Wednesday, September 14, 2011

My 2011 Chase Picks

So Moody made his picks and I promised on the show ( Sirius Speedway on Sirius XM NASCAR channel 90) that I would post mine before the Chicago event - so Here it goes friends and fans - Lets see who gets the most correct after Homestead!

1. Kevin Harvick 2011 Champ - I think he came so close last year, he tasted the feeling. He shut down the KHI race teams to focus on the one thing he wants the most - Sprint Cup Champion. Gil Martin his crew chief is Brilliant at communication and keeping his cool. The team also has fun and enjoys spending time together - Tight Knit Groups at RCR seem to win LOTS!
2. Jimmie Johnson - I felt a little silly betting against 5-time, but they just have not been as strong this season. Then again, folks betting against Chad Knaus could tick him off that he will prove us all wrong...for the 6th time.
3. Jeff Gordon - The 24 Car is strong and I feel I could be making a bad decision to put the 4 time champion in 3rd this season. Gordon has his confidence back and he has NOT forgotten the art of "wheeling it"!
4.Brad Keselowski - I'm thinking Brad will make an aggressive run at the Sprint Cup continuing to surprise us all with his consistency - but he could try a bit too hard in a couple races and end up with a bad finish. But he will try every lap in these last ten races I promise.
5. Kyle Busch - I considered to put Rowdy in the Champion spot - I am doubting my decision as I type this. He has proven more maturity this season, but also shown his emotional un-winding in brief instances. Dangit...I'm thinking I have him too low here....
6. Matt Kenseth - Silent... Look Out - Could be the dark horse that no one realizes is holding the trophy at Homestead because we are watching Kurt and Jimmie knock one another around with bumpers.  
7. Kurt Busch - Another one I think I am placing too LOW. Penske is strong but if he has a bad handling car in one race - he goes backwards fast.
8. Carl Edwards - Skinner picked him as Champ - and I think they have lost their mojo this late in the season. Earlier I would have said Edwards all the way. Plus that's my maiden name so always root for an Edwards!  
9.Ryan Newman - Ryan is one of my favorite drivers so I hope he or Krissie don't see this!!! I just think the organization is not as consistent this year, but if Rocket Man could win on being the best all around man, driver, person - then he would get my vote hands down.
10. Tony Stewart - Has too much going on , this season will piss him off so look out next year.
11. Denny Hamlin- Too up and down this season. Good driver, good team - just not consistent emotionally or technically.
12. Dale Jr. - I love Jr. so don't yell at me Jr Nation - but he does not seem to like the feel of these cars. But....I think a win could take off pressure. I would hate his pressure.

Below are Skinners Picks!
1. Carl Edwards
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Kyle Busch
7. Kurt Busch
8. Ryan Newman
9. Matt Kenseth
10. Dale Jr
11. Denny Hamlin
12. Tony Stewart
  

Friday, September 9, 2011

Girls Have at It: The Women of NASCAR go Toe-to-Toe in Better Half Dash Bandolero Race Before Bank of America 500


Participating in the press conference from Atlanta Motor Speedway were, from left to right, Michelle Gilliland, Nan Zipadelli, Angie Skinner, Trisha Mears, Patricia Driscoll, Ashley Allgaier, Jami McDowell, Melanie Self, Shannon Koch, Wendy Venturini, Jacquelyn Butler, and Billy Mauldin.
 Charlotte Motor Speedway announced today that the Better Half Dash, featuring the women of NASCAR and supporting Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children's Charities, would take place before the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 15.

Katie Kenseth, Angie Skinner, Kelley Earnhardt Among Those to Participate


CONTACT: Scott Cooper, 
Cathy Hein 
(704) 455-3209


 -- For Immediate Release

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 3, 2011) –
The guys will step aside as the ladies put on the firesuits for an all-out, girls-have-at-it battle when the inaugural Better Half Dash gets underway at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the Bank of America 500 pre-race activities on Oct. 15.



