Thunder has also been a featured guest on Fox Sports Radio, XM Satellite Radio, Cumulus Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications, and Sirius Satellite Radio's'Press Pass', 'The Driver's Seat', 'The Bubba the Love Sponge Show', and 'Manifold Destiny with MoJo Nixon'. He also appears daily on many independent radio stations across America.
Captain Thunder hosts the weekly NASCAR radio show, "TWISTED METAL" with Captain Thunder. The show airs every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM and is the only UNCENSORED NASCAR show in the country. You can listen live by clicking the link on the Captain Thunder Racing.com homepage, or you can listen to replays in the Radio Replays section of the website. "TWISTED METAL" is NOT for those under the age of 18.
IS CAPTAIN THUNDER AVAILABLE FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS? YES...Thunder gives motivational speeches to groups across the country about winning in life, and the behind the scene world of NASCAR racing. To book Captain Thunder e-mail your request to:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will enter the NASCAR Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
Red Horse Racing announced Monday that Piquet will enter the No. 1 Toyota in Friday’s race at Daytona.
“We have closely observed Nelson in our testing and believe he has a great future in NASCAR,” said Tom DeLoach, managing partner of Red Horse. “He exhibits excellent car control, gives good feedback, but needs the side-by-side experience. He’ll get plenty of that in Daytona.”
The Brazilian driver has tested several times with Red Horse and made his stock-car debut in Saturday’s ARCA race at Daytona. He started seventh, finished 27th, and bumped fenders with Danica Patrick to trigger her spin through the grass that took Patrick out of race-winning contention.
“The size of the Daytona track is amazing,” Piquet said. “I can’t wait to reach 200 mph side by side in a tight drafting pack of trucks. I can’t wait to get out on track and start my NASCAR career.”
Piquet triggered an F1 scandal last year when he revealed he deliberately crashed his car to help teammate Fernando Alonso win the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
Piquet was fired by Renault in August, and began exploring opportunities in NASCAR shortly afterward.
Red Horse Racing is still searching for a sponsor for Piquet’s entry, and there was no immediate word on any future races with the team.
“Nelson has a huge international following, which hopefully will attract a race partner for the team,” DeLoach said. - AP
Posted by captainthunder on Monday, February 08 @ 13:22:39 CST (6 reads)
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BUSCH LOSES MICCOSUKEE SPONSORSHIP - ONLY HAS SUPPORT FOR DAYTONA
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- New Camping World Truck Series owner Kyle Busch plans to race two trucks for the full 2010 season, which begins Friday at Daytona International Speedway, despite losing his truck's primary sponsor on Thursday.
"We're good for Daytona, but we've got nothing else," Busch said. "We're running full-time [and] I will definitely run every race this year, with myself and Brian Ickler [driving]."
At Daytona for Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout, Busch said he would announce a sponsor for Friday's NextEra Energy 250 "by Monday or Tuesday."
"We're very, very close," Busch said. "We haven't announced yet because we're trying to get it where it's good for us and good for our partner that we've got. As soon as we figure that out it'll be announced.
"Unfortunately we're in the predicament that we're in, but I feel confident that the series is strong and there are a lot of good opportunities for a lot of good partners to come up and be with us.
"I look at it as a business adventure where I can build a lot of relationships with a lot of good people as I go."
Through a cooperative deal with fellow team owner James Finch, Busch thought he had sponsorship for the No. 18 Toyota truck he'll share this season with Ickler, a NASCAR Touring Division and Late Model graduate who made 11 Truck starts last season, with two top-five and three top-10 finishes and an average finish of 14.6.
The Miccosukee tribe has sponsored Finch and by association Busch when he drove in previous years for owner Billy Ballew before stepping out on his own this season. The tribe had sponsorship across all three of NASCAR's national tours through its gaming and resort property in South Florida.
"Everything that I know of is just from my information through Finch, who was the coordinator of all that -- he was kind of the cornerstone," Busch said. "It was Finch's deal and he was just very supportive of me and Billy [Ballew] and he helped us out.
"When I decided to do my own deal, Finch wanted to be a part of it and wanted to help out, so he stuck with me and said we'd keep doing it. And then we got the word that Miccosukee might not come back and we were all worried about it -- but it was too late, because I had already jumped both feet-first in [to doing his team].
