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Posted by: TommySalami« on: September 14, 2008, 04:29:37 PM »Interesting you mention trying to get the car to stick on the inside...that has always been a characteristic of Tony's no matter what kind of car he is in...For the Supers at Cayuga, the inside groove was never the preferred groove, but he made it work really well...coming out of turn 4, he was frequently getting close to putting the left front into the grass...
Posted by: B.A.R.« on: September 14, 2008, 04:22:24 PM »Good shots by Derek !!
Posted by: TommySalami« on: September 14, 2008, 04:04:59 PM »To the best of my knowledge, Johnny has only ever run for Brad Lichty in a Super...That will change soon though as Johnny had Extreme Chassis build him a car, and he will be debuting it soon...Not sure if it will be done for the end of this season, or whether he will run it for the first time next spring...
Posted by: Derek« on: September 14, 2008, 04:03:47 PM »Interesting inside info B.A.R. - thanks. Your comment
about 'watch this' on the restart may have been a different instance than the one that Tommy and i were referring to. I was mentioning the original start, where 2 cars (i think 2) were checking up on the inside line (the outside was accelerating normally). He may have planned the dive there as well, but if he hadn't moved down, he would have hit them. Here are a few shots from the night (more on www.racepulse.com from 2002).     Posted by: B.A.R.« on: September 14, 2008, 03:21:06 PM »I wasn't saying your deal was B.S.- I was reading everyones side of the storey and watching guys saying - no thats not how it went- it went like this.
And yes I know Johnny has gone onto running several Super shows across the country, and not just in one of Brad's car's either. Its like he has found a new toy he loves to play with and anytime someone asks him to jump in, he is there. Could be a great way to retire from Cup for him. Just buy a Super and go run at home, Berlin MI. Adam's point about security is so so true... hell in order to get into the Motorhome in the infield where the guys were sitting, they had to have Stewart visually prove it was me to let me in. I know this was not the Cup guys idea, as they pointed out that Mitch was playing watch dog with all of them all weekend. More then likely Mitch didn't want anyone talking to them and asking them how much money they were getting paid because he had marked the number up by 200% so he could pocket some coin !! Posted by: AdamRoss« on: September 14, 2008, 02:57:02 PM »That crash for Wade Litt was a HARD hit. That was a crazy weekend.
The part I remember the best was the reaction of the NASCAR drivers when they were told they'd have to run their race tires in the charity event. It would have meant an extra 10-20 laps on their tires compared to the CASCAR guys, and they almost all decided they weren't running the charity race. A number of complainers surrounded Novotny about it. This was all happening right behind the stage set up for all the ceremonies. I'd be curious as to whether the security was Tony Stewart's idea, or Mitch Mortimer's. I've been to alot of dirt races Stewart's been at, and there's really very little fan fare around him. Cayuga was the only time I've seen security around him. Posted by: TommySalami« on: September 14, 2008, 02:51:28 PM »Man you guys love to make up storeys !! ...and what exactly did I say that was "wrong" or "BS"? There WAS a demonstration race with some Supers on the Sunday afternoon, and Wade Litt DID smash his car up bad that day. Also, since you mentioned Johnny Benson, it should be pointed out that Johnny has since gone on to compete in a handful of Supermodified races in one of Brad Lichty's cars, and has been very fast each time out...He was 6th in the Star Classic last night in fact. Posted by: ernie« on: September 14, 2008, 02:47:46 PM »B.A.R - That is why this site is so great and why I signed up! We get to hear from the horses mouth as they say. (Not calling you a horse
 ) Knowing the inside poop is what fans like me live for and is what makes racing more than driving around in circles as non-race fans say. Thanx for your insight and keep it coming  Posted by: B.A.R.« on: September 14, 2008, 02:36:17 PM »Man you guys love to make up storeys !!
