5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Jeep Comanche
If you’re looking for a stylish four-wheel drive pickup truck that’s not a Ford or an off-road Jeep that’s not a Wrangler, allow us to introduce you to the Jeep Comanche. Fiat Chrysler discontinued the Jeep pickup decades ago, but it hasn’t stopped the Jeep Comanche Pioneer and Jeep Comanche Eliminator from becoming modern-day classics.
While Jeep models like the Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler are certainly much loved, they don’t do anything to fill the void left by the unibody Jeep pickup’s absence. Unfortunately, we won’t be getting a new Comanche anytime soon, either. Recently, the Jeep Comanche and Wagoneer were passed over for a Jeep pickup revival in favor of the new Jeep Gladiator.
But, there are plenty of things to love about the Comanche, from its unique styling, to its long-lasting drivetrain, to its great fuel economy (even newer model-year pickup trucks can't match a Comanche's MPGs) to its Jeep Cherokee-based front suspension.
If you're looking for an aftermarket Comanche or are just interested in learning some helpful trivia, here are 5 facts that make the Jeep Comanche one of a kind.
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Jeff Gordon Visits Dale Earnhardt’s Statue in Touching Tribute
The on-track rivalry and off-track relationship between Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt is one of NASCAR’s greatest stories. It was a story that was explored in the documentary Unrivaled: Earnhardt vs. Gordon, where everyone from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Rick Hendrick to even Jeff Gordon himself (who executive produced the film) dished on the enduring impact of Earnhardt vs. Gordon on the sport of NASCAR. According to Dale Jr., the movie tells the story “just the way it was.”
For one of the more touching segments in the film, Gordon heads to the Dale Earnhardt Plaza in Kannapolis, North Carolina — Earnhardt’s hometown — to visit the memorial statue of Dale Earnhardt and pay tribute to his good friend and greatest rival. What makes the moment even more somber is that it came just ahead of the 2019 Daytona 500, the event where Dale Sr. tragically lost his life only 18 years prior.
If this doesn’t get you right in the feels, we don’t know what will.
“This is the Dale Earnhardt that a lot of us knew,” says Gordon, looking up at the Dale Earnhardt statue. “Cowboy boots, Wranglers. This is the size he was when he was in the race car.”
During their days going head-to-head, Gordon and Earnhardt couldn’t have been more different. Gordon was “Wonder Boy.” Earnhardt was “The Intimidator.” Gordon looked like a fresh-faced college kid who said “Gosh” a lot. Earnhardt looked like the kind of guy who mowed his lawn while smoking a Marlboro and drinking a Budweiser.
Even still, there was a mutual respect between the two drivers that transcended their differences. At the end of the day, they were both incredible NASCAR drivers. Two of the best to ever do it.
“As much as he messed with me, somehow on the inside I always thought that it was a sign of respect,” Gordon continues. “He would have not said anything at all if he didn’t care. I respected the heck out of this guy. I loved racing with him – Hated it at times, but overall my experience with Dale was incredible.”
When remembering Dale Earnhardt the driver, Jeff has never been one to sugarcoat things. In Unrivaled, he recalls Dale as being “a pain in the ass” to race against. Even still, the warmth was still there.
“He just was a tough, tough competitor,” Gordon said. “He just had this magical way of shoving you out of the way, knocking you sideways or maybe even wrecking you, and the next day or the next week, put his arm around you and say, ‘Hey kid.'”
When it was all said and done, Dale Earnhardt would win seven Winston Cup Series championships and 76 Cup Series races. Gordon himself would rack up four championships and 93 wins.
While Dale is sadly no longer with us, his legacy will live on. Through his family, his statue, and his countless contributions to the sport of NASCAR, and his rivalry with Jeff Gordon.
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Plymouth Road Runner Commercials: Putting the "Car" in Cartoon
One of the most iconic “back to basics” American muscle cars of the ’60s and ’70s may have wore the badge of a funny little cartoon character, but that didn’t mean the Plymouth Road Runner wasn’t ready to rumble with the best of them. In any case, the Plymouth Road Runner commercials were hoot to watch.
Plymouth's formula of a cheaper, high-powered, bare bones muscle car paid off, and being associated with the old school Wile E. Coyote character didn’t hurt either. In fact, we're surprised companies like Ford or Chevrolet didn't follow suit with the whole cartoon angle. The more car commercials with cartoons the better.
Plymouth rented the Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner names from Warner Bros for a sum of $50,000, or in today’s dollars, about $350,000. Plymouth also paid $10,000 at the time to develop the well-known “beep beep” horn sound. A worthwhile investment, considering the Plymouth Road Runner's immediate success.
For more check out AltDriver.com
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Amy Earnhardt Surprises Dale Jr. With Incredible Dale Sr. Portrait
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had plenty of reasons to celebrate during his life. As a two-time Daytona 500 winner and 15-time Cup Series Most Popular Driver, the former NASCAR driver (he still races every now and then) had an illustrious career on the track. He’s also the owner of JR Motorsports, is a NASCAR commentator on NBC Sports, has a successful podcast in the Dale Jr. Download, and runs a number of other business ventures.
