http://captainthunderracing.com 'ALL YOUR NASCAR NEWS IN ONE PLACE' Captain Thunder Racing.com Captain Thunder Racing.com Evo RSS 2.0 Parser 60 http://captainthunderracing.com/images/evo/minilogo.gif http://captainthunderracing.com 94 15 Nuke-Evolution 2.0.7 Powered - Xtreme 2.0 Edition en-us captainthunder@captainthunderracing.com 2010-09-08T04:44:01-05:00 hourly 1 2010-09-08T04:44:01-05:00 http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13523 Back in February, I met with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his hauler, then parked at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was relieved to talk more boxing than racing. I was relieved to find that access to such a star came without a price.
 

I didn’t have to pretend he was a good guy. He was, which is to say, authentic, mildly profane and self-deprecating in just the right dose. I was taken with his good manners, the way he waved off the PR lady. He didn’t know me from Adam, but still wanted to please a stranger. Maybe that’s his problem.

But now, with NASCAR’s postseason a fortnight away, I feel sadly duty-bound to recall what he said that day.
It was reasonable to expect of him a “top five” finish in 2010, he said. What’s more, qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, he said, shouldn’t be seen as an obstacle or an accomplishment.
“It’s pretty ------- easy to make the Chase,” he said. “If you look at some of the guys who make the Chase and what happened during their season, you go, ‘damn, ---- man, that’s not that difficult to surpass.’ ”
Barring divine intervention, this will be the second consecutive season — and the third time in four years — that Earnhardt has failed to qualify for the Chase.
I’ll say it again: he has the most thankless job in American sports. It’s not just living up to an icon father. It’s living up to a beloved daddy who died blocking for him at Daytona. Other guys have mere back stories. Junior’s is an epic poem.
Still, he has talent, as evidenced by his third-place points finish in 2003 and fifth-place finishes in 2004 and 2006. He has equipment, too, as he drives for NASCAR’s premiere team, Hendrick Motorsports. What he lacks, however, are excuses.
I’m a racing fan in the most casual sense only. But I left the hauler that day as a member of Junior Nation, or at least as much of a fan as a writer can be. But now, with Earnhardt 19th in the standings, I can’t help but think he’s about to surpass Tiger Woods as the biggest disappointment in American sports.
 
He’s infinitely more endearing than Tiger. Actually, with Earnhardt a month shy of his 36th birthday, I’m tempted to play shrink and argue that his long-standing bachelor-hood makes him more sympathetic than his own dad. At some level, he realizes that failing as a father and a husband would be worse than failing as a driver.
But at least Tiger’s collapse is explainable. Speaking from personal experience, marital collapse is a legit excuse.
Last season, Hendrick’s Mark Martin — then a mere 50 years old — finished second. This year, as a reward for finishing 25th, Earnhardt got most of Martin’s engineers. Now Martin is 15th. Again, I can’t resist playing shrink. Maybe Junior’s problem is guilt.
A sport is as big as its biggest star. Problem is, Earnhardt hasn’t won a Sprint Cup race since June 15, 2008. For purposes of comparison, note that Woods hasn’t won a tournament since September, 2009, when he was coming back from knee surgery.
Still, NASCAR CEO Brian France, who probably had a lot more help from his daddy than Junior had from his, calls Earnhardt “The Franchise.” Still, with all this talk of a precipitous decline in attendance and television ratings, you wonder what NASCAR’s problem is. Is it really the economy? Or Junior?
Is it the price of gas, which was even more obscene three years ago? Or is it that the sport’s most popular driver, for seven consecutive years, can’t make the playoffs?
Last month, the New York Times did a piece on die-cast stock-car replicas, a bellwether business for NASCAR. Apparently, sales are down by as much as 20 percent from last year. Here’s the catch, though: Junior represents between a quarter and third of the market.
Now consider some of the attendance figures, which have dropped off since Earnhardt began his free-fall in July. NASCAR’s numbers are notoriously suspect. For instance, an Aug. 1 crowd that NASCAR estimated at 100,000 was really in the neighborhood of 48,000, according to the Pocono Record. Nevertheless, to use NASCAR’s own figures is to think the franchise needs a new Franchise.
On July 3, Earnhardt finished fourth at Daytona, a race sponsored by Coke Zero. Had the season ended then, he’d have at least qualified for the Chase. But in the seven races since he’s finished 23rd, 27th, 27th, 26th, 19th, 13th and 22nd.
 
