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Sweet Wins at Volusia ahead of Outlaws Season Opener
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By Counterman
After a successful partnership in 2023, Dayco announced that Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) has signed on to use its blower belts again during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Both Matt Hagan, four-time Funny Car champion, and Tony Stewart, NASCAR, INDYCAR and USAC Champion, will compete in their respective categories using Dayco blower belts on the track.
After finishing third in 2022, Hagan came back with a vengeance in 2023, placing first and earning the World Championship title. He has a total of 49 career event titles, with six of those victories from last season.
Stewart will be making his NHRA Top Fuel debut in 2024, after finishing second in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national championship standings in 2023 and finishing second in the North Central Region.
Both Hagan’s Funny Car and Stewart’s Top Fuel dragster are driven at speeds in excess of 330 mph down the track, and Dayco blower belts not only held up all season in intense conditions but enabled both cars to perform at optimal levels, according to Dayco.
“I’m looking forward to continuing our partnership with Dayco in 2024,” Stewart said. “Getting behind the wheel this season, I know their belts will help Matt Hagan and I perform at the highest level on-track.”
The Dayco 11-millimeter blower belt is engineered specifically for use by Top Fuel and Funny Cars with nitromethane engines. It features a hybrid carbon cord encapsulated in custom rubber compounds and patented low-friction PTFE tooth fabric, according to Dayco. It has a standard 11-millimeter pitch, is 84 millimeters wide and has 145 teeth.
“It feels great knowing our Dayco blower belts helped ensure the drivers’ were behind the wheel of machines set up to win during the 2023 season,” said Jay Buckley, director of marketing and training, Dayco North America. “We can’t wait to see what next season has in store for the TSR team and look forward to our belts helping them bring home more wins.”
Hagan and Stewart will kick-off the 2024 NHRA season March 8-10 at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida.
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By Counterman
As the days grow shorter, the leaves begin to change, and there’s a nip in the air. Deer season has opened in many states, and that means an increase in antlered traffic for those of us on the roads as well as in the woods. The United States is home to around 32 million white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and another 3.5 million black-tailed or mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). While a huge number of sporting folks will enjoy spending the upcoming fall and winter months searching for deer, many others hope to avoid them at all costs.
Deer hunters spent roughly $23 billion pursuing their quarry in 2020, from license fees to purchasing gear, as well as travel and lodging. On the other hand, the insurance industry reports approximately $1 billion in deer-related losses annually, the result of roughly 1.5 million individual claims. Hunters spend considerably more per year chasing deer, but they probably enjoy themselves a lot more than the folks making a claim with their insurance company!
White-tail populations are spread throughout the United States, but as humans continue to develop former deer habitat into suburbs and as cities spread ever outward, people encounter deer on a more frequent basis. Bordering on being a nuisance, urban and suburban deer outnumber populations found elsewhere in my state. I’ve hunted in upstate New York for nearly 30 years, but the biggest buck I’ve personally encountered was seen in my suburban neighbor’s yard a couple of years ago, browsing at their bird feeder!
Deer are naturally most active and dawn and dusk, but as the seasons change from summer to fall, their activity becomes a little more intense. The heat is on to find a mate and to find dwindling food resources, which means they’re more likely to leave traditional areas of cover (like the woods) and be on the move, crossing roads and even highways. Increased deer traffic in low-light conditions, along with the greater overlap of our “habitats,” is a recipe for disaster on the road.
Defensive driving isn’t just about other drivers and vehicles. In areas with high deer populations, self-aware drivers naturally keep watch along the roadside, looking for animals lurking in the shadows, and for their tell-tale glowing eyes after dark. The old phrase “a deer in headlights” refers to their tendency to freeze up or panic when blinded by oncoming lights. Those eyes are tuned for low-light conditions, so when your bi-xenon HID or LED-upgrade headlamps suddenly shine directly in them, it’s even more disorienting for them than it is for the rest of us!
When it comes to running deer, another old adage I’ve often heard is that “you won’t hit the deer you see … you’ll hit the one behind her.” As herd animals, deer (especially females) often travel together. White-tailed deer are named for the prominent white fur on their rump, and when startled, that furry flag of a tail stands high as a warning to others. If a deer crosses in front of you, and her tail is up, there’s a good chance it’s for the benefit of another deer behind her. While your attention is diverted by the “near-miss,” you’re liable to hit (or be hit by) the next deer in line. This is one of many reasons that when confronted with the choice of hitting the deer in front of you or swerving, sometimes it’s safer to take the hit.