With an estimated net worth of $300 million, Junior is definitely living the life. So, what do you get a guy who pretty much has everything?
Well, back for Dale’s 45th birthday on October 10, 2019, his wife Amy got him an incredible gift for the big day: a portrait of his dad, the late Dale Earnhardt. You can see in the below picture that Dale and Amy’s daughter Isla especially seemed to enjoy the painting of Grandpa.
“Wife got me this amazing piece of art by Sean Wales for my birthday,” Dale Jr. wrote in the caption. “Isla loves it too.”
For an early birthday celebration a week prior, Amy Earnhardt also took Dale to the Thirsty Beaver Saloon, a dive bar right around where the Earnhardts live in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Considering what the Earnhardts went through less than two months before Dale’s big 4-5, it was great to see the family in such good spirits. On August 15, a private jet carrying Dale, Amy, Isla Rose, and the family dog Gus was involved in a bounced landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Elizabethton, Tennessee.
The plane caught fire, but thankfully, no one was injured in the plane crash. Needless to say, it was definitely a terrifying experience for the entire family. Fortunately, they were able to put all that behind them and can enjoy celebrating even more birthdays together.
See more at altdriver.com/racing/amy-earnhardt-surprised-dale-jr-with-this-incredible-portrait-for-his-birthday
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Aaron Kaufman: Where Is the Former Gas Monkey Garage Mechanic Today?
Fast N' Loud is certainly a reality TV show that saw massive success. Aired on the Discovery Channel, it provided entertainment as it showcased the restoration and custom car shop Gas Monkey Garage. Behind the Dallas, Texas shops success is the owner, Richard Rawlings. He's the man with the money and the proven business development skills. He managed to take this small Dallas, Texas shop, and grow it into a multi-million dollar company.
However, Richard wasn't the only reason the brand grew into what it is today, he also has an extremely talented crew behind him. Among those workers was the extremely talented former head mechanic Aaron Kaufman. He was a big fan favorite on the show, and had been with the company for 14 years before deciding to go his own way. The strict deadlines and time-consuming builds are ultimately what made him decide to leave in 2017. For those wondering what he's been up to, let's take a look at what this fabricator has been doing in recent years.
Kaufman was born in Crowley, Texas, on January 26, 1982. His father was a passionate automotive enthusiast, and he helped his dad work on multiple projects. He realized he had a gift at disassembling and reassembling vehicles when he got his first ever vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee. Originally, Kaufman pictured himself becoming a park ranger, but in the end he decided to follow his true passion and became a talented hot rod builder.
Television Career
Kaufman undoubtedly gained a ton of exposure from Fast N' Loud on TV. He grew his own fan-base and became incredibly popular after showing what he was capable of. One of his more popular creations was his 1963 Ford Falcon race car. He built the car on the show and used it to race at Pikes Peak on multiple occasions. Recently, he actually ended up selling the car online for $65,000. At the Gas Monkey shop, Aaron was constantly facing tight deadlines and had to put in countless hours to keep up with demand.
Shortly after leaving the popular show, he went out an started his own show, called Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman. It focused on his work at his personal shop, Arclight Fabrication, where he manufactures parts for the Ford F-100. This show only ended up doing only one season, but it was a cool in depth look at what this talented individual was getting into.
That wasn't the end of his television days though, because he recently came out with another new show, called Aaron Needs a Job. In this one, he toured all around the United States and featured people doing jobs that he found extremely interesting and challenging. Most of the jobs would relate to the automotive industry in some kind of way. There are no confirmations of another season, but it could potentially be in the works for the future.
Aaron Kaufman Net Worth
Kaufman has a net worth of $8 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. He's truly put in a ton of work and his decision to leave the shop seems to be rewarding him quite well. Between his work at his personal shop, and the dedication to his television shows, it's easy to assume this guy always stays busy.
With everything regarding Coronavirus going on, I wouldn't expect to see any new series or continuation of previous shows until a little farther in the future. Checking out his Instagram, it's nice to see he's still working hard at Arclight Fabrication. Kaufman isn't done yet, so it'll be interesting to see what projects he's working on next.
See more at altdriver.com
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Jesse James’ “Monster Garage” Team Transforms Mustang Into Lawnmower
Who remembers this epic episode from Monster Garage? If fact, it was actually the first episode of the Discovery Channel TV show to be produced, and the challenge was to transform a stock 1990 Ford Mustang GT convertible into a functioning lawn mower. Jesse James and his team members come together to see if they can make it happen, and they didn't disappoint.
Here are the rules: the vehicle must look stock, they can't spend anymore than $3000, and they have seven days total to get it done. Considering the restrictions they had, I'd say the results of this Ford Mustang lawn mower, nicknamed switchblade, were pretty incredible. Who needs a hot rod when they have this?