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Doesn’t make you want to go out and chug an Amp energy drink or enlist in the National Guard, does it?
Doesn’t make people want to go to the track, either. Bristol had been a sold out for 55 consecutive races, going back to 1982, a streak that ended this season. The Brickyard race in Indianapolis drew 180,000 last year (by NASCAR’s count). This year, 140,000. Last year, Atlanta Motor Speedway drew 111,300 for its Labor Day race. On Sunday, it was 93,200.
NASCAR prides itself on being America’s second biggest spectator sport, after the NFL. But what happens to all those spectators when it becomes clear that their biggest star can no longer drive like one? I know why they love him. But for how long? - by mark kriegel - www.msn.foxsports.com
 ]]> 13523@http://captainthunderracing.com DRIVER AND TEAM 2010-09-07T11:39:20-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13522

























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Because of the popularity of the Toyota Sponsifier commercials, Kyle Busch will drive this special pink "Kimmy" car. And yes, Kyle will don the same firesuit and helmet seen on TV. This complete package includes kitten, puppies, horsies, and yes, baby seals.


from www.joegibbsracing.com
 
]]> 13522@http://captainthunderracing.com NASCAR SPRINT CUP 2010-09-07T11:35:58-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13521


 

 


NASCAR seems intent on changing the format for its season-ending Chase for the Championship playoff in the Sprint Cup Series for next year. The 2011 championship series could very well come down to only two drivers at the last race of the season.
One story says it will work like this: The top 16 in points after 26 regular-season races qualify for the Chase. After the fifth race, points will reset and the top eight will stay in the Chase. After the seventh Chase race, only the top four stay alive and the points reset again. After race No. 9, only the top two will remain in the Chase, with points reset again. All drivers will continue to run every race as they do now, but only two will be Cup-eligible going into the season finale.
NASCAR chairman Brian France wants “significant changes” and a “winner-take-all” atmosphere akin to Game 7 of a stick-and-ball championship series. He wants more tension in the final weeks of the season, while many owners and drivers favor a Chase format that considers a driver’s full season body of work. - by al pearce - www.autoweek.com

]]> 13521@http://captainthunderracing.com NASCAR SPRINT CUP 2010-09-07T11:29:23-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13520 9-8-10 —     Kasey Kahne is one of the more popular Cup drivers that probably  

won't make this year's Chase. During a teleconference last week, he  

talked about how he felt about missing it, and leaving Richard Petty  

Motorsports.

    "Yeah, it definitely isn't as good not being in the Chase," he said.  

"You don't feel as good about what you've done, the way you race,  

that type of thing. I think it's a little bit different for me this  

year because I know I've got 11 races left. I don't want to be done  

winning in a Ford, I don't want to be done winning for Budweiser or  

Richard Petty Motorsports. Hopefully we can find some spark to that.

    "If we don't make the Chase, hopefully we can show up to the  

racetrack each week and contend. If we do make the Chase, we can do  

the same thing, contend. I feel we should have a really good shot at  winning a race or two regardless if we make it or not.

    "I've been in this position I think every year since I've been in  Cup. I'm never in the Chase when we get to this point of the year.  

We're right on the edge. We either miss it or don't. We have to wait  and see."

    Kahne announced earlier this season that he would not be returning  

to Richard Petty Motorsports. He was given a three year contract by  

Rick Hendrick, but because Hendrick motorsports already has the legal  

limit of four teams (Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr.,  

and Mark Martin), he could not be listed as a Hendrick team.

    Instead, the deal was made for him to drive for Red Bull Racing next  

season, and move to Hendrick after Martin retires at the end of the  

2011 season.

    "Well, I've always known some people over at Red Bull, because some  

of the guys used to work at Evernham," continued Kahne.

    "Once I got more involved with Red Bull, I got more excited than  

when I initially heard about it. Right now I feel really confident  

with next year and being able to perform, race well and have a good  

time doing it.

    "But I don't know anything new for next year yet. I haven't really  

looked into it. I haven't really cared until we get through Richmond.  

I think at that point in time I'll be able to look at things and see  

where we're at, see where everybody is at, hopefully put some stuff  

together.

    "I want to start out at Daytona as good as anybody. You need a great  

team to do that. I think Red Bull has a lot of good people.

    "I'm going to be a big part of getting that all set up and kind of  

see where it's at and start working with some of the guys because,  

you have to have that if you want to run well. If I go in the next  

season thinking I can't run well, I might as well take the year off.  

I want to race, I want to perform and win races."