The charity race, supporting Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) and Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC), will pit the women of NASCAR against each other in Bandolero cars provided by U.S. Legend Cars International on the speedway’s frontstretch quarter-mile oval.



Participants already entered in the Better Half Dash include Katie Kenseth, wife of 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth; Angie Skinner, wife of 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner; and SPEED television personality Wendy Venturini. Additionally, Kelley Earnhardt, general manager and co-owner of Junior Motorsports, will wave the green flag for the event.



“Matt was pretty excited when he heard I was going to race,” said Katie Kenseth. “This is an exciting event for a great cause and an opportunity for the girls to ‘have at it.’ I think you’ll see most of us are just as competitive as the men. Hopefully the other ladies will have a lot of fun racing for second place.”



The Better Half Dash will start at approximately 2:30 p.m. EDT and will be 25 laps in length, with a competition caution set for Lap 15. There will be two chances at a green-white-checkered finish. Caution laps will not count. Starting order will be determined by random draw prior to the race.



While the better half is toiling away in the driver’s seat, the other half has the option to serve as crew chief or spotter for the race, but drivers and crew members are not permitted to make any engine, chassis or suspension modifications. They can, however, give advice.



“I have already started my research into how to drive,” said Angie Skinner. “My husband’s response was you let off the gas and turn when you feel you are too tight. But then I said, ‘How much do you let off and how long?’ He responded, ‘If you knew that you’d be a professional race car driver.’ Can I have a different ‘other half’ for this race please?’



The Better Half Dash purse will be paid to the driver’s charity of choice, with $5,000 going to the winner’s charity, $3,000 for the second place finisher and $2,000 for third. Fans will also have the opportunity to donate $10 to MRO and SCC through the completion of the Bank of America 500 by texting “MOTOR” to 20222.



“What a great and exciting opportunity to help support and raise money for MRO & SCC,” said Better Half Dash racer Trisha Mears, wife of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Casey Mears. “MRO has been such a huge part of our racing lives and SCC is a very rewarding charity that has helped no many children throughout the years. I’m looking forward to raising money and having fun in the racecar. And can someone ask Katie Kenseth if she can drive in reverse?”



“MRO is extremely thankful to partner with Speedway Children's Charities on this event and thankful for the support of Charlotte Motor Speedway and the drivers who are participating,” said Billy Mauldin, president of MRO. “We’re so excited to be a part of this fun event, it’s time to give these ladies the chance to show the guys they know a thing or two about racing.

"

Two Better Half Dash practice sessions are scheduled for Sept. 26 and 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.



Drivers currently entered are Ashley Allgaier, Jacquelyn Butler (David Ragan), Patricia Driscoll (Kurt Busch), Michelle Gilliland, Kenseth, Shannon Koch, Jami McDowell, Mears, Melanie Self (MRO), Skinner, Sabrina Simpson (Joey Logano), Venturini (SPEED) and Nan Zipadelli.



Updates on the race and entrants can be found at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.



Fans can purchase two frontstretch tickets to the Bank of America 500, with the best views of the world’s largest HDTV, for just $99. Tickets for all October races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).



For more information on the October races and other events, connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

  Good Sunday Morning! Many of you have asked about auction items this year for the 5th Annual Toyota Skinner Round Up - and I apologize its hard to get the list on there...we have over 150 items up for bid.....that is why we offer the Hoe Down Bash on Wednesday night for all of you to come and bid on while you sample food from Daytona Beach and hear some great music from Stacy Mitchhart and maybe a lil jig from Bo Bice and Edwin McCain!  
I can tell you that we have various tickets for races including Suite Passes from exide and Toyota - as well as Hot Pass Packages for Phoenix and Sedona from tommy baldwin racing!  Daytona International Speedway also dontaed GREAT ticket packages for the FL area fans!  We have a TON of diecast from various drivers, sheet metal from Dale Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Redbull  ...we have numerous hotel packages, amazing baskets with everything under the sun. Robbie Knievel will auction off a leather jacket, Hornaday donated a Fire Suit - WE even have an EZGO Golf Car that is BRAND NEW AND BAD ASS!  A few guitars from our guests, some specially painted up ones that will be signed by all celebrity guests on stage....the list goes on and on and on and on.......Check us out Wednesday night!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Needed! The right logo.