"All I really know is what's been out there, that Billy Cypress, the previous chief, was excited about racing -- he loved racing and wanted to do it. And when the new guy came in, he won the election apparently due to doing all this new, saving money campaign and saving this and saving that for the Indians and stuff.
"So he got voted in and the first order of business was to cut all expenses on stuff, and the NASCAR program was one of them."
Finch's Phoenix Racing general manager Steve Barkdoll said their Cup team had a season-long engine deal with Hendrick Engines and would therefore attempt every race, though some of them might be "start-and-tests," Barkdoll said. He said Phoenix's full-season Nationwide program for James Buescher would continue.
Kyle Busch Motorsports is also fielding a No. 56 Toyota for second-year Truck driver Tayler Malsam, which has sponsorship from Talking Rain for an "undetermined number of races," Busch said when the team was announced.
In addition, Busch had said he hoped to acquire sponsorship to field a third truck for 2008 Truck Series champion Johnny Benson, who in the meantime has taken a ride for Daytona with Team Gill Racing.
Busch said Benson would race his Late Model car later this summer. - by dave rodman - www.nascar.com
Posted by captainthunder on Monday, February 08 @ 07:14:15 CST (39 reads)
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TRUCK SERIES TOP-25 WILL BE LOCKED IN WEEKLY
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR will revise its five-year-old procedure governing guaranteed starting positions for the Camping World Truck Series in 2010. The revision will open up additional spots in the line-up for teams qualifying via time trials.
Beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 12, the "lock-in" will be reduced to the top 25 eligible owners who have entered the event based upon 2009 owners' points.
The 36th and final position continues to be reserved for a past champion not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion is eligible, the position is filled by the next fastest qualifier.
Under the procedure implemented in 2005, the top 30 eligible owners' trucks were locked into the starting lineup and guaranteed a spot among the top 35 positions in the 36-truck field.
The reduction in guaranteed starting positions brings the series in line, percentage-wise, with the Nationwide Series, which guarantees a top 30 eligible owner's car a position among 42 of 43 starting spots.
Twenty-five teams competed in all 25 races in 2009 and are thus eligible for guaranteed starting positions for the season's first four races. Eligibility for the lock-in is set by 2010 owners' points for the remainder of the season.
"All owners who would have been locked in under the previous procedure will have guaranteed starting positions at Daytona and for three additional races," Truck Series director Wayne Auton said. "Teams which saw limited competition in 2009 or are new to the series will have greater opportunity to qualify for races than they might have had in the past -- especially at short tracks such as Martinsville Speedway -- where drivers who may not have a great deal of experience at the national series level are attempting to further their careers."
Red Horse Racing owner Tom DeLoach praised the move. DeLoach has a pair of teams locked into the field and the possibility of another with a rookie driver with zero points and no NASCAR experience.
"This is the thing to do," said DeLoach. "If I'm starting a team moving from five [open positions] to 10 you've doubled my chances. It's absolutely the right thing to do. Let's get out there and race.
"It strengthens the field and it should work well for the fans and the teams."
The revised procedure does not affect races in which qualifying is canceled. Starting fields in such instances are based upon a separate procedure dictated by the series' rule book. - nascar pr
Posted by captainthunder on Monday, February 01 @ 12:29:12 CST (39 reads)
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THE 'GOAT' WILL RUN ENTIRE TRUCK SCHEDULE WITH MONSTER ON THE HOOD
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- The Monster Energy "M" claw will grace the No. 4 Chevrolet of Ricky Carmichael in the 2010 Camping World Truck Series.
Carmichael will compete in the entire 25-race Truck Series schedule for Turner Motorsports. He had 16 starts last season for Kevin Harvick Inc. with two top-10 finishes before moving over to Turner Motorsports for the final two races of the year.
In the history of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), no other rider has won as many championships (15) and races (150) as Carmichael, earning him the nickname the Greatest of All-Time (the GOAT). He was also a record five-time AMA Rider of the Year.
Carmichael also will compete in nine ARCA races, beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
"Monster has been a sponsor of mine for five years," Carmichael said. "So it's really an honor for them to continue to expand their motorsports efforts with me. I learned so much as a driver working with Kevin last year. He encouraged me to make the jump to Turner Motorsports because of the number of races I was going to be able to compete in.
"I know seat time is the key for me becoming a successful driver. Last season was a great year for me, but I am really looking forward this season."