    Elliott Sadler, driver of the No. 19 is the second driver that won't  

be at RPM next year.

    Sadler told Sirius Radio's Dave Moody that he expects to know his  

future plans within the next 2-3 weeks. Sadler is unlikely to return  

to RPM in 2011, after co-owner Richard Petty said the team is likely  

to scale back to just two cars next season with drivers AJ  

Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose.

    Sadler's current sponsor, Stanley Tools, will back Ambrose next season.

    "I have really enjoyed running up front in the Nationwide and  

Camping World Truck Series' these last few weeks," said Sadler, "And  

I'm hopeful that within the next couple of weeks, I can say, `Dave,  

this is what I'm going to do in 2011.' I'm not necessarily saying  

I'll be in the Nationwide or Trucks, though. I am also talking to a  

Sprint Cup team that is looking at the possibility of expanding with  

an additional car next season. We'll see what happens."

    Meanwhile Walmart will not be the sponsor of Jeff Gordon's No. 24.

    The giant retailer released a statement as an Editor's Note to an in-

house newsletter that mentioned the "numerous news stories" and  

concluded with the following sentence: "While we continue to employ a  

range of marketing initiatives to deliver our message of Save Money  

Live Better to our customers, this is not one we will be doing." - www.wcoutlook.com
 ]]> 13520@http://captainthunderracing.com DRIVER AND TEAM 2010-09-07T11:21:12-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13519
HAMPTON, Ga. – Ryan Newman is trying to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and on Sunday, it looked like it was going to be a case of him moving his way toward that goal…with the front bumper of the U.S. Army Chevrolet.
At least upon first appearance, it did.
Newman was involved in both of the big crashes in the Emory Health Care 500, first with Greg Biffle and last with Kasey Kahne. The latter led to a discussion at the team transporters, parked conveniently next to each other.
“Kasey is a good friend of mine and we've always raced hard,” Newman said later. “I got into the back of him there on the back straightaway on that restart, the same time the No. 18 (Kyle Busch) hit me. You can watch the replay, and at least I think it was the No. 18.
“I got him crossed up and sideways and it ruined his day. It was unintentional, but it happens. It's happened in enough situations this year where I've been told it's unintentional and it's ruined my day.”
Kahne spent 15 laps fixing a broken water cooler and fender damage, then returned to the track to give Newman a shot from behind that cost him four or five spots in the standings. Those could cost him the Chase spot he’s looking to snag.
Newman shrugged.
“He felt like he needed to retaliate,” he said. “Fortunately I kept mine straight and we went on. I told him that long story short, I'd rather talk about it before we go out and do that again. I'm good. We're good. Everything is fine."
It was a recap of a story we’ve seen a lot this year: bump-draft to help out and end up causing a problem.
"The No. 18 (Kyle Busch) hit me the same time I hit the No. 9 (Kahne),” he said. “It was within a millisecond. I was just trying to help him to push him to get ahead of the No. 2 (Kurt Busch) car and it didn't work out. We've seen this several times this year, and it was me trying to help him out. It causes accidents once in a while. It hurt him but in the grand scheme of things he tried to hurt me and it didn't hurt us as bad. So, we'll just go on."
Kahne shrugged as well, and agreed with Newman.
“I was just going down the straightaway and got hit from behind and I know it was the 39, so I feel like he lost us about 20 spots today,” Kahne said. “He said he got hit from
behind and that forced him into me, so that’s racing, but either way, we’re the one that took the big shot there.”
As for the discussion, Kahne was matter-of-fact.
“Ryan and I are fine,” Kahne said. “We don’t have an issue with each other, it’s just that when you get racing sometimes it gets you mad. He lost about four spots from me rubbing him a little bit and I lost about 25 or 30 from him rubbing me, so he got me a little better.”
Biffle was the loser in the first case. Racing three-wide, Biffle dived down in front of Newman, and it sent him spinning.
"He just cut across my nose,” Newman said later. “I don't know if the spotter told him he was clear or he thought he was and he wasn't, but he just came across my nose and spun himself out. It hurt our day and I should be mad at Biffle as much as Kasey should be mad at me.
"It knocked the fender in and cost us a bunch of track position. Track position was probably a bigger hit than the fender itself."
Biffle took the bullet for the mess.
“It was my fault,” he said. “I didn’t know we were still three-wide and I guess I cut down on the 39. I have to watch the replay. He certainly didn’t cut us any slack. He could have cut us some slack and let us go there. I don’t know, I’ll have to watch the replay before I make my judgment, but I didn’t know we were still three-wide. It looked like I had cleared him, along with the 43, and I just turned down into the corner and, unfortunately, he was there. We still locked ourselves into the Chase, so we’re excited about that.”
Newman was not so lucky, and he faces an historic uphill climb to make it into the Chase. The largest margin overcome in the final pre-Chase event is 55 points; Newman trails Clint Bowyer by 117.
"How do you expect to make it up in one race what we didn't do in 25 races?” Newman said. “Mathematically, we have a chance and for an engineering guy I guess that means something. But I can only try my hardest and I did that tonight. We can't expect to make it all up in one shot.” - by ron lemasters - www.nationalspeedsportnews.com
 