Jesse may be known as a West Coast Choppers bike builder from Long Beach, but make no mistake, he certainly knows his way around custom-cars as well. They quickly ditched the back seat, mufflers, and catalytic converter, and replaced it with a Briggs and Stratton 10 horsepower mower engine with a 48 inch triangular Delta deck mower, placed just behind the rear wheels. They also attached three cylindrical blades to the doors and rear of the car. Inside the vehicle, they added controls to raise and lower the blades.
Read More: The Nautilimo is a Pink Cadillac Boat Powered by a 100-HP Yamaha Engine
Now, they could have dropped in some Chevy or Dodge V8 engine to up the power, but the car was already outfitted with a rear-wheel drive 200 horsepower 5.0 V8, and they were on a pretty strict deadline so they decided to keep it. After throwing on some gold-spoke wheels the car was ready for a new paint job. It started with a black smoke outline and used a "Kameleon" green-to-silver top coat. By the time they applied the final clear coat, this coupe was looking pretty slick. The whole car just screams that it's from the 90's.
The car actually went up for sale at the famous Barrett Jackson. This place sells everything from Deloreans to firetrucks, and in 2008, this wicked Ford Mustang creation went up on the block. The vehicle sold for $8,030 and it's safe to say they picked up one of the coolest lawn mowers ever made. Imagine cutting your grass at 100 mph, because that's what this car is capable of.
This is an epic throwback moment of television. Really makes you think about how many great shows they had going on at the time. Oh, how times have changed.
See more at altdriver.com
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Do You Remember NAPA Parts Pups Magazines?
Do you remember NAPA Parts Pups? Some car owners might remember walking into a NAPA Auto Parts store and seeing a magazine that caught their eyes. Auto parts mechanics and customers in the United States loved the NAPA Parts Pups joke books and magazines. It’s not surprising why—each magazine issue featured pinup girls. NAPA Auto Parts stores carried the NAPA Auto Parts Pups magazines for quite some time.
You can find vintage Parts Pups joke books and magazines on Google Shopping and eBay. Some of these issues are from as early as the 50s and as late as the 90s. What made these girlie magazines so intriguing (besides the covers) were the jokes. It was the perfect mechanic content for shop workers and men working on their cars from home! Parts Pups collectibles are a win-win.
The final year of the Parts Pups magazine was 1996. I can understand why they might be too risque for stores nowadays! Bikini pictures around a parts store may cause a few phone calls to managers. Savor the last lot and head over to eBay for the vintage magazines. You'll find vintage NAPA Standard Parts Pups December, February, March, April, May, June and, December editions.
Most of them cost less than $20, and shipping costs are low. Sellers can have them at your doorsteps in just a few business days! Many sellers keep their Genuine Parts Co magazines in protective magazine sleeves stored in a temperature-controlled environment. This keeps the NAPA Parts Pups magazines in excellent condition!
Forget new tool chests and new work boots, the NAPA Auto Parts Pups car magazines make great gifts for mechanics and car lovers.
Check out Amazon for similar items and more Parts Pups annual joke books. Do you wish NAPA still sold NAPA Parts Pups magazines?
See more at altdriver.com/classics/napa-parts-pups
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The Tragic Life and Death of Candace Muzny
On Monday, February 17, Candace Muzny was found dead in her Ski Island home, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The 43-year-old former NASCAR driver reportedly died due to accidental drowning, a medical examiner determined Wednesday.
Muzny had just been arrested last month for after allegedly punching a nail technician for not speaking English and cutting a responding police officer with a pocket knife. She had only been out of jail for a few days before her tragic death.
Former NASCAR Driver Candace Muzny Death
Muzny’s body was discovered around 5 p.m. local time on Monday afternoon. Neighbor Raushae Jones witnessed firsthand the immediate tragedy and shock surrounding the incident.
“I just pulled in right there, and the woman was already in the front crying and she was on the phone with somebody,” Jones told Fox 8.
“They always seemed like nice people, so I didn’t really – I don’t know. It was just shocking,” Jones said.
Muzny’s death was initially ruled suspicious, though a medical examiner’s office report later concluded that the cause of death had been accidental drowing. Muzny had only been out of jail for a few days, having been released on Friday.
Candace Muzny Arrest
On January 12, Muzny was arrested after slapping and yelling at a manicurist for speaking Vietnamese to a co-worker. When another co-worker attempted to call police, she threatened him with a pocket knife and punched him in the face, according to a police report.
“We were speaking in our native language about my pay, and then she said to ‘f***ing stop speaking that language or I will slap you in the face,'” manicurist Tiffany Nguyen told News9 in January.
“She got me cornered, and I fell. But I was able to kick her, and she lunged and tried to put a knife up to my throat a couple of times.”