Mike Fritts, who served as Carmichael's crew chief in his first stock-car endeavor in 2007, will again assume the role as crew chief for the 2010 season. The No. 4 Chevrolet is locked in for the first five races of the season based on last season's owner points. - tm pr
Posted by captainthunder on Friday, January 29 @ 06:31:03 CST (85 reads)
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HACKETT RACING ANNOUNCES CREW CHIEF & SPONSOR FOR DAYTONA
RHR76 writes "Ray Hackett Racing is proud to announce the signing of Travis Sharpe, who will assume the duties of crew chief and manager of the team’s #76 Ford F-150. Sharpe is a veteran of the truck series and has spent the last few years building his own race team (Racing Dynamiks) into a successful business. The team would also like to welcome Sears Sand and Gravel of Gloucester, VA to the role of primary sponsor for the season opening Daytona race on February 12th. RHR would like to thank Mullinax Ford and Bill's Title Service of Texas for providing associate sponsorships at Daytona. Ray Hackett Racing currently plans to run the entire season if funding continues to fall in place with driver Ryan Hackett behind the wheel of the #76. RHR also plans to run a second truck (its #75) at select events with former Bill Davis Racing driver Ryan Mathews."
Posted by captainthunder on Wednesday, January 20 @ 07:00:58 CST (55 reads)
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TRIP BRUCE NEW CREW CHIEF FOR BRAD SWEET
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Champion crew chief Trip Bruce has joined Stringer Motorsports to lead Brad Sweet in the Truck Series for the 2010 season.
Bruce has worked for some of the most respected teams in the industry, spanning all three of NASCAR's top series. In 2004, Bruce got his first job as a crew chief when he joined Ultra Motorsports to lead their No. 2 entry in the Truck Series. Under Bruce's leadership, the team posted one pole and three wins with Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne.
In 2005, Bruce joined Evernham Motorsports to lead its Nationwide program. Working with numerous drivers in two years, Bruce compiled three wins, four top-fives and 12 top-10s, winning crew chief of the year in 2006.
In 2007, Bruce returned to Bill Davis Racing, where he worked from 1999 to 2003, to serve as crew chief for Johnny Benson in the Truck Series. The two captured four wins, 12 top-five and 19 top-10s in their first season together. The following year, Bruce saw a life-long goal fulfilled as he and Benson captured the 2008 championship with five wins, five poles, 14 top-five and 18 top-10s.
Stringer Motorsports owner Doug Stringer is thrilled to have the opportunity to hire someone with the caliber and championship-experience that Bruce brings to the table.
"Trip has worked for some of the most successful organizations in the industry and brings to this team a wealth of knowledge and experience," Stringer said. "When looking for someone to lead Brad Sweet's transition from open-wheel to stock cars, I knew I needed someone that not only could build this team into a winning organization but also someone that could be a strong mentor to Brad. Trip fits those requirements to a T."
For his part, Bruce is more than up for the challenge of not only working with a relatively new race team, but also a driver new to the NASCAR ranks.
"It's exciting to be a part of an organization that is just beginning to blossom," Bruce said. "We are basically starting from scratch and while that is a challenge, it's one that I enthusiastically welcome. Doug Stringer is no stranger to success in this sport and is dedicated to building this team into a championship-winning organization. I look forward to this new endeavor and to helping Brad Sweet make a successful transition into the Camping World Truck Series." - sr pr
Posted by captainthunder on Tuesday, January 12 @ 12:43:40 CST (77 reads)
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HARVICK & SADLER TO SHARE #2 TRUCK IN 2010
KERNERSVILLE, N.C. -- Kevin Harvick Inc. on Thursday announced that Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler will climb behind the wheel of the No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado in 15 of 25 Truck Series events in 2010.
Sadler will kick off the 2010 season at Daytona as he returns to the Truck Series for the first time since '03. During the past 10 years, Sadler has made three starts in the Truck Series, all in his home state of Virginia: two races at Richmond in 2000 and '01, each time experiencing mechanical troubles and posting finishes of 29th and 30th, respectively; and one start at Martinsville in '03 where he had an engine failure and finished 30th.
Sadler is looking forward to returning to the series for a little redemption and a new challenge.
"Racing in the Truck Series in 2010 with KHI will be a blast," Sadler said. "It'll be nice to jump in the truck and go out and race for wins and not have to worry about points. We're going to kick the year off with a bang in Daytona and have some great races to run between then and the finale in Homestead."