]]> 13519@http://captainthunderracing.com DRIVER AND TEAM 2010-09-07T11:16:23-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13518 The second race at Richmond International Raceway – always the “money” event in the hunt for Chase spots because of its positioning as the last run of the regular season – has had its own special aura since the Chase began in 2004.
In fact, Richmond has been more of a red-letter stop on the tour than some of the Chase races, largely because high drama has been attached to its Saturday night 400-lapper. Drivers have come into the race on the ragged edge, their Chase future – or lack of it – to be determined by an evening of tight racing on one of America’s best short tracks.
Typically, there are several drivers hovering around the cutoff mark for the Chase, with Richmond results to determine which ones get in and which ones spend the rest of the season in the relative ignominy of “everybody else”.
As teams approach this year’s Air Guard 400, scheduled Saturday night at the .75-mile track, the sense of drama is blunted. Ten spots in the 12-driver Chase have been clinched. And the final two seem virtually in the hands of 11th-place Greg Biffle and 12th-place Clint Bowyer.
Ryan Newman, who gained two spots by finishing eighth in Atlanta, is 13th, but he’s 117 points behind Bowyer. Behind Newman are Jamie McMurray, 128 behind Bowyer, and Mark Martin, 147 back.
The pressures of being in the group trying to land the final Chase spots can be intense.
“Oh man, I’ll tell you, being in that position it is not a fun position to be in,” said Jeff Gordon. “Every week you are just focusing on each position, each point. There is just a tremendous amount of stress. To me, there is as much stress right now for the guy that is trying to make the Chase as there is at the end of the season when it comes down to a couple of guys trying to win the championship.
“It is really that intense. It’s that important to be in the Chase. When you are that close to it, especially if you have been in it before or if the expectations are that you should be in it, that intensity and that kind of pressure is hard to deal with because it is the intensity of what’s going on within the team. You are already putting a lot of pressure on yourself, but then it is the added pressure of the media and the fans and all the expectations from outside.”
Saturday would have to be the best and worst of times – the worst for Bowyer and the best for one of his pursuers – for any of his challengers to beat him for the 12th Chase position. Early wreck? Blown engine? Anything is possible, but the smart money already has Biffle and Bowyer penciled into the Chase.
Does the relative lack of Chase theatrics make Richmond less compelling? Somewhat, yes. There is not likely to be any late-race jousting among Chase contenders for critical positions, and the post-race garage area won’t be bubbling with the emotions of drivers who barely made it or barely missed it.
Still, Richmond is Richmond, and it typically showcases some of the best racing on the circuit.
“It’s a really difficult race track,” said Jeff Burton, who, like Gordon, is locked into the Chase. “It’s a fun race track. It’s a blast to run on.
“The thing about Richmond is that you never know is it going to be a multiple-groove track, or is it not? It’s hard to figure out where to go. That’s the biggest challenge about Richmond is its corners are tight and it’s a small short track. Well, it’s a big short track, but for our cars it’s a small short track, and it’s really hard to get your car to turn there. It’s hard to make forward grip. It’s a challenging race track.”
Even in years when the Chase isn’t so challenging. - by mike hembree - speedtv
 ]]> 13518@http://captainthunderracing.com NASCAR SPRINT CUP 2010-09-07T11:14:14-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13517 Only two spots remain in the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup field. Here are the scenarios with which Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer can clinch a spot in the Championship run this weekend at the Richmond International Raceway:
Greg Biffle - currently 11th in the standings
Currently 161 points ahead of 13th place
Biffle will clinch if he finishes:
Finishes 42nd or better
Leads at least one lap
Clint Bowyer - currently 12th in the standings
Currently 117 points ahead of 13th place
Bowyer will clinch if he finishes:
Finishes 28th or better
Finishes 29th & leads at least one lap
Finishes 31st and leads the most laps  - by John 'Captain Thunder' Nevins www.CaptainThunderRacing.com
 
