*Lusk Information at the bottom of this column*



Race fans, NASCAR has begun… r u finally happy?



The very racy Budweiser Shootout was Saturday night, and, uh – can you say accidents? Almost half the field was gone by crashes! But Kevin Harvick emerged as the winner (and I’m still watching replays to see just how he did it – amazing). Now Kevin can add a boatload of Budweiser to the fine bar in his basement that I’m sure many of you saw on MTV cribs not so long ago… (click here for a highlight). Kevin, how in the world can you STILL do Goldschlager shots?



Sunday was qualifying for the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, and would you believe we would be stating these facts: NO Hendrick Motorsports (aka the Mothership according to driver Ryan Newman) on the pole, NO mighty Toyotas on the pole, therefore NO Gibbs drivers on the pole, NO top spot for Roush Fenway and NO pole for RCR! Instead, the fast time went to the newly merged team of Earnhardt-Ganassi and driver Martin Truex… NICE! Now in his interview with us Sunday night, he claimed to know they were just plain fast, but it is still nice to shut up the media with performance that maybe they weren’t expecting. For Martin’s words himself, click here.



Coming up this week in NASCAR are the Twin qualifying races, then the Truck race, then the Nationwide race and of course all will be capped off by the Daytona 500 on Sunday… NASCAR fans’ hunger will surely be satisfied!



Other stock car goings-on in Florida included the ARCA season opener in Daytona, won by James Buescher. If you want a really good interview with one of the two who sat on the front row, click here. Alli Owens is priceless!



Also down South, the Lucas Oil Late Model Series began in Tampa where controversy was the word of the week! Crashes were so common that officials were forced to change the rules mid-week and begin penalizing guilty culprits. It obviously didn’t work by Saturday night as more than half the field in this race as well, fell victim to anxious or dirty driving. I’ll refrain from expressing my personal opinion, but needless to say, as long as no one got hurt, it was extremely entertaining to watch! Dixie Chopper pilot Steve Casebolt summed up the action when he was on with us Sunday night… for his interview, click here.



Supercross can race in the rain, so they did – sort of – in Anaheim this weekend where James Stewart picked up yet another win – his 5th in a row! In the Lites class it was again Jake Weimer.



But unfortunately the NHRA was not able to do much with the wet conditions brought on by Mamma Nature in SoCal. Now I know many of you do know what NHRA stands for, but just in case not, I’ll tell you: Next Heavy Rain Adventure. While waiting on the rain to subside, Top Fuel pole sitter Antron Brown phoned a Freak Sunday Night. For Antron’s audio, click here.



UPDATE: The races finally got underway on Tuesday, to nothing but sunshine, believe it or not! When all was said and done, your 2009 NHRA Winternationals winners were Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel, Ron Capps in Funny Car and Jason Line in Pro Stock. Pfew – nothing like extending hotels for crew members 2-3 days and changing airline tickets in this economic climate!

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Some VERY sad news on Sunday turned into a massive tragedy by Tuesday morning. The Motocross world lost a good friend, Jeremy Lusk, as he succumbed to his injuries sustained in a competition crash in Costa Rica on the weekend.



Still in the Calderon Hospital Intensive Care Unit, he was surrounded by his loving Mother and Father, Chuck and Gina Lusk, his wonderful wife Lauren, his Mother and Father-in-Law Lynne and Larry and many of his closest Mulisha family members including Brian Deegan, Ryan Hagy, Cameron Steele and Erik Apple.



Please keep Jeremy and his family in your thoughts and prayers. All the warm thoughts, comments and support are comforting in these times.



Some tributes that I have found on the net may help you cope with another one of our motorsports family losses:



Jeremy Lusk Red Bull X Fighters Video Montage

http://freecaster.tv/1000003_1006962



Metal Mulisha Group Statement:

“A Warrior has Risen”

We want Jeremy to be remembered as the hardcore warrior that he was. He was never one to back down from any challenge life had to offer him on or off the track. As a fierce competitor, he rode to the top of the freestyle world embracing the risks of the sport with hardcore passion. As a Christian, Jeremy had faith that no matter what, he would always be on the ride of his life. To Jeremy, there was never a question of there being any consequences, especially doing something he loved. His drive, love, passion and commitment drove him to become the “baddest ass” rider of his time. He and his wife Lauren will always be part of the Mulisha family, and his memory will continue to push our group of friends to the outer limits of life.



Fundraising:

Efforts will continue as a Trust has been set up in Jeremy’s memory, The Jeremy Lusk Trust Fund. Donations can be made to Jeremy’s Trust through the Athlete Recovery Fundwww.athleterecoveryfund.com

Questions/Comments? Email CrashG@SpeedFreaks.TV