Kyle Busch Gets Ticketed For Speeding OFF The Track

By Meghan Cooke

Days before he is set to drive in NASCAR’s longest race, driver Kyle Busch was flagged for speeding and careless and reckless driving in Iredell County.

An Iredell County Sheriff's deputy stopped Busch on Tuesday at about 2 p.m. after he clocked him driving 128 mph in a 45-mph zone near where Perth and Judas roads meet near Troutman, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Busch, of Mooresville, was driving a yellow Lexus LFA sports car with a female passenger. The passenger was not identified, police said.

Busch drives the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series and will compete in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch also owns his own Truck series team which is headquartered on Mazeppa Road in Mooresville, about 4 miles southeast of where he was stopped.

In a statement released Tuesday Busch said he was test driving a new sports car and “got carried away.”

“I went beyond the speed I should have been going on a public road. I apologize to the public, my fans, sponsors, and race teams for my lack of judgment,” he said.

“I take responsibility for my actions and I can assure you that something like this will never happen again. I thank the Iredell County Sheriff's Department and all law enforcement for the hard work they do every day to protect the public and to enforce the laws in a fair and equitable manner.”

A spokesman for JGR said the organization was aware of the incident and was looking into it.

According to the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles Web site, Busch could lose his driver’s license for at least 60 days with a conviction.

That would not affect his driving career in NASCAR, however. Competitors in NASCAR need a license from the organization but not a state driver’s license to compete.

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the incident does not fall under the probation which Busch has been placed on by the sanctioning body through June 15 for a post-race altercation on pit road earlier this month at Darlington, S.C.

This is not Busch’s first speeding violation.

Court records show Busch was cited with speeding 55 mph in a 35 mph-zone in Iredell County in 2008. He was found “responsible” for speeding, according to records, but his speed was reduced to 44 mph.

Days before he is set to drive in NASCAR’s longest race, driver Kyle Busch was flagged for speeding and careless and reckless driving in Iredell County.

An Iredell County Sheriff's deputy stopped Busch on Tuesday at about 2 p.m. after he clocked him driving 128 mph in a 45-mph zone near where Perth and Judas roads meet near Troutman, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Busch, of Mooresville, was driving a yellow Lexus LFA sports car with a female passenger. The passenger was not identified, police said.

Busch drives the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series and will compete in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch also owns his own Truck series team which is headquartered on Mazeppa Road in Mooresville, about 4 miles southeast of where he was stopped.

In a statement released Tuesday Busch said he was test driving a new sports car and “got carried away.”
“I went beyond the speed I should have been going on a public road. I apologize to the public, my fans, sponsors, and race teams for my lack of judgment,” he said.

“I take responsibility for my actions and I can assure you that something like this will never happen again. I thank the Iredell County Sheriff's Department and all law enforcement for the hard work they do every day to protect the public and to enforce the laws in a fair and equitable manner.”

A spokesman for JGR said the organization was aware of the incident and was looking into it.

According to the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles Web site, Busch could lose his driver’s license for at least 60 days with a conviction.

That would not affect his driving career in NASCAR, however. Competitors in NASCAR need a license from the organization but not a state driver’s license to compete.

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the incident does not fall under the probation which Busch has been placed on by the sanctioning body through June 15 for a post-race altercation on pit road earlier this month at Darlington, S.C.

This is not Busch’s first speeding violation.

Court records show Busch was cited with speeding 55 mph in a 35 mph-zone in Iredell County in 2008. He was found “responsible” for speeding, according to records, but his speed was reduced to 44 mph.

Source;  http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/24/2322852/busch-gets-speeding-ticket-129.html

84 Year Old Continues His Spectator Streak With Daytona 500

By Dustin Long

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.

Jack Hege, believed to be the only person to have attended every Daytona 500 as a spectator, will see that streak continue with help from Richard Childress Racing.

The 84-year-old Lexington, N.C., resident said last month that health issues would prevent him from attending this year's race. He even declined an offer from Roush Fenway Racing to fly down on the team's plane.

When his doctor told Hege on Wednesday that his broken arm, which was operated on in December, would not prevent him from traveling, he accepted an offer from Childress Racing to attend the race.

"It's unbelievable," Hege said. "It's unbelievable. I didn't dream I'd ever get to go."

David Hart, director of corporate communications for RCR, contacted Hege, who admits that "I hated to hang up. I wanted to keep talking and talking and thanking people for what they've done for me. (Hart) said that Richard wanted to do something for me, saying that anybody that had went through what I went through for 53 years deserves some help. I appreciate it."

