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17 Sep 2002, 19:34 (Ref:382730) | #1 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 306
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Japanese driver in Dover Winston Cup race !!!???
After all that we discussed in my post "Winston Cup is an All-American Sport" ... i just read this on www.nascar.com
Carter puts Japanese driver in Dover Cup race Carter puts Japanese driver in Dover Cup race By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive September 16, 2002 11:20 AM EDT (1520 GMT) DOVER, Del. -- As expected, NASCAR Winston Cup team owner Travis Carter has entered former Japanese GT champion Hideo Fukuyama in this weekend's MBNA All-American Heroes 400 at Dover International Speedway. Fukuyama, 47, of Suzuka City, Japan, will drive a No. 66 Ford Taurus from the Haas Carter Motorsports shops. Fukuyama, who was hooked by stock car racing when NASCAR staged a series of exhibition races in his country in the late 1990s, hopes to make his Winston Cup debut in at least one of three races this fall. Fukuyama has already tested at Dover with crew chief Teddy Brown. With 47 entries in the NASCAR Competition Department for the Dover race, they would more than likely have to qualify in the top 36 cars to make the race. Since only three entrants, Cindy Shepherd, Kirk Shelmerdine and Bill Davis' car for Scott Wimmer, have fewer owner points than Haas Carter's No. 66 car, the team would have no provisional protection to make the field. Fukuyama has Japanese backers that were interested in possibly attempting races at the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway short track and 1-mile North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. Fukuyama, a sports car driver, with several starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has also raced in a couple NASCAR Winston West Series events, including one at the Twin Ring Motegi oval in Japan and another at Pikes Peak International Raceway. He met owner Travis Carter at the first NASCAR exhibition race at Japan's Suzuka Circuit road course and drove his No. 23 Team Camel Ford. Fukuyama competed in both Winston Cup style exhibitions at Suzuka and also drove in the Winston Cup race at the 1.5-mile Motegi oval in 1998 and the final NASCAR appearance in Japan, the Winston West finale in 1999. |
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"It aint over until the Fat Lady sings ... but hurry up cause she's warming up!" |
17 Sep 2002, 23:43 (Ref:382949) | #2 | ||
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NME.....As I stated previously, all drivers are and should be welcome. It will be interesting and I will be sure to watch qualifying. However, I suspect that the Dover 400 will remain an "All American Sport" after qualifying.
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18 Sep 2002, 05:10 (Ref:383071) | #3 | ||
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Join Date: May 1999
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Hmmm...I wonder if this is the same driver Jimmy Spencer punted at Suzuka way back.
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18 Sep 2002, 09:11 (Ref:383173) | #4 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 306
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After this i guess i can start dreaming about it, ah? Kidding ...
Good luck Hideo Fukuyama ... ! P.S.: Any bets on how good will he qualify ? ... i say 38th! |
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"It aint over until the Fat Lady sings ... but hurry up cause she's warming up!" |
18 Sep 2002, 20:08 (Ref:383658) | #5 | ||
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Will be interesting to see how he gets on.
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19 Sep 2002, 13:58 (Ref:384154) | #6 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 103
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he won't....and if he does he better watch out for the big guys......don't want him to wreck anyone in the points chase.....let me change that to he better not wreck JEFF...they should start a whole new circut for these drivers that can't seem to make it anywere kinda like arena football ...your good but you ain't that good do this kinda s....
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THATS IT / AND |
20 Sep 2002, 20:05 (Ref:385048) | #7 | ||
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Posts: 95
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He did!!! He is the last car in the feild....
Brett Bodine Scott Wimmer Morgan Shepard are going home...... |
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Never give up..... |
20 Sep 2002, 21:05 (Ref:385068) | #8 | ||
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Well, like it or not...if you are good enough to qualify you are good enough to race. Nascar only approves those for WC that have the qualifications/experience. Not everyone that applies is approved.
Hey "Morganton", know where "Black Mountain" is? |
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20 Sep 2002, 23:42 (Ref:385113) | #9 | ||
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Join Date: Jun 2001
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Happy to have him. Hope he has the abilty to keep out of trouble & not hurt anybody.
We don't care where they come from. As long as they are good racers & make it fun & exciting to watch- GREAT!!! I'm kinda glad. I am tired of hearing the "Americans don't let anybody else race" attitude. |
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21 Sep 2002, 19:46 (Ref:385504) | #10 | ||
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Posts: 1,069
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Brett didn't make the race? Man, too bad. Have to see the Hooter's car out there!
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The New York Times sucks! |
21 Sep 2002, 22:09 (Ref:385597) | #11 | ||
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Hey all, here is a good article about Hideo Fukuyama:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/4118247.htm Apparently, Earnhardt Sr. was impressed with him when he seen him race in those NASCAR exhibitions over in Japan. Sidenote, I won't have any problem remembering this guy's name for years to come. His last name sounds like something derogatory you hear in the ghetto. |
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22 Sep 2002, 03:45 (Ref:385704) | #12 | |
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Nascar will have the minoritys and women in Winston Cup whether they deserve to be there or not, if you are a white American male you have to earn your shot .....