In an interview with Heavy.com, Muzny gave her side of the story.
“I asked her three times to stop speaking Vietnamese to me,” Muzny said. “I was paying with the American dollar.”
“I think if you’re speaking to an American who is a customer of yours, and you know they’re not Vietnamese, it’s rude to talk to them in a language they don’t understand. She needs to get back to Vietnam. If she wants to live in America and serve Americans, she needs to speak the language they speak.”
When a Oklahoma City police officer arrived at the nail salon, Muzny’s dog began biting the officer’s leg. She also struck the officer behind the ear with her pocket knife, leaving him with a small cut. Muzny was charged with assault & battery on an officer, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, resisting an officer, and interfering with a 911 call.
Candace Muznzy Racing Career
Muzny competed in the NASCAR Late Model Divisions and NASCAR K&N Pro Series. She also raced in the 2007 Toyota All-Star Showdown and 2009 Last Chance Open.
When the former race car driver was coming up in the sport in her 20s, her skills did not go unnoticed. Even famous fabricator and TV personality Jesse James praised Muzny’s potential.
“Candace is a very skilled and patient driver. The sky is the limit for her. And the best thing? She is not shooting for the stars,” James told The Orange County Register back in 2005. “She’s humble and willing to put the time in and learn and take each step with confidence.”
See more at altdriver.com
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Fred Flintstone Arrested for Speeding
Back in 2018, "Fred Flintstone," who was actually a Florida man named Don Swartz, drove around the Wesley Chapel area in a Smart Car that was customized to look a lot like the iconic Flintmobile.
It must’ve been a slow day in the neighborhood, because Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Deputy H. Echevarri decided to use the off-the-wall incident as an opportunity for a photo op, staging a scene where Swartz got pulled over and cited for speeding.
In a Facebook post, the Pasco Sheriff’s office joked that “Mr. Flintstone” “became unruly and had to be detained.”
“After further investigation, Mr. Flintstone was issued a Notice To Appear and released. Deputy Echevarria then seized the vehicle which is now part of the PCSO fleet. This is what Intelligence-Led Policing looked like in the stone age,” the post read.
“A very special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Don and Trina Swartz for being such great sports… Yabba Dabba Doo!”
Even if this guy wasn’t actually breaking any laws, you have to ask yourself what he was doing all dressed up more than a week after Halloween.
For more check out Altdriver.com
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“Counting Cars” Team Rebuilds a ’41 Buick for Charity
Danny "The Count" Koker constantly stays busy at his Las Vegas custom hot rod shop, Count's Kustoms. Thanks to the History Channel TV show Counting Cars, we've seen tons of beautiful American muscle car creations leave the shop. They've worked on all kinds of classic cars and pickup trucks from Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Cadillac, and so much more. Even today, they're still cranking out new episodes as they get rolling on Counting Cars season 9.
Every now and then, the Count's car show get's a really special project, and this '41 Buick in the 'Big Love Buick' episode was a perfect example. A couple came into the shop and wanted to get a custom vehicle made so they could put it up for auction and raise awareness for a rare disease called NF2. Their only request was that the car was badass, so Danny Koker could go in basically any direction he wanted. He could've gone with a Corvette, Caddy, Monte Carlo, Camaro, or Mustang, but he and Kevin both felt that the '41 Buick was a perfect choice for this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPR9k6I3zSw
The shop dedicated hundreds of hours worth of work on the body, paint, and mechanical components on this old ride. He completely surpassed the former glory that this car once was, and it was entirely transformed into a custom dream car. I mean, this thing is so clean it looks like it should be at a SEMA show. As the couple comes back to see the finished product, they are speechless as Ryan rolls the Buick out of the shop. Together, the couple, Danny, Kevin, and Ryan, all go over the upgrades to this classic.
The first thing you notice about this car is the gorgeous black and orange paint job. It truly pops when the car is rolled into the sun, with the orange shifting to a golden shade. They smoothed out all of the body lines to make this car truly unique compared to how it came from the factory. As he pops the hood, you get a look at the big block Chevrolet 409 engine with modern electronics and even air conditioning.
Moving onto the inside, it was fitted with a custom black leather interior with orange stitching. Looking at the dash shows a perfect blend of black and silver to match the car. Finally, as they open the trunk, they show off the quality sound system which includes amplifiers and multiple speakers. The best part was that they integrated the sound system without losing any of the trunk space.
The final result brings this couple to tears as they say thank you to Danny and the shop. It was exactly what they were looking for, and you can tell this vehicle was made with some serious love. I'm a little surprised that Horny Mike didn't try to put his magic touch on the car. Unfortunately, Roli is no longer on the show, but I know he'd love to get his hands on this one as well. It might not as high dollar as a custom Shelby or Road Runner, but this is undoubtedly one cool car that's going to bring a good chunk of change at auction.
Make sure to catch the rest of the season 9 episodes to keep up with the next crazy project that the shop decides to take on.