In most deer-strike claims, damages are limited to the front bumper, radiator/grille, lights and hood. Depending on the angle of the hit, deer also might strike or “tumble” down the side of the vehicle. Vehicles are designed to safely withstand front-end impacts greater than even the most “monster” buck, so firm braking in a straight line should be your first choice. Attempting to avoid the collision could put you off the side of the road, or head-on into oncoming vehicles. Winter conditions can make recovering from a hasty maneuver even trickier, so leave the stunt-driving to the movie stars!
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By Counterman
Another automotive adventure is about to unfold as Babcox Media presents “The Road to AAPEX Season 2, The Lincoln Highway.”
This year, the spotlight shines on the remarkable 2002 Lincoln Blackwood as it travels on a historic journey along the iconic Lincoln Highway.
The coast-to-coast Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the United States, dedicated on Oct. 31, 1913. Coincidently, the AAPEX 2023 show kicks off on the Lincoln Highway’s 110th anniversary.
link hidden, please login to view begins in Akron, Ohio, at Babcox Media’s headquarters, where the Babcox team, in collaboration with 20 partnering sponsors, has been dedicated to preparing the Blackwood over the last eight months for this estimated 2,200-mile journey. The series provides a glimpse into the strategy, craftsmanship and passion that fueled the car’s revival – before hitting the road; winding through Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah; and finally arriving in Las Vegas to make its debut at the AAPEX opening reception.
Joe Keene, a seasoned automotive video producer at Babcox Media, will take the wheel and be at the helm of the road trip. With experience as an ASE-certified technician, service advisor and instructor, Keene is no stranger to the intricacies of the road and the art of automotive craftsmanship. As the host of
link hidden, please login to view now in its third season, Keene knows how to bring his expertise and enthusiasm to the road and is prepared to deliver both a smooth ride and a series that will excite automotive enthusiasts and industry professionals – as it showcases the longevity and spirit that fuels the auto care industry. “After a successful first season, we recognized demand for a second road trip to AAPEX,” said Dean Martin, vice president, Babcox Media. “We have strong relationships with show, the associations and several dedicated sponsors committed to the project. These partnerships allow us to showcase the power of the aftermarket in a fun and entertaining series. Our team of professionals at Babcox is excited about the work we’ve done in producing season two and is eager to share it with the market.”
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By NAPA
Returning to Pennsylvania for a second weekend in a row, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series had dates lined up for both Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Penn., and Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Penn. Unfortunately, mother nature struck again, and Friday night’s program at Williams Grove was canceled. Saturday at Lincoln was bitterly cold with wind and temperatures peaking in the 40s. Nonetheless, Lincoln Speedway is a track where Brad Sweet, driver of the No. 49 NAPA Auto Parts Sprint car, has been dominant, missing the top 10 only once in his last nine starts.
With 49 cars in attendance, Sweet was slated to qualify seventh in Flight B. He hit the charts 14.660 second, placing him second in the flight. Starting from the first spot in Heat Race 4, Sweet was eager to get the jump on second-place starter Chris Windom. The NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 launched ahead to pick up the heat race win and lock Sweet into the Fast Pass Dash.
“As we race, I think we are going to learn more and more about the tires, obviously, as the track changes,” Sweet said, drawing the second spot for the dash. “Hopefully, with our NAPA Auto Parts car, that was a good dash draw; we can keep it up front tonight.”
With six laps to complete the dash, the Big Cat rolled off from the second spot with his eye on the lead. At the drop of the green flag, Sweet managed to pull ahead to the lead. The No. 49 machine took off in the clean air up front, and Sweet picked up the Fast Pass Dash win.
That put the NAPA No. 49 in the first starting position for the 35-lap Lincoln Speedway feature. With Sweet eyeing victory lane, the green flag dropped. The NAPA driver jumped to the early lead before holding off the field while battling through heavy lapped traffic, but Sweet fell back to second with 12 laps to go. He held his line and brought the NAPA Auto Parts machine home in second place.
“We’re never happy to finish second, but we had new tires tonight, and the racing was actually a lot of fun there in the A-main,” Sweet said after the race. “I was struggling to figure out how to get my car off the corner there a little bit better, but that’s a part of the learning curve… We are going to have to keep adjusting out setups and try to find a package that’s going to be better for the whole 35 laps.”
Next up on the schedule is the Talladega Sprint Car Showdown at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama, on Friday and the World of Outlaws Black Ice Brawl at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi, on Saturday.
Start / Finish: 1 / 2
Points Standing / Total: 4th / 812 (-40)
Next Race: Friday, March 24, Talladega Short Track, Eastaboga, Alabama
How to Watch or Listen:
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