JMO |
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I still say. "NASCAR, let the bad boys be BAD !!!" Take the reins off Tony Stewart & Kevin Harvick ! Bring back the attitude of aggresive racing ! |
22 Sep 2002, 12:33 (Ref:385850) | #13 | ||
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MarlinMan.....Our driver is female and if anyone deserves to be in Trans Am, she does. She has earned her spot with experience and talent and hard work, yet she is on the sidelines because of the hesitation of Companies to sponsor a female driver.
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22 Sep 2002, 12:41 (Ref:385854) | #14 | ||
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Quite a turn up for the books to see a rookie driver outqualify three others on his debut, and it would be impressive even if he were an All-American, Busch series frontrunner. Be interesting to see how he does in the race though.
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22 Sep 2002, 15:57 (Ref:385937) | #15 | ||
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Join Date: Sep 2002
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I think it's great that he is going to be a part of the race... He is suppose to try for two more races this year also...
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22 Sep 2002, 22:01 (Ref:386170) | #16 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 306
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Do u know what happen on Fukuyama's DNF ?
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"It aint over until the Fat Lady sings ... but hurry up cause she's warming up!" |
22 Sep 2002, 23:22 (Ref:386206) | #17 | ||
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NME....Read on.
DOVER, Del. -- The much-publicized debut of Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama came to a close about two-thirds of the way through the MBNA All-American Heroes 400 at Dover International Speedway. Fukuyama, driving the No. 66 Ford of Haas-Carter Motorsports, started the race on a provisional in 43rd place. In his NASCAR debut, the oval track veteran lasted 243 laps to finish in 39th place. Fukuyama had been setting a steady pace when contact with Kenny Wallace forced him to make a pit stop. After he returned to action for a few laps, NASCAR black-flagged the car for being too slow. "He had a pretty good car, it ran good," said team co-owner Travis Carter. "It just takes getting accustomed to -- stamina. I think he's kind of worn out and tired. It was a long hard battle. "We wanted to finish this race, but it just didn't work out that way." The team is scheduled to take Fukuyama to Rockingham and Martinsville for more testing. |
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22 Sep 2002, 23:43 (Ref:386214) | #18 | ||
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Fukuyama didn't impress at all. He was lapped 23 laps into the race and never challenged for any position. To his defense, Dover is a pretty tough track for a new driver to have to break in on. I think this guy needs some Busch Grand National experience first because it is apparent he is out of his league in Winston Cup now. At any rate, I have to wonder about a 47 year old driver with little NASCAR experience trying to break into Winston Cup.
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25 Sep 2002, 22:15 (Ref:388465) | #19 | |
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Fukyamama results :
started 43rd with a provisional, in my book he didn't qualify !!! lap 23 - 1 lap down lap 49 - 2 laps down lap 90 - 3 laps down .................... by lap 243 - out of the race credited with "finishing" 39th. "earned" $44,275. |
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I still say. "NASCAR, let the bad boys be BAD !!!" Take the reins off Tony Stewart & Kevin Harvick ! Bring back the attitude of aggresive racing ! |
26 Sep 2002, 17:31 (Ref:388990) | #20 | ||
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Quote:
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26 Sep 2002, 20:50 (Ref:389170) | #21 | ||
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Actually, none of the Winston Cup drivers would be there if it wasn't for sponsors......of course sponsors are pretty happy to dish out money to racing teams of the most popular racing series anywhere.
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26 Sep 2002, 20:58 (Ref:389182) | #22 | |
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Well at least in America. But Waltrip isnt keeping a Cup ride on talent. Or look at what Greg biffle has done with the Hamilton ride so far
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27 Sep 2002, 03:58 (Ref:389444) | #23 | ||||
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Quote:
Quote:
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The New York Times sucks! |
27 Sep 2002, 04:12 (Ref:389446) | #24 | |
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Both his wins have come on tracks where DEI clearly have an advantage. I cant think of many races where he's run through the field but id be happy to be corrected
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27 Sep 2002, 09:45 (Ref:389622) | #25 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 306
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Always the same question ... money vs. talent!
Guys this is a very EXPENSIVE sport, so you just cannot have a talented driver with no money and no marketing skills. For you to show your talent you need money to start and then results to attract a sponsor and then smiles plus smiles to keep the sponsor happy and then the money keeps coming so that you can still race and show that you are talented enough to earn a better ride which is only better cause the team have more resources provided by money given by the sponsors !?!?! Can any of you break this chain in a reasonable way ???!!! |
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"It aint over until the Fat Lady sings ... but hurry up cause she's warming up!" |
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