See more at altdriver.com
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6 of the Fastest American Muscle Cars From the ’60s
The 1960s were the golden age when it came to badass American muscle cars. There was a whole host of muscle cars that came out during that time that were especially designed for anyone who was seriously feeling the need for speed.
Here, we’ll just focus on six muscle cars from the ’60s that could go from 0-60 faster than you can say “zero to 60.”
See more at altdriver.com/classics/6-fastest-muscle-cars-1960s
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Courtney Hansen: The Former Model Is the Ultimate Auto Superstar
You probably recognize the beautiful Courtney Hansen from her time spent on the car-makeover show, Overhaulin'. What you may not realize is just how crazy about cars this woman actually is. Her whole life has basically revolved around the automotive industry.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota into a racing family, she spent a lot of time in the garages and pits. Her family owned Brainerd International Raceway where she developed her automotive passion. Her very first car was a 1992 IROC-Z Camaro when she was 16. However, this was only the beginning for Hansen. Below, we'll look at the numerous different ventures she's been involved with over the years.
Courtney Hansen's Career
Courtney attended Florida State University, and graduated with a degree in marketing. She started off in the corporate world but it didn't take long before she started working as a fashion model. She landed cover shots on major magazines such as Hot Rod Magazine, and Muscle & Fitness.
Around this time, she started working as the co-host on the car-makeover show, Overhaulin', working closely with Chip Foose. This was easily her biggest TV role as of yet, and it helped her become known as a TV personality. Now, she's not a mechanic by trade, but that didn't stop this woman from getting her hands dirty. Not only did she help host, but she also helped out the crew with the assembly and disassembly of the vehicles. She worked with the show up until 2005, when she decided to pursue other interests.
Following this, she was the television host for Spike TV's Powerblock for eight seasons, and even hosted a special called Great Builds. She involved herself with a wide variety of other car shows including Destination Wild on Fox Sports Net, and as a host of TLC's TV shows Rides, and Million Dollar Motors. A little bit later in her television career, she hosted Autoweek's Vinsetta Garage on the Discovery Channel's Velocity Network. By 2014, she started working as the host of NBC Sports, Spike TV, and CBS Sports TV series PowerNation, where she left in 2015.
Hansen has been writing a nationally syndicated automotive newspaper column titled "Courtney Hansen: Full Throttle" since 2005. She even went further than the newspaper to become the author of The Garage Girl's Guide To Everything You Need To Know About Your Car. This book gave women and first time car owners some helpful advice on proper care for their vehicle.
Courtney decided that she was ready to jump into something big. So, she became the executive producer of her own car show, The Ride That Got Away. Working with sponsors and investors, she managed to secure $3 million dollars to start the show. Although it was a ton of work, she still managed to get break down barriers and make this project a reality. She was on her way to season two of the show but COVID-19 may have prolonged the premier. Although, she does appear to still be looking for deserving people that have fallen on hard times for the show.
She acts as a true inspiration for other women around the world, proving that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Today, she can be seen on her social media accounts still completely surrounded in the world of cars, or on her website CourtneyHansen.com. We can't wait to see the next crazy project she gets involved with!
See more at altdriver.com
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Krysten Anderson: The Monster Truck Driver Follows in Her Dad’s Footsteps
Dennis Anderson, the original founder of the Grave Digger truck, built quite the following for the black and green monster truck throughout his career. The Monster Jam truck is considered one of the most iconic and recognizable monster trucks in the world. Back in 2017, Dennis was injured while attempting to backflip the truck at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. This ended up pushing him into retirement earlier than expected. But even though Dennis Anderson has ended his driving career, he still has children who followed in the same footsteps who can carry on the family legacy; Adam Anderson, Ryan Anderson, and the newest driver of the three, Krysten Anderson.
Krysten Anderson is the daughter of Dennis Anderson and is also first female driver of Grave Digger. Originally from Currituck, North Carolina, Krysten became an official driver back in 2017 - around the same time as Dennis's accident. She's obviously been surrounded by the Grave Digger brand since she was a child, but now aims at defining her own name. The monster truck driver has competed in the last 3 feld entertainment Monster Jam world finals and the all-star challenge in 2019. With Dennis's legendary career, and Adam Anderson being a 5 times world finals champion, the female Grave Digger driver surely has a high bar set for her. With the last name Anderson, people naturally expect the "all or nothing" performances that they normally see from the truck.
Now, even though she's got big shoes to fill, make no mistake, Krysten is already a very talented driver. She didn't get put into that truck for nothing. But she has potential to be great. Dennis stated that the first time he saw Krysten in a mud truck, he knew she had what it took. This driver has no fear sending that 12,000 pound truck off some jumps to get some serious air time. Take a look at this video from her freestyle run at a Monster Jam event in Fargo, North Dakota back in 2018.