It's official....we need to get back racing folks! I literally stayed up all night watching The Toyota Showdown, reading tweets from the rolex & then some repeat footage of NASCAR on Speed all Saturday night! Oh...add in having Sirius NASCAR channel on to hear my hubby broadcast from the Toyota Showdown...It's Sunday and I am no exhausted from media overload! I guess I am just trying to keep my mind overloaded from the fact that Skinner will not be driving at Daytona for the first time in the 13 seasons I have been with him. We have done all the "back to work" steps like NASCAR physical, acquire a NASCAR FIA driver license, NASCAR license and hard card, drug test, eye exam, even cleaned out the bus of old sponsor apparel ( which our landscape guy really made out this year! ), The only problem? No new team coat, no team sponsor polo and instead of a shinny new firesuit hanging in the bus - it's a couple suits from years past that I felt was generic enough to not any sponsors or team which we would not desire to represent. That fact had me pretty down this week, until I listened to Sirius Speedway on Friday. Fans were calling Moody asking about Skinner and the comments were so warming for my ears. You all were so passionate about Skinner's ability and desire. You realized our struggles last year....you all were paying attention! WOW! That's why I love you NASCAR fans - real people who see the truth. We don't have to put out a silly press release to explain a situation, you all don't care....you just want to see your guy back on track just like I do. You know Skinner can take a 15th place truck and throw it up on his back to an 8th place finish....but winning...well ya gotta have a little more -It is a team sport folks. If you give him a winning truck....then watch out. Hornaday and Skinner both still have what it takes to beat the competition, and the true grit attitude to capture your attention on track  - just have to put the right chemistry and equipment under the ole horses! Hornaday will have it again in my eyes with KHI and Jeff Hensley leading the charge. Now its up to us to find that situation for The Gunslinger - and that's the easy part. We have a couple killer teams who would put Skinner in a ride...its the sponsor needed. The days of team owners footing the bill are nearly over in this economy. A few will still take you under the wing- and we actually had a few offering such mid-season last year. We made the wrong decision to stick it out and be positive - I have kicked myself in the booty thinking back what maybe we should had accepted, but that doesn't change the current.  Until then - I will make sure the earplugs and helmet are working, the nead and neck restraint current, head down to Daytona, and mak sure there is a blank polo shirt ready for a logo that means Skinner is back on track in 2011.           

Thursday, January 27, 2011

What the Hell!

Well....I decided I would finally get to the blog! Hope you all are enjoying the new website - I am also sure you all have many questions as to "what in the hell" is going on with Skinner? Well...I have to be vague and tell you it was decided it was best to not continue with Randy Moss Motorsports per both sides. The bad news...how long it took to make this decision - leaving Skinner with less than 2 weeks to get a quality ride for Daytona. I can tell you we are working every day to make something happen- and offers are coming in - but we want to make sure the situation is stellar and capable of winning. While filling in on Sirius Speedway a week ago...we interviewed Elliott Sadler and he said a few things that made so much sense. The past two years for him have been horrid - he was miserable with his racing situation - then the opportunity arose with KHI and all of a sudden Elliott Sadler was winning, near winning and smiling on pit road. The end of the story was simple..he was happy and content and felt wanted. Lots can be said when you share the same work philosophy with your team, crew chief and owner. When all parties are working countless hours to get you in the best equipment, and your team believes you are the best...you become your best. So that is the scenario we are looking for....it may take some time, so hang in there with us and in the meantime - we will fill you in on happenings along the journey.  We head down to Daytona next week - going a little early to hang with our family and work on the Toyota Skinner Round Up Chairty event!  I think we are all ready for some racing!!!  

Thursday, January 13, 2011