Harvick drove a limited schedule in 2009 and won three times in six starts, including back-to-back wins in the final two races at Phoenix and Homestead in his No. 4 truck while Ron Hornaday drove his other truck to his fourth series title and the second owners' championship for KHI. (In 2009, the No. 4 served as KHI's second truck, alongside the No. 33 that Hornaday drove).
"I really enjoy being a part of the Truck Series," Harvick said. "I feel like the combination of Doug George as crew chief and Elliott and I will bring experience and success to the team immediately."
Sadler is confident of his Truck Series equipment at KHI and the tracks at which he has chosen to compete.
"Every track that's on my schedule in the No. 2 truck is a place I know we can go out and win," Sadler said. "I've won races at some of the tracks during my career and I know Kevin and Ron Hornaday contend for wins when they climb behind the wheel of a KHI truck. This is going to be a lot of fun."
The remainder of the driver lineup for the No. 2 team will be announced at a later date. - khi pr
Posted by captainthunder on Thursday, January 07 @ 14:00:33 CST (82 reads)
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RICK REN WILL RUN BUSCH'S TRUCK SERIES VENTURE
For Rick Ren, it was time for a change.
Ren led Ron Hornaday and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. truck to the truck title two of the last two seasons.
Not a bad track record for a little less than three years on the job. But Ren, who holds the truck series record for crew chiefs with 27 wins, was ready to start the next chapter in a 34-year racing career.
In 2010, Ren will manage Kyle Busch Motorsports' new truck venture, which is expected to field as many as three teams -- depending on sponsorship.
Although Ren, 53, is grateful for the experience that Kevin and Delana Harvick offered him with Hornaday, the ability to spend more time at home and attempt a new challenge was impossible to pass up.
"I have the opportunity to build a stellar organization and be just 10 minutes from my house," said Ren, who lives in Mooresville and was commuting 68-miles each way to work. "This is a brutal sport as we all know and I've been on the road for many years. I love being a crew chief, but this is a step up. Now, I'll be the guy that gets to hire the crew chiefs. And I'll get to improve my home life in the process."
Ren said the "best part" of working for the Harvicks was the relationships he was able to build over the last three seasons, particularly with Hornaday. Ren says he hopes Hornaday believes that the pair was able to "revive each other's careers". And while the move is "emotionally tough to walk away from a championship caliber program" -- especially after the teammates amassed 16 wins, 10 poles, 42 top fives and 60 top 10 finishes.
"But there comes a time when I have to look out for me and my family," Ren added. "Kyle Busch is in a position where he can build a dominant force in racing and I will be on the ground floor for that. There are a lot of good people out there that have recently lost their jobs so I'm certain we'll be able to build three strong teams." - by le spencer - www.foxsports.com
HORNADAY CAN CLINCH TITLE FOR HARVICK'S WITH 9TH PLACE FINISH
Ron Hornaday is arguably the most recognizable driver in the Truck Series. When he climbs behind the wheel of the #33 Longhorn Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he will make his 250th career Truck Series start. DeLana Harvick left Phoenix 60 points ahead of Billy Ballew and the #51 truck for the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Owner's championship. Hornaday's magic number this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway is ninth. No matter what Kyle Busch does if the #33 team can finish in the ninth position [or better] they will win the Owner's championship for Kevin and DeLana Harvick. - khi pr
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Thank you for all of the phone calls, text messages, and e mail message's regarding my son Ty. The little guy is doing much better and is even racing his simulator game today in the living room.
For those of you that don't know what happened, Ty fell off a stool in the garage and had a piece of sheet metal go through his cheek and in to his mouth. The metal ripped a hole in the side of his face, broke some teeth, and tore up the inside of his mouth. He had surgery Sunday night to close the wound in his cheek. He also suffered a gash above his left eye and a cut on his leg.
It was the simplest fall you ever saw but it did some major damage. For Ty and I, the evening started out as a typical Sunday night. Him and I in the garage working on his quarter midget. I was cleaning his chain in my parts cleaning basin with my back to him. We were talking about racing and about the car like we always do, when I heard him slip off the stool.
As a parent, you eventually learn to listen for the cry or in this case, scream, before you even turn around. Especially with boy's, they fall down, stumble, and crash so often you sort of get immune to it as a parent because they usually pop right back up...but not always.