Krysten proves to be a very postive role model for women out there, especially the little girls. They see this Monster Jam driver giving her all in that arena, and witness the extraordinary things women are capable of, first hand. I think with a little time, Krysten is going to prove to the world exactly what she has the ability to do. I wouldn't be surprised to see her become a world finals champion down the line.
See more at altdriver.com
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Teresa Earnhardt: Who Is Dale Earnhardt’s Widow?
If you closely followed the racing career of the late, great NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Sr., then you've probably heard at least a couple stories about his third wife and widow, Teresa Earnhardt.
Born Teresa Houston in Hickory, North Carolina, she's the biological mother of Taylor Nicole Earnhardt and the stepmother of Kerry Earnhardt and JR Motorsports co-owners, Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Dale Earnhardt Jr. On top of that, she's the former president and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Thought it's no longer an active racing team, DEI maintains a historical showroom where fans can visit to purchase memorabilia and other goods.
Now, Teresa was actually at the head of the company for a while. She was in charge during four Busch Series championships in '98, '99, '04, and '05, as well as two Craftsman Truck Series championships in '96 and '98. Her very first win as a team owner was at the Daytona 500 in 2001, when Michael Waltrip took the victory in the No. 15 Chevrolet. Unfortunately, this victory was overshadowed by the tragic death of Dale Sr. at Daytona International Speedway.
By late 2006, Teresa hired Max Siegel as the President of Global Operations for DEI to help expand further into the entertainment industry, and by 2007, DEI had acquired Ginn Racing.
Following her late husband's death, Teresa was unable to retain sponsorship from Budweiser and the United States Army. Because of that, it led the team to a merger with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2008. Going forward, the name would be Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. They even managed to pull off a win at the Daytona 500 in 2010, courtesy of Jamie McMurray. Teresa's ownership in EGR was absorbed by Chip Ganassi in 2014, after he bought Teresa out of her shares. They soon reverted the name back to Chip Ganassi Racing. This turned out to be a good thing, however, since she could now continue to operate DEI in Mooresville, North Carolina.
There were several issues that made themselves known within the company. For one, Teresa and her stepson Dale Jr. already had a rocky relationship. Well, around 2007, he cut his relationship off with her completely after he announced that he would not be returning to DEI for the 2008 season, leaving the team for Hendrick Motorsports. The reason behind it was that they were unable to reach an agreement that worked for both himself and his three siblings, who claimed equal rights to the business.
Additionally, there was more conflict in 2016, when Teresa sued Kerry Earnhardt for using the Earnhardt name in his business venture. He and his wife were planning on marketing a line of homes and furniture with the name "The Earnhardt Collection," however, Teresa won the appeal.
Needless to say, Teresa Earnhardt has found herself at the center of plenty of controversy over the years.
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Fast facts on the classic Chevy Chevelle | Alt_Driver
We take a Rare look at the classic, MOST popular car of its time, The Chevy Chevelle.
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Lamborghini will begin production on its first SUV in 24 years | Alt_Driver
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Danica Patrick Made History at the 2013 Daytona 500
For 60 years, the Daytona 500 has not only been a defining race in the sport of NASCAR, but has also gone on to reach lasting significance in the sports world as a whole. The Great American Race at Daytona International Speedway is the perfect way to kick off the NASCAR season, particularly when you consider all of the energy surrounding it and think about all of the incredible and historic moments associated with the race. One of the many moments that come to mind is Danica Patrick’s historic finish at the 2013 Daytona 500.
Patrick accomplished plenty of firsts during her racing career. She was the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race. She racked up the highest finish by a woman in the Indy 500. On top of that, she was the 2005 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year and a six-time IndyCar Series Most Popular Driver.
With all that in mind, it’s especially fitting to remember her impressive run at the “Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing,” especially since it happened during her first full NASCAR Cup Series season.
2013 Daytona 500
During qualifying for the inaugural NASCAR race, Patrick became the first woman in NASCAR history to clinch pole position. She was an absolute force to be reckoned with that day, as her No. 10 Chevrolet stock car for Stewart-Haas Racing flew at 196.43 MPH around the track, while she clocked in a lap time of 45.81 seconds.
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Patrick became the first woman to ever lead a lap in the Cup Series and stayed within the top 10 for the majority of the race, even reaching as high as third place. After falling back in the final three laps, Patrick went on to rack up an eighth place finish at Daytona as Jimmie Johnson held off Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the win.
