owning all three districts, Darius asks the player to meet up with him, where he reveals he was just using the player all along to get more territory. When Darius leaves, the player, on the brink of being arrested by Cross, is saved by Nikki who tells him that she now realizes everything that happened months ago after piecing together her view of the night and the viewpoints of the other racers.[8] Realizing that Darius was ultimately liable for the player's fall that fateful night, before a race in Silverton Darius gets a phone call about Nikki quitting his crew and hires the 3 previous bosses Kenji (Lancer EVO IX),Angie(Dodge Challenger Concept),and Wolf(Lamborghini Murcielago). The Player then attempts to conquer Silverton, and oust Darius and his Stacked Deck crew, to clean up the player's reputation once and for all.[9]

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