Less than a second after he slid off the stool he let out a scream that I will hear the rest of my life. I turned and immediately looked at his face, there was blood shooting out of it like a garden hose. I scooped him up and ran in to the house yelling for my wife to get the car keys and our health insurance card...we were heading to the emergency room and it was an easy decision. I didn't feel like we had enough time to call 911.
By the time the ambulance would have gotten to our house, then gotten Ty to the hospital, we could have lost him. He was losing so much blood I didn't think his little 40 pound body would make it. And, with the wound being a facial injury there was no way to use a tourniquet. All we could do was apply pressure. But, it wasn't working. His blood had soaked through his shirt, my shirt, his mother's shirt, and two towels. There was so much blood on the floor in our house it looked like a murder scene.
Once we got him in the car it was a 'rally racing' ride to the hospital. I'm pretty sure I broke every traffic rule ever written as I turned a 15 minute ride to the hospital in to a 7 minute sprint. Of course, the emergency room was packed and it was chaos trying to get him seen immediately. With blood and tear's pouring from his face we waited for a surgeon to make herself available. Five-hours later, Ty was patched back together and feeling relieved that he would be going home soon.
So you see, you can get injured in the most simplistic manner. Just sitting on a stool. You don't have to be a race car driver or a hockey player to end up in the emergency room.
For all of the mom's and grand ma's that worry about their little boy's and girl's racing cars or motorcycle's, or playing contact sport's, let this accident be a lesson to YOU! Ty raced quarter midget's all season long, he skateboard's, ride's a BMX bike, and inline skates nearly every day...and he never get's hurt. Instead, he is hospitalized after falling off a stool.
Let this be a lesson to all of the 'worry-warts' out there who are afraid to let their kids 'grow up'. My message to you...let them be kid's, let them pursue their dreams, allow them to make a 'bigger' jump or to go down the 'big' hill, allow them to try thing's that may make YOU cringe. Life is about living, not sitting. Encourage them to take chances...don't discourage them!
Again, thank you all so much for the kind words and thought felt well wishes. We really appreciate them. If you would like to send Ty a note please e mail them to TY
If you would like to e-mail me or 'The Big Man', you can send your messages to Captain Thunder or The Big Man
Make sure all of you satellite radio subscribers tune in to listen to my live segments on 'The Scott Ferrall Show' EVERY Friday night during the Sprint Cup season LIVE on Sirius Satellite Radio, "The Scott Ferrall Show", channel 101 The Howard Stern Network. Each week, I preview the upcoming race, give out my Legendary Top-5 and pick to win the race, and take questions from NASCAR fans. Check out scottferrall.com , scottbeatstheman.com , & sirius.com You can dial in to the show by calling 888-STERN-101.
Our LIVE show, "Twisted Metal" is an UNCENSORED show and is NOT for those under the age of 18. If you are not a prude or an old lady, check out "Twisted Metal" , it is the wildest show on radio and is not for the timid! "Twisted Metal" will air every Wednesday evening at 8:00 PM e.s.t. and replays are also available in our RADIO REPLAYSsection. You can listen live clicking here - LIVE RADIO
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"Captain Thunder" is a noted NASCAR reporter and radio personality but he's also a die hard racing fan! Captain Thunder has been featured on ESPN Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, XM Satellite Radio, Fox Sports Radio, the Scott Ferrall Show, the Bubba the Love Sponge Show, Press Pass, the Driver's Seat, and the Mojo Nixon Show.
In addition to traveling around the country and hanging out in the infield with race fans, Thunder appears weekly on national radio broadcast's and writes for racing publications across the country.
In addition to daily appearances on independent radio station's around the country, Captain Thunder host's a weekly radio show,"TWISTED METAL" with Captain Thunder, the ONLY"UNCENSORED" NASCAR radio show in America!
On any given show you can hear guests ranging from Kevin Harvick to LeeRoy Mercer. Thunder has interviewed some of the biggest names in NASCAR and you can listen to the replays or DOWNLOAD THEM to your IPOD/MP3 player.
Listen to Thunder's interviews in our INTERVIEWS section. You can choose from names like Earnhardt Jr, Stewart, Johnson, Gordon, Kahne, Newman, Hamlin, and more.
You Can Hear Also Hear The Bad-Boy of NASCAR Twice Weekly On SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO, "The Scott Ferrall Show" Channel 101 the Howard Stern Network. Thunder visits with legendary sports broadcaster Scottie Ferrall EVERY Friday night at 10:30 PM e.s.t.
