Bloggin' is Racin'

National racing schedule (April 30-May 2)

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

NASCAR Sprint Cup
Heath Calhoun 400
Site: Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (oval, 0.75 miles)
TV schedule: Friday, practice (11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Speed), qualifying (4:30 p.m., Speed); Saturday, race (6:30 p.m., KDFW/Ch. 4)
Race distance: 300 miles/400 laps
2009 winner: Kyle Busch
Fast facts: Kevin Harvick snapped a 115-race victory drought, passing Jamie McMurray on the last of 12 extra laps at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday. On the third and final attempt at a green-flag finish, Harvick slid inside and drag-raced McMurray to the finish, winning by 0.011 seconds. ... Jimmie Johnson has a series-high three victories in nine races and leads the standings. The four-time defending series champion swept the 2007 Richmond races and also won at the track in September 2008. ... Harvick is second in the standings, 26 points behind. ... Denny Hamlin, from nearby Chesterfield, won last September at the track. He has victories this year at Martinsville and Texas. ... The September race at the track will end the run for the 12 Chase spots.
www.nascar.com

NASCAR Nationwide
Bubba Burger 250
Site: Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (oval, 0.75 miles)
TV schedule: Friday, qualifying (3 p.m., Speed); race (6 p.m., ESPN2)
Race distance: 187.5 miles/250 laps
2009 winner: Kyle Busch
Fast facts: Brad Keselowski won at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, overcoming high carbon monoxide levels after the Sprint Cup race. Pushed back a day because of rain, the race ended under caution on the second attempt at a green-white checkered finish after a wreck that nearly sent Dennis Setzer flying over the fence. ... Keselowski, in his first season in Roger Penske’s No. 22 Dodge, leads the season standings, 60 ahead of second-place Kevin Harvick. In eight races, Keselowski has seven top-five finishes. ... Harvick has won four Nationwide races at Richmond, one off Mark Martin’s record. ... Busch has three series victories at Richmond. ... Edwards won last September at the track. ... Matt Kenseth is driving the No. 16 Ford in place of Colin Braun. Kenseth also will drive the car at Darlington.
www.nascar.com

NASCAR Camping World Trucks
O’Reilly Auto Parts 250
Site: Kansas City, Kan., Kansas Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles)
TV schedule: Sunday, race (11:30 a.m., Speed)
Race distance: 250.5 miles/167 laps
2009 winner: Mike Skinner
Fast facts: Sprint Cup star Kyle Busch won the Nashville 200 on April 2 for his first NASCAR victory as a Truck series team owner. Kevin Harvick was second. ... Timothy Peters, the winner of the season-opening race at Daytona, leads the season standings with 666 points — 82 more than second-place Aric Almirola. Peters is the only series regular to win this year. Harvick won at Atlanta and Martinsville. ... Ken Schrader is driving the No. 2 Chevrolet in place of Harvick, and Brian Ickler will be in Busch’s No. 18 Toyota.
www.nascar.com

IZOD IndyCar
Road Runner Turbo Indy 300
Site: Kansas City, Kan., Kansas Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles)
TV schedule: Saturday, race (12:30 p.m., WFAA/Ch. 8)
Race distance: 300 miles/200 laps
2009 winner: Scott Dixon
Fast facts: Ryan Hunter-Reay won the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18 for his second career IndyCar victory. The Andretti Autosport driver led 64 of 85 laps. ... The series announced Tuesday that it will crown season champions for oval and road courses, as well as the overall points winner. The race is the first of the series’ seven oval events. There are nine races on road and street courses. ... Will Power swept the season-opening races in Brazil and St. Petersburg, Fla. The Penske driver leads the standings with 172 points. Teammate Castroneves, the Grand Prix of Alabama winner, is second with 130 — a point ahead of Hunter-Reay. ... Dan Wheldon won in 2007 and 2008 at Kansas Speedway. ... Danica Patrick is 16th in the standings. She was 15th in Brazil, seventh in St. Petersburg, 19th in Birmingham and 16th in Long Beach.
www.indycar.com

NHRA
AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals
Site: Madison, Ill., Gateway International Raceway
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (8 p.m., taped, ESPN2); Sunday, final eliminations (6 p.m., taped, ESPN2)
2009 winners: Del Worsham (Funny Car), Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle)
Fast facts: John Force raced to his third Funny Car victory of the season and record 129th overall NHRA win, beating Tony Pedregon on April 18 in the Spring Nationals in Las Vegas. The 60-year-old Force had a 4.334-second pass at 284.93 mph in the final. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also won. ... Force leads the Funny Car standings, 120 ahead of Matt Hagan. Force has an NHRA-record 14 season titles. ... Dixon has a one-point lead over Cory McClenathan in Top Fuel. ... Edwards tops the Pro Stock standings.
www.nhra.com