 


Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Richmond:
No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #7 team stays in 35th and the #26 team remains 36th with the points spread from 35th to 36th drops to 98.
34) #71-Cassill/TRG: 1864, +151
35) #7-Conway/RGM, 1811, 98 points ahead of 36th
these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
36) #26-Green/Latitude43: 1713, -98 points out of the top 35
37) #38-Blaney/Front Row: 1706, -105
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
 

]]> 13517@http://captainthunderracing.com NASCAR SPRINT CUP 2010-09-07T11:11:15-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13516 There are few things that stir the passions of diehard NASCAR fans quite so much as the sport's abandonment of its traditional Southern tracks in favor of the cookie-cutter 1.5-mile venues in bigger TV markets.

So the news that long-idle North Wilkesboro Speedway had roared back to life with racing on Saturday has to prompt a smile from many long-suffering fans.

North Wilkesboro in Wilkes County, N.C., once known as the Moonshine Capital of the World, is steeped in NASCAR tradition. It's the home of NASCAR Hall of Fame member  and "Last American Hero" Junior Johnson and hosted its first NASCAR Strictly Stock Series race in 1949.

But by 1996 NASCAR had gone national and tracks like North Wilkesboro and Rockingham were on the chopping block. North Wilkesboro closed in 1996 and Rockingham was off the schedule after 2004.

But just as Rockingham was bought at auction in 2007 and returned to racing by Andy Hillenburg, North Wilkesboro was reopened through the efforts of a grassroots group called Save the Speedway, Alton McBride Jr. and Terri Parsons, widow of former Cup champion Benny Parsons, a Wilkes County native who had founded a winery there.

The track returned to racing on Saturday with a feature super late model race. Alabama Gang legends Bobby and Donnie Allison were the grand marshals. The feature race was won by Chase Elliott, the 14-year-old son of former NASCAR champion Bill Elliott.

The younger Elliott, who also races and wins at Montgomery Motor Speedway and seems to have inherited his dad's talent, was still in diapers when North Wilkesboro closed.

The track isn't what it used to be. Nearly 14 idle years have taken their toll. But the bumper crop of weeds it was growing are gone and some NASCAR teams have actually been testing there.

Fans shouldn't get their hopes up too much though. North Wilkesboro isn't going to be back on the Cup schedule. The market is too small and the track too close to existing races in Charlotte, Bristol, Darlington and Richmond.

But there is no reason why one day North Wilkesboro and Rockingham cannot host a NASCAR modified race, a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race or a stand-alone NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. The same is true for Rockingham, which already hosts ARCA races.

In the meantime, racing fans can be thankful there are people like Andy Hillenburg and the saviors of North Wilkesboro who still find value in tradition and understand the need to nourish the soul of the sport. - by doug demmons - www.al.com
 