Here's a look at the full race results:
1. Jimmie Johnson -- Hendrick Motorsports -- No. 48 Chevrolet
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- Hendrick Motorsports -- No. 88 Chevrolet
3. Mark Martin -- Michael Waltrip Racing -- No. 55 Toyota
4. Brad Keselowski -- Penske Racing -- No. 2 Ford
5. Ryan Newman -- Stewart-Haas Racing -- No. 39 Chevrolet
6. Greg Biffle -- Roush Fenway Racing -- No. 16 Ford
7. Regan Smith -- Phoenix Racing -- No. 51 Chevrolet
8. Danica Patrick -- Stewart-Haas Racing -- No. 10 Chevrolet
9. Michael McDowell -- Phil Parsons Racing -- No. 98 Ford
10. J. J. Yeley -- Tommy Baldwin Racing -- No. 36 Chevrolet
11. Clint Bowyer -- Michael Waltrip Racing -- No. 15 Toyota
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -- Roush Fenway Racing -- No. 17 Ford
13. Aric Almirola -- Richard Petty Motorsports -- No. 43 Ford
14. Denny Hamlin -- Joe Gibbs Racing -- No. 11 Toyota
15. Bobby Labonte -- JTG Daugherty Racing -- No. 47 Toyota
16. David Reutimann -- BK Racing -- No. 83 Toyota
17. Dave Blaney -- Tommy Baldwin Racing -- No. 7 Chevrolet
18. Marcos Ambrose -- Richard Petty Motorsports -- No. 9 Ford
19. Joey Logano -- Penske Racing -- No. 22 Ford
20. Jeff Gordon -- Hendrick Motorsports -- No. 24 Chevrolet
21. Paul Menard -- Richard Childress Racing -- No. 27 Chevrolet
22. Michael Waltrip -- Swan Racing -- No. 26 Toyota
23. Scott Speed -- Leavine Family Racing -- No. 95 Ford
24. Martin Truex Jr. -- Michael Waltrip Racing -- No. 56 Toyota
25. Travis Kvapil -- BK Racing -- No. 93 Toyota
26. Terry Labonte -- FAS Lane Racing -- No. 32 Ford
27. Trevor Bayne -- Wood Brothers Racing -- No. 21 Ford
28. Kurt Busch -- Furniture Row Racing -- No. 78 Chevrolet
29. Casey Mears -- Germain Racing -- No. 13 Ford
30. Jeff Burton -- Richard Childress Racing -- No. 31 Chevrolet
31. Austin Dillon -- Richard Childress Racing -- No. 33 Chevrolet
32. Jamie McMurray -- Earnhardt Ganassi Racing -- No. 1 Chevrolet
33. Carl Edwards -- Roush Fenway Racing -- No. 99 Ford
34. Kyle Busch -- Joe Gibbs Racing -- No. 18 Toyota
35. David Ragan -- Front Row Motorsports -- No. 34 Ford
36. Kasey Kahne -- Hendrick Motorsports -- No. 5 Chevrolet
37. Matt Kenseth -- Joe Gibbs Racing -- No. 20 Toyota
38. David Gilliland -- Front Row Motorsports -- No. 38 Ford
39. Juan Pablo Montoya -- Earnhardt Ganassi Racing -- No. 42 Chevrolet
40. Josh Wise -- Front Row Motorsports -- No. 35 Ford
41. Tony Stewart -- Stewart-Haas Racing -- No. 14 Chevrolet
42. Kevin Harvick -- Richard Childress Racing -- No. 29 Chevrolet
43. Joe Nemechek -- NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing -- No. 87 Toyota
Though Danica’s final NASCAR race would be at the 2018 Daytona 500 — this time driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Premium Motorsports — she would never be able to best her performance at that historic 2013 Daytona 500.
Even though Danica Patrick’s NASCAR career is behind her, we’re sure that the former race car driver frequently looks back on that moment at Daytona Beach with an immense amount of pride.
This post was originally published on January 18, 2019.
See more at altdriver.com
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Dale Earnhardt’s Daughter Taylor Is a Pro Rodeo Competitor
It's no secret that the Earnhardt family loved surrounding themselves with motorsports and horsepower, but did you know they also had a thing for horses as well? Seven-time NASCAR Champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. kept lots of them on his private estate as his kids were growing up, and his daughter Taylor Nicole Earnhardt developed a real love toward these animals.
It eventually turned into a passion, especially when she found out about competing in different rodeo events. Her father, being a NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and team owner of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), taught Taylor to use that same competitive nature to thrive in the world of barrel racing. Her skill in the sport quickly brought her to become a professional rodeo competitor, which she still continues to do to this day.
Even on top of her career surrounding horses and rodeos, she still finds time to help others. Taylor acts as the spokeswoman for the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, alongside her mother Teresa Earnhardt. This organization commits itself to children, education, and environmental preservation, and they've raised millions of dollars to support their cause so far.
Even though Taylor stays extremely busy in her professional career, she's managed to expand the Earnhardt family as well. Back in 2012, she got married to her husband Brandon Putnam in Mooresville, North Carolina, officially making her Taylor Earnhardt Putnam. As she walked down the isle, "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts was the song of choice, and the two rode to the reception in a cherry red 1946 pickup truck from Dale Earnhardt's classic car collection.