Your weekend storey is 1/3rd right - 1/3rd wrong- and 1/3rd B.S. to say the least. I was working on the car with Tony, it was one of Brads. The car in practice was junk and Tony and I made the call to change the rear springs, as well, once we proved it was the right call in practice, Dave McKnight copied our setup for the race. Brad did hit the wall..that night during the race..came onto pit road and it was half ass repaired. Brad went back out and said the thing could not be driven at all. Brad pitted and called it a night. Tony's restart, that shot him to the inside was done as a move he used to use back in the Silver Crown days, and he came on the radio and said to me " Watch This ". Both of us got a good laugh out of it, but seriousally, went back to racing. Stewart came up quickly on a top 10 car about 5 laps later and was trying to get by him, but the guy wouldn't let him go- so Tony put the horn to him coming off of 4 and the guy spun around about 4 times, but still saved it without stalling the car or hitting anything!! During that incident, Stewart came on the radio and said to me that he had lost the steering. We pitted 2 laps later only to find the power steering hose had split, so we parked it for the night- BUT, we were capable of winning, in Brad's back up car. The deal where everyone saw the car that Tony was driving that weekend, back out on the track to run about 15 laps for show... was not Tony in the car !! We were all sitting in the motor home shooting the shit and Matt was saying something about how fast the Supers were, and how cool it would be to drive one. Schrader then said to Benson- hell Johnny I cant believe you never drove one seeing that your old man was a Super Star in those cars. Stewart then said to Johnny...your going to drive it and left the trailer to go and talk to Brad about putting Benson in the car for a couple of laps, returning about 10 minutes later with the okay. We buckled Johnny in and out he went... According to Benson, it was the thrill of his life and could not believe the horse power!! There you go- the truth, and...... the rest of the storey !! Sorry to spoil everyone's gosip !! Posted by: TommySalami« on: September 14, 2008, 11:52:38 AM »I know about the incident you are talking about...Wade Litt was the driver who hit the wall very hard and pretty much destroyed his car...He did not own the car Tony was driving. Brad Lichty owned the car Tony drove...and he wrecked because something broke on the car, not because he was "trying to keep up with Tony". It was a demonstration race...they weren't actually "racing"...and Tony had run that car on that track the night before. Wade was a journeyman part-time Supermodified driver who had success mainly in the Can-Am Midget division...He wasn't pushing as hard as possible to beat Tony...trust me...The car was put back together and sold shortly thereafter, as Ryan's career started to take off...and since I do Ryan's PR, I've heard the story a few times... Posted by: rossevans30« on: September 14, 2008, 11:30:54 AM »I know about the incident you are talking about...Wade Litt was the driver who hit the wall very hard and pretty much destroyed his car...He did not own the car Tony was driving. Brad Lichty owned the car Tony drove...and he wrecked because something broke on the car, not because he was "trying to keep up with Tony". Sure it didn't break after the hit? Tony was setting the faster lap times, in a borrowed car on a track he hadn't run before. Wade was clearly pushing the car, so it was my assumption. Who wouldn't want to say they beat Stewart, but on the flip side, to be beat in your house by a guy without many lap there... Tony made it look effortless, Wade who I am assuming is a top driver in that class got beat. Perfect example of why I thought Tony was there, and couldn't care less who's hand he shook if any... Add in that green flag pass that I wasn't there for... Sometimes we treat drivers like they are a cartoon superhero, where its more important to meet batman, than what he does. Take Dale Jr. His popularity far outwieghts his skill... Some guys are judging Tony as if he was your friend over at your house for a party, not as a driver who's work is done on the track.. Posted by: Derek« on: September 14, 2008, 11:22:06 AM »Tommy - you're the only other person i've seen mention
Tony's move on that green flag. I'm always impressed with a driver that recovers when things go wrong. In this case, several cars very quickly seemed to start checking up in front of him, and I really couldnt believe that he avoided it all by diving to the inside. Not only did he avoid a wreck that many lesser drivers wouldn't have avoided, he moved up several spots. Say what you want about him, he can drive. Posted by: TommySalami« on: September 14, 2008, 10:21:37 AM »I know about the incident you are talking about...Wade Litt was the driver who hit the wall very hard and pretty much destroyed his car...He did not own the car Tony was driving. Brad Lichty owned the car Tony drove...and he wrecked because something broke on the car, not because he was "trying to keep up with Tony".
The incident happened on the Sunday when they were doing a demonstration run before the CASCAR race. The ISMA race was run on the Saturday night, June 29, 2002, and Mike Ordway won it in Clyde Booth's #61. Lou Cicconi was 2nd, and Joe Gosek got 3rd by a foot over Chris Perley...They had to review that on video to determine who finished 3rd. In his heat race that night, Tony started inside row 3, and was into 2nd before the first lap was completed...He made a spectacular move on the frontstretch at the drop of the green that I will never forget... Posted by: rossevans30« on: September 14, 2008, 01:06:21 AM »Tony made that supermod dance. I would rather watch him hot lap, than shake his hand. So for me it was worth it that he was there, for that alone... I forgot it was a 2 day event, if it was. But whatever day was the CASCAR race, Tony was hot lapping before the race, with the owner of the cars also on the track. Tony's times were faster, the owner was really pushing it to keep up. He hit the wall hard, and it took time to get him out. That certainly happened, I guess it was whichever day you were not there.... Posted by: TommySalami« on: September 14, 2008, 01:02:12 AM »Tony made that supermod dance. I would rather watch him hot lap, than shake his hand. So for me it was worth it that he was there, for that alone... I did the opposite of what most people probably did that weekend...I had no interest in the Sunday portion...I went for the Supers, and then went home. Seeing Tony in a Super was great... Just for the record though, nobody put their car into the wall trying to keep up with him. |
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