Tickets for Texas Motor Speedway's November NASCAR tripleheader go on sale April 28

Tickets for the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader weekend scheduled for Nov. 4-7 at Texas Motor Speedway go on sale Wednesday (April 28) at 9 a.m. (Central). The weekend will feature the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 (Nov. 7), Nationwide Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (Nov. 6) and Camping World Truck Series Longhorn 350 (Nov. 5).

TMS is once again offering fan-friendly ticket specials, including the "2 for $99" deal that features two frontstretch tickets for the AAA Texas 500 for only $99. Fans can also purchase the "Weekend 4-Pack," which consists of tickets to all four days of track activity at TMS beginning at just $133. The “Weekend 4-Pack” consists of a frontstretch ticket for Camping World Truck Series qualifying Nov. 4; Sprint Cup and Nationwide qualifying and the Longhorn 350 truck series race Nov. 5; the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge Nationwide Series race Nov. 6; and the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race Nov. 7.

The fan favorite ‘Backstretch Buster’ seat is back for the AAA Texas 500. The $20 seats, located along the first two rows of the backstretch, continue to remain popular with the fans as the section has sold out for every Sprint Cup Series race since it was first implemented last year. Coupled with the ‘Backstretch Buster,’ additional backstretch seating is just $40.

Fans looking to share the race experience with the family can do so at an affordable price with the “Family 4-Pack,” which includes four backstretch tickets for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola drinks for just $159.

Tickets for the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader weekend are available by calling the TMS ticket office at 817-215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

-- TMS release

Chase Allen defeats Clyde Dunn Jr. for the $1,000 Cowtown Speedway Modified Win

Chase Allen was the Modified feature winner.

By Don Cook
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Cowtown Speedway (Kennedale)
April 24 (Saturday)

Chase Allen, #30, won the $1,000 Modified feature at Cowtown Speedway. Clyde Dunn Jr., #88xxx, won $500 in the Dash for Cash and started on the pole in the feature. Dunn was running strong, until about half way through the race, Allen worked his way passed him to claim his first feature win of the season. Triston Dycus, #14, rounded out the top three.

Justin McCoy won the Limited Modified feature.

In the Performance Transmission raceTX.com Limited Modified feature, Justin McCoy, #87, was the winner. Troy Taylor, #56, lead for 14 laps until a flat tire took him to the pits. Glen Hibbard, #127, won the hard charger award for starting in the back of the pack and finishing second. Sean Jones, #94, was third. David Ferguson appeared to win the feature, but his car failed to pass a post-race inspection.

Kyle Jones won the 600 Mini Sprints feature.

In the 600 Mini Sprints feature, Kyle Jones, #04, took over the season points lead with his feature win. Andy Hogan, #3d, was second and Jeremy Hefler, #69, was third.

Payton Williams won the Restrictor Mini Sprints feature. 

Payton "Wild Thing" Williams won his first Restrictor Mini Sprints feature. What a great way to celebrate your 16th birthday in the #22 City Vending Mini Sprint. Bradley Ivy, #99i, was second and Michele Melton, #21, was third.

Gary Smitherman won the Bomber feature.

In the Bomber feature, Gary Smitherman, #42, was the feature winner. Randy O'Havier, #16, was leading the race until mechanical problems took him to the pits. Ray Tidwell, #25, was second and Chad Pearce, #82, was third.

Choice Lynch won the Wing Modified feature.

Choice Lynch, #34, of the Lynch Mob, made it two feature wins in-a-row in the Winged Modifieds.

For OFFICIAL results and more information, go to: www.cowtownspeedway.com

To purchase a photo of the racing action, contact Rudy at: www.rudygarciaphotos.smugmug.com

To view some photos of the race cars from Saturday, click on the slide-show below:

To view some highlights of the Modifieds, click on the video below:

In the Limited Modified feature, David Ferguson's car failed to pass a post-race inspection. Justin McCoy was declared the winner.

To view some highlights of the Limited Modifieds, 600 Mini Sprints, Restrictor Mini Sprints and the Bombers, click on the video below: