Bloggin' is Racin'

Kevin Ramey wins Winter Nationals at the Bowl

Fort Worth's own Kevin Ramey drove the #7m Sprint to victory Sunday.

By Don Cook
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Devils Bowl Speedway (Mesquite)
Oct. 18 (Sunday)

It was looking like the old Bowl was going to be good to Gary Wright again. After winning the A feature Saturday night, he was leading Sunday's A feature finale in the 36th Annual O'Reilly Winter Nationals at the Devil's Bowl Speedway. However, a few laps into the 30-lap race, Kevin Ramey, the ASCS Lone Star Regional Champion, passed him for the lead and never looked back for the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series win sponsored by K&N Filters. Kevin and his crew took home an impressive $6,000 first place money for their effort. Gary Wright, #9x, had to settle for second. Shane Stewart, #57, the current Lucas Oil $60,000 points chase leader, was third. With his third place finish, he extended his points lead to 24 over the "Ragin Cagin" Jason Johnson. Johnny Herrera, #45x, was fourth and coming from back in the pack was Sammy Swindell, #10. For more information and results go to: devilsbowl.com

Gary Wright (above) was second and Shane Stewart (right) was third.

To view some photographs taken Saturday of the race cars, click on the slide-show below.

Sprint Wreck. (below) No serious injuries.

Mark Shirshekan and Brian Brown tangle in turn two.

To view a video of Saturday's races, click on video below.

This week's national/international racing schedule

Courtesy of The Associated Press
All times Central (U.S.)

NASCAR Sprint Cup
NASCAR Banking 500
Site: Concord, N.C., Lowe’s Motor Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles)
TV schedule: Today, practice (2 p.m., Speed), qualifying (6 p.m., ESPN2); Friday, practice (4 p.m., Speed; 5:30 p.m., ESPN2); Saturday, race (6:30 p.m., ABC)
Race distance: 501 miles/334 laps
2008 winner: Jeff Burton
Fast facts: Points leader Jimmie Johnson has a 12-point edge over teammate Mark Martin with six races left. Juan Pablo Montoya is third, 58 points back. Tony Stewart (-84) is fourth, followed by Jeff Gordon (-105), Kurt Busch (-121), Greg Biffle (-188), Carl Edwards (-192), Denny Hamlin (-219), Ryan Newman (-223), Kasey Kahne (-306) and Brian Vickers (-351). ... Johnson has five victories at Lowe’s — four in a row in 2004-05 — in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, matching Gordon for the active lead. ... In May at the track, Stewart won the All-Star race and David Reutimann took the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600.
www.nascar.com

NASCAR Nationwide
Dollar General 300
Site: Concord, N.C., Lowe’s Motor Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles)
TV schedule: Thursday, practice (5 p.m., ESPN2); Friday, qualifying (2 p.m., ESPN2); race (7 p.m., ESPN2)
Race distance: 300 miles/200 laps
2008 winner: Kyle Busch
Fast facts: Kyle Busch has a 155-point lead over Carl Edwards with five races left. Edwards cut 90 points off Busch’s lead last week with a third-place finish. Illness forced to Busch to give way to Denny Hamlin while leading early in the race, then a late wreck relegated the No. 18 Toyota to 31st. Busch has six victories this year, the last in July at Gateway. ... Mike Bliss won the May race at the track.
www.nascar.com

Formula One
Brazilian Grand Prix
Site: Sao Paulo, Brazil, Interlagos, Jose Carlos Pace (road course, 2.677 miles)
TV schedule: Friday, practice (noon, Speed); Saturday, qualifying (noon, Speed); Sunday, race (10:30 a.m., Speed)
Race distance: 190.08 miles/71 laps
2008 winner: Felipe Massa
Fast facts: Felipe Massa is recovering from life-threatening injuries at the Hungarian GP in July, when he was knocked unconscious by a loose car part in qualifying and crashed into a safety barrier. He had surgery on the area around his left eye and later had a had a metal plate inserted. The Brazilian was cleared medically by FIA on Saturday and tested a car Monday at Ferrari’s private track, but isn’t expected to return to racing until next season. ... Toyota’s Timo Glock also will miss the race after cracking a vertebra during qualifying in Japan. Kamui Kobayashi is filling in for Glock.
www.formula1.com

Cowtown's Sprint Nationals Finals Rained Out

Veteran Sprint car driver Sammy Swindell and his #10 Sprint.

By Don Cook
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Cowtown Speedway (Kennedale)
Oct. 11 (Sunday)

Everything was in place for some great feature races at Cowtown's Sprint Nationals Sunday. Over 200 race cars were in the pits. Seventy one of those were Sprints. The Sprint drivers were chomping at the bit for a chance to win the $8,000 first place money. There was also big money on the line for the Topless Modifieds, Limited Modifieds and 600 Mini Sprints. Unfortunately Cowtown had no control over Mother Nature. Despite track manager Bo Rawdon and his crews hard work, the rain continued Sunday evening and the feature races had to be cancelled. Cowtown is looking at possibly making up some of the races on November 12, 13 and 14 at Cowtown's Sprint Shootout. For more information go to: CowtownSpeedway.com

Travis Rilat's ShopTheBOSS.com #50 Sprint.

David Doyle, #55D, goes for a wild ride into turn 4.

To view some photographs of the race cars, click on the slide-show below. 

To view a video of the race cars, click on the slide-show below.