He and friend Don Beck, who also lives in Lexington, will fly on Childress' plane and be a guest of the championship car owner for the race.Now that Hege's streak will continue, he's thinking about next year's race.

"It's something to look forward to," Hege said. "It helps a person keep going. It means a lot to me."

www.hamptonroads.com

***Eighty-four year old Jack Hege and his friend Don Beck got to see yesterdays Daytona race.***

NASCAR Hosts Youth From the Middle East

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. auto racing organization NASCAR is hosting young people from Bahrain and Qatar as part of a diplomatic program of the U.S. State Department.

The State Department said Friday that 11 young adults involved in auto racing would travel to Charlotte, N.C., and Miami Nov. 15-23. They are scheduled to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame and to attend races.

The trip is sponsored by SportsUnited, a State Department exchange program that brings foreign athletes to the United States.

www.wavy.com

Former NASCAR Ward Burton Provides Special Place For America's Heroes

Halifax, Va. -- James "Mac" McGee popped a few painkillers, washed them down with Sprite and soaked in the serenity surrounding him.

The thick forest, the open fields, the still ponds.

"It's a really nice place to be," said McGee, an Army veteran who had been, by his own description, in a "bad place" physically and emotionally, as he recovered from injuries suffered in a fall in Iraq.

"If you want to just get away from the world, you can come here, and get your mind right. It's quiet. It relaxes me. It's amazing."

Former NASCAR driver Ward Burton, who knows and loves this place better than anyone, couldn't have described it better.

As a child, he roamed these woods. As a young man, he discovered tranquility here that helped give direction to his life. As a successful racer, he helped purchase the property through his foundation and preserve it for future generations.

"This land is like one of my children," Burton said Friday as we sat in the shade on a glorious autumn afternoon.

All of which gives you a sense of how personal and heartfelt it is when Burton invites military veterans -- "American heroes," as he calls them -- to spend a day enjoying the outdoors with him and other volunteers in this piece of paradise.

The Cove is its name, given because of the horseshoe route the Staunton River takes around the 2,000-acre property. I believe we can describe it as deep in Southside Virginia. The route to this destination in northern Halifax County goes from four-lane to two-lane to a gravel path meandering through the woods.

It's quiet enough to hear your spirit reboot.

Twice a year, the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, along with corporate partners, opens The Cove to dozens of veterans for a day of fishing, archery and target shooting. It's a way, South Boston native Burton says, to say thank you and to let them know they are not forgotten. It's also an opportunity for the vets, many of whom still are dealing with the effects of their service, physical and otherwise, to take a break from the stress, frustration and even depression that characterizes so many of their lives.

"You can't imagine what we're talking about unless you live that way," said McGee, 48, who remains part of the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Eustis in Newport News. "I can't tell you in words what this place has done for me and my family.

"If God could reach in and grab your heart and just touch it and give you that special feeling, that's how I feel about this place."

McGee, who has attended previous events at The Cove, joined 44 other vets from around the country at Friday's outing. Participants are selected from various veterans' organizations, but Burton -- who last raced in 2007 and is almost as well-known now for his conservation work -- is always open to hear from others who might want to visit.

When he started this program three years ago, Burton figured it would focus on wounded warriors only. But he discovered quickly the need -- and advantage -- of including not just those with obvious injuries.

"The first event, we had six guys from Texas," Burton recalled. "Three of those gentlemen had lost a limb, and the other three had not been able to quite figure out how to deal mentally with their experiences. We spent three days with them and what we saw happen was the gentlemen who had lost the limbs were still just as gung-ho . . . and they picked up the ones dealing with some backlash mentally.

"When those six left, they left as one."

Billy Herrell, 35, who suffered a back injury in Iraq, requires the assistance of a walker to get around and has been in the transition unit at Fort Eustis for more than two years, said a gathering at The Cove is "a lot like a family reunion."

Burton would like to develop permanent facilities for future events as a way to connect the heritage of the land with the legacy of America's military service.

"We don't know from the current conflict to some of the ones in the past whether they were right or wrong; the truth will always come out in time," Burton said. "But at the end of the day, that doesn't matter. It's the men and women doing what they're asked to do for our country. They're true patriots and heroes."

www.timesdispatch.com

Leave Extra Time For Crossing The Chesapeke Bridge This Weekend

SANDY POINT -- The Maryland Transportation Authority is warning travelers to leave extra time crossing the Chesapeake this weekend.

According to the MDTA, due to Sunfest in Ocean City and NASCAR races in Dover, motorists should expect high traffic volumes Thursday through Sunday.

The MDTA will monitor traffic conditions thruoghout the weekend and, weather permitting, implement two-way operations on the westbound span to help alleviate potential eastbound delays.