 ]]> 13516@http://captainthunderracing.com DRIVER AND TEAM 2010-09-07T10:56:30-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13515 OK, NASCAR Nation, Saturday night's race is what you've been waiting years for:
 Saturday night is all about winning. Nothing else matters. So, no more hearing a driver say they're happy with an eighth-place finish or something along those lines after exiting the car.
 The top 10 in points are locked into the Chase. Greg Biffle, who is 11th in the points, needs only to finish 42nd or better -- even he admits he's essentially in the Chase -- to make it. That leaves one spot to fill and Clint Bowyer has a 117-point lead on Ryan Newman for the final transfer spot for the Chase. Unless Bowyer has major problems, he's in.
 Saturday night is NOT about the Chase. It's NOT about protecting positions, it's NOT about worrying about the Chase or the championship. It's back to what the sport was once about. Win or go home.
 Even the drivers are saying it:
 "We go hard,'' Jeff Burton said of the Richmond race after clinching a Chase spot last weekend at Atlanta. "We are going to kick it off next week and just bring everything we have got. We've been protecting a little bit the last four or five weeks. It is no more protecting now. It is go time and we have to lay it all on the line.''
 After clinching a Chase spot at Atlanta, Kurt Busch was asked about his approach this weekend at Richmond: "Go for the win.''
 Said points leader Kevin Harvick, who clinched a spot a couple of weeks ago: "You go out and try to win it.''
 After clinching a Chase spot at Bristol, Jeff Gordon said: "We are focused on wins.''
 That's what fans have wanted to hear from their drivers for years.
 Now, understand, it's not that the drivers aren't trying to win in the first 26 races -- the racing at Atlanta for the lead was exciting throughout the night -- but with consistency a key, drivers will take what they can get to earn a spot in the Chase. If that allows them to hang it out for a win and those bonus points, then fine, but they're going to calculate the risk/reward factor. Although, teams will likely try a few new wrinkles that could help them in the Chase, the point is that points don't matter Saturday night all but about four drivers trying to get into the Chase.
 Saturday is about the win. It is about risk-taking whether it's on pit road or on the track. It is about hanging it out there. It is about why these guys raced in the beginning -- for the thrill and for a trophy. After Satudray, the Chase begins and while wins are important and everyone will be gunning for them, they'll also be back to points racing and making decisions on how to score the most points possible (whether that is first or fifth).
 So Saturday night is your night NASCAR Nation. If the sport can't deliver a thrilling, or at least no-holds barred fight at the front, fans will be owed an explanation. - by dustin long - www.hamptonroads.com
 ]]> 13515@http://captainthunderracing.com NASCAR SPRINT CUP 2010-09-07T10:41:29-05:00 Posted by captainthunder http://captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13514
MISANO ADRIATICO, Italy (AP) -- Motorcycle racing endured its second tragedy in eight days Sunday, this time at the San Marino Grand Prix.
Shoya Tomizawa became the second teenage rider to die in the sport when the 19-year-old fell and was hit by two trailing riders during the Moto2 race.
Tomizawa's crash was similar to the accident that claimed Peter Lenz last Sunday. The 13-year-old from Vancouver, Wash., died during a warmup event at the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis, where he fell and then was hit by another rider in a U.S. Grand Prix Racers Union series event.
"Nothing has happened for two years and now we have two deaths in two weeks," said Carlo Pernat, manager of Loris Capirossi and Marco Simoncelli. "This time it is a boy of only 19 years of age."
Before 2010, Japan's Daijiro Kato was the last rider to die from an accident. He crashed during the first race of the 2003 season, at Suzuka in Japan, and died following two weeks in a coma.
There have been 46 recorded deaths in MotoGP since the series was founded in 1949.
Tomizawa's death cast a somber mood over the San Marino GP.
"I don't have much to say about today's race, it is such a sad day," said Moto GP leader Jorge Lorenzo. "The loss of Shoya is a tragedy because he was a great guy and a great rider.
"I am very sad and want to say how much I am thinking about his family and friends at the moment. When something like this happens nothing else matters."
Tomizawa lost control of his bike and hit his head on the track as his bike flipped over. While on the track, he was hit at full speed by riders Alex De Angelis and Scott Redding.
A statement on the MotoGP website said Tomizawa died of cranial, thoracic and abdominal trauma.
Tomizawa was initially put on an artificial respirator at the Misano World Circuit medical center before he was taken to a hospital in Riccione, where he died.
"I'm truly devastated about what happened to Shoya," said De Angelis. "I'm close to his family and all of them loved him a lot. ... In moments like this nothing seems to matter.
"I saw Shoya fall in front of me. It is the worst ever incident in my career. I tried everything I could to avoid him and hit his motorbike instead."
De Angelis was treated at the track and allowed to leave. Redding was taken to a hospital to check on his condition.
Moto2 is the new name for the former 250cc category, one step below the 500cc division of MotoGP. Moto2 also generates tremendous speeds and officials said they decided not to cancel the race due to the fear of other accidents if a red flag was suddenly shown.
The races continued and the riders were only informed of Tomizawa's death afterward.
"They've just told me what happened and words can't describe it," said Dani Pedrosa of Spain, winner of the featured MotoGP race.
World champion Valentino Rossi saw video of the accident.
"I saw the incident on the TV monitor and I could see that it was serious - but not that serious," said Rossi, who finished third. "When these things happen, nothing else seems to matter."
The accident had some riders trying to put into perspective the danger they encounter on the track.
"This tragic incident makes us recall how dangerous our work is," said Andrea Dovizioso of Italy. "The safety commission have worked hard over the last few years and we often forget the work they do."
The first death in MotoGP occurred at the Isle of Man Grand Prix in 1949. Reuben "Ben" Thomas died when he drove into a banking.
The next MotoGP race takes place in Spain on Sept. 19. - AP
 
]]> 13514@http://captainthunderracing.com OTHER RACING 2010-09-07T09:36:03-05:00 Posted by captainthunder