TBK-Light.com

Russian, Mokshantsev plans to run trucks with NTS: Sergey Mokshantsev, an experienced open-wheel racing driver from Moscow with European Formula 3 and Indy Lights experience to his resume, plans to enter NASCAR competition this season becoming the first Russian driver in NASCAR competition. Mokshantsev has been undergoing an aggressive NASCAR driver development program which started March 13-14 and April 2-3 in North Carolina driving a K&N Pro Series car prepared by NTS Motorsports. For 2012 NTS Motorsports continues as a K&N Pro East and West Series team but has boosted it's program to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with rookie Brennan Newberry (#14) and is preparing to run a second truck by end of the 2012 season. "We are excited to have Sergey as part of NTS Motorsports. Sergey has impressed us not only with his ability behind the wheel of a stock car, but also with his professional approach, he will become a great stock car driver", states NTS Owner, Bob Newberry. "Sergey has done a great job in his NASCAR development program and is way ahead of schedule, we expect to enter him in a NASCAR sanctioned event very soon and to run a full 2013 season", stated Mike Schriefer of Speedway Group, marketing and management representatives for Mokshantsev and NTS Motorsports.[Been told that they are planning to start at the K&N races at Iowa and will enter 6-10 CWT races this year in a second NTS Truck.](NTS Motorsports PR)(4-21-2012)

Victory Junction asks Pattie Petty to take a back seat: If the planned Victory Junction Midwest becomes a reality, it likely will be without the help of Pattie Petty, the driving force who created the original NASCAR-themed camp in North Carolina for children with chronic diseases. The Victory Junction board of directors has informed Petty, wife of former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and daughter-in-law of Hall of Famer Richard Petty, that she will no longer be part of the day-to-day operations of the camp. The board has offered her emeritus status, but she is balking at serving in a purely ceremonial role. "They don't want anything to do with me," said Pattie Petty, who has been living in Kansas City part time while raising funds for the camp in Wyandotte County. "They gave me not one reason. They said they wanted to make a change. & I'm not sure what I did wrong, but the word came back to me I was making irrational decisions. Two board members who wanted me to leave gave me an ultimatum & never go to the camp, not talk to anybody with the camp. & It was probably the most hurtful thing that's ever happened to me in my life." John McKee, president of Victory Junction and who was hired by Pattie Petty, said he has been instructed by the board not to have any comment "because there is an ongoing employment negotiation."(see full story and more quotes at the Kansas City Star)(4-22-2012)

Golden rule of Charities is never put business people on their board, cos they will only ever make "business" decisions and have no illusion of respect/history.

On the other hand, populating the board with people with passion for the cause but no business sense usually results in mismanagement and an inability to handle any kind of cash flow. I've dealt with it on more than a few occasions. There's always a struggle in charities between core values and doing what it takes to stay relevant, who knows what the deal between Pattie and Victory Junction is though.

Here's something from the "Stuff you may not know" file: the famous ESPN Speedworld music was originally taken from a portion of the song "18th Avenue" by Cat Stevens, recorded in 1972. ESPN used the song for a few years before recording their own cover version, and the rest is history.

Just found it interesting, as some people might've thought the Speedworld music was an original recording made specifically for the network.

You can hear it at 1:28 of this video:

OH FOR THE LOVE OF...

FOX should just drop SPEED and rename it FOX Sports Network National.

It's going to be two hours on a Sunday morning at 10 am ET. There's never any racing at that time, so I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's the last game of the season anyway, so there's no chance it'll happen again after that.

Bristol Motor Speedway will remove some of its progressive banking in the turns, essentially taking away the top lane of the track.