The best times to travel this weekend, according to the MDTA, are:

Thursday before 2 p.m.

Friday before noon and after 10 p.m.

Saturday before 7 a.m. and between 5 and 10 p.m.

Sunday between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. and after 7 p.m.

Motorists residing north of Baltimore may consider taking northbound I-95 to Route 1 south in Delaware.

www.delmarvanow.com

Nascar And The Star Spangled Banner

CONGRATULATIONS

NASCAR !!!!

You FINALLY found someone that can SING The Star Spangled Banner without the out of key sour notes and bad tempo!

Good idea to leave that song to the military.........or perhaps children...............

I might just enjoy this race for a change.

The Newest NASCAR Sponsor ~~ The GI Bill

In an effort to bring more attention to veterans education benefits, the GI Bill will sponsor a car in a Sept. 11 NASCAR race in Richmond, Va., and is also one of the sponsors of the race itself.

The Air National Guard is the chief sponsor of that Sprint Cup Series 400 race, which will be called the Air Guard 400.

The idea, according to Veterans Affairs Department officials, is to get the GI Bill plastered on a racecar and frequently mentioned by broadcasters to spread the word about the availability of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Sponsoring the race and a car in the race is part of an outreach program aimed at getting more people to use the year-old GI Bill benefits program.

The combined cost of sponsoring a car and the race will be about $420,000, a significant part of a $1 million advertising campaign that also includes buying ads in college newspapers and in online publications to try to reach eligible service members and veterans, VA officials said.

Having a racecar painted with the GI Bill as its sole sponsor, having the pit crew dressed to match the car and doing some pre-race promotions will cost about $200,000, VA officials said. Serving as an official race sponsor will cost another $250,000. Sponsorship will result in frequent mentions of the GI Bill and its purpose during the nighttime race on the oval track, officials said.

NASCAR is a good way to reach service members and veterans, VA officials said, because marketing surveys show that one-third of NASCAR fans are veterans or personally know a veteran. The Defense Department also advertises at NASCAR events because of marketing surveys that show race fans have a greater interest in military service than people who don’t watch NASCAR events.

An added benefit of being a race sponsor is that NASCAR events are broadcast on military radio and television networks, VA officials said.

“We wanted to do more than just reach veterans and influencers that are thinking about school … we wanted to also reach those folks who could be going to school but may not be fully aware of the benefit,” VA spokesman Nathan Naylor said.

www.navytimes.com

NASCAR Team Owner Jack Roush's Plane Crashes

NASCAR team owner Jack Roush is in stable condition and being treated for non-life threatening injuries, which he sustained in a plane crash Tuesday evening.

Roush was piloting the Beechcraft Premier business jet at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture Show at Wittman Airfield in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He crash-landed the plane around 6:15 CDT according to the EAA.

The plane was carrying one passenger, Brenda Strickland, who is a friend of Roush's, according to Roush Fenway Racing spokesperson Lori Halbeisen. Both Roush and Strickland walked away from the crash and were taken to a local hospital.

"He was conscious when he was admitted to the hospital," Halbeisen told ABCNews.com.

As of this morning, Halbeisen said Roush's condition was "serious but stable."

"All his injuries are non-life threatening," she said.

Strickland also appears to be OK.

"She's also being treated for non-life threatening injuries," Halbeisen said.

Halbeisen said there was not yet a timetable for his recovery because doctors are still evaluating his condition. Roush's family is with him now, and he has not yet spoken to anyone at Roush Fenway Racing.

The National Transportation and Safety Board is investigating the crash. Halbeisen said there was no information relating to the cause of the crash landing.

Roush owns 3 aircraft and has been flying for many years, Halbeisen said. One of those aircraft is a vintage World-War II era P-51 Mustang, according to the Associated Press.

"He's a very experienced pilot," Halbeisen said.

Roush Has Crashed Before

This is not the first time Roush has crashed. The Associated Press reported that he narrowly survived crashing into a pond in Alabama in 2002. Roush was seriously injured and nearly drowned, but was saved by an ex-Marine who lived close-by. Roush continued to fly despite the incident.

Roush is a former Ford Motor Co. employee and college physics teacher who founded his first NASCAR race team in 1988. Since then, Roush Racing has grown to become the largest race team in NASCAR with 8 motorsports teams, joining with Fenway Sports Group in 2007 to become Roush Fenway Racing.

Roush's teams have won 5 championships across NASCAR's three premier divisions, the latest in the Nationwide Series with Carl Edwards in 2007.

www.abcnews.go.com