Back in 2016, Taylor and Brandon welcomed their beautiful first child to the world, Sage Nicole Putnam. She may be only four years old, but judging by Taylor's Instagram, she's already been surrounded with some pretty awesome experiences. You can check out even more pictures and video updates on her page.
Something tells me this child is going to love horses as she gets older. Taylor knows the value of family thanks to how she grew up, and it certainly seems like she'll be giving her child the best life possible.
Between Taylors success in her own life, and Dale Earnhardt Jr/Sr's success in racing, there's definitely something great in the Earnhardt bloodline. It's awesome to see everything that Taylor was able to accomplish, while also creating a family for herself. Earnhardt Sr would be proud.
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10 Celebrities Who Started as Truck Drivers
For some people, truck driving has given them a long and fulfilling career, and for others, it was only just the beginning. Trucking can offer ways to get people back on their feet, or give them the ability to save money like they weren't able to before. That's why today we're going to look at some of the famous celebrities in the world who drove trucks at one point in their lives.
Although the trucking industry and being a trucker is not always the most glamorous life, it does provide opportunity for a lot of people in the world. There are loads of people that enjoy the solidarity and the freedom that the career brings, but when Hollywood comes calling, it's hard to pass up that kind of opportunity. Check out the list below to see some of the most famous truckers that went on to become celebrities.
Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson is known for his character of an over-protective father in the variety of films he's been in. This Irishman started his career as a fork-lift driver and a lorry driver for Guinness. Eventually, he decided this career was not for him. He resigned and joined the Lyric Players' Theater before eventually landing his first role in the film industry with Pilgrim's Progress, in 1977.
Elvis Presley
Word on the street is that the king of rock was very talented behind the wheel of a big rig. He started driving fresh out of high school. On one particular occasion, he decided he wanted to audition as a singer. After his audition, he was told "stick to truck driving, you'll never make it as a singer." Safe to say, he proved them wrong as his career progressed.
James Cameron
This amazing director dropped out of college to become a truck driver. While he was driving, he used his spare time to continue to work on scrips and learn about special effects. He was inspired by Star Wars back in 1977, and eventually quit his job and used his savings to buy a camera. He created a successful indie movie and eventually went on to create Terminator, Titanic, and Avatar, and so many others.
Chevy Chase
Turns out there are lots of film stars who started out in the trucking industry. Chevy Chase is among those. He hopped into trucking after finishing med school, before eventually transitioning into the world of film. It was a good start, but the National Lampoon star had bigger goals in mind, and he went on to provide the world with some incredible entertainment.
Sean Connery
The very first James Bond; yeah he was a trucker. Can you imagine having this guy deliver to you? It would probably be the highlight of the year. Connery has had a wide variety of jobs before getting into acting, including serving in the Navy, driving trucks, being a lifegaurd, being an artists model, and so much more. I'm glad he was the one to start off the James Bond series though.
Charles Bronson
This famous Western star tried out multiple different jobs after serving in WWII. He drove a truck for quite some time before transitioning into a theater company. This turned out to be a great move for the star, as he went on to be in films such as The Dirty Dozen, and Once Upon a Time in the West.
Richard Pryor
Before this comedian made his debut, he was involved in some trucking jobs. He hauled truckloads across the US and Europe. He must have had tons of time to himself to come up with all kinds of hilarious jokes. Think about the laughs he was probably creating over the CB radio. He eventually traded the trucking life for a life of stand-up comedy. He was even put into the Rolling Stones list of Top 50 stand up comics.
Rock Hudson
Hudson is arguably one of the most famous truck drivers from the movie industries. He spent a lot of time driving trucks in WWII, before making his move into the movie business. The truck driver ended up being a part in tons of classic romantic comedies throughout the 50's and 60's.
Viggo Mortenson
Not only was Mortenson a truck driver, but he was also a florist. He was a truly underrated star throughout the 90's but you probably know him as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings. Overall, it was a very good move for him to get more involved with film, because he was later nominated for an academy award in 2016 for his role in Captain Fantastic.
Jason Aldean
I couldn't leave Jason Adlean out of this list. He became one of the biggest country rock stars in the United States, following his trucking career. Even today, he still has a passion for these big machines. He made deliveries for Pepsi back in the day before moving more into music.
Trucking can undeniably give you a little more opportunity if you're struggling to get by in life. But, this list should show you that just about anything is possible if you truly stick to what your passionate about.
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This Dragster-Themed Coaster Goes Is One Wild Ride
If you're a fan of roller coasters and adrenaline rushes, then you've got to check out this POV on ride video on the Top Thrill Dragster in Sandusky, Ohio, at the Cedar Point amusement park. Thanks to its hydraulic launch system, you can see first hand just how quickly this ride gets up to speed.
At the beginning of the video, you'll notice the similarities to drag racing, as it features the same starting light Christmas tree. Once the light turns green, this cart takes off down the track in the same fashion as if it were headed down a drag strip. It reaches some insane speeds as well, but it doesn't hit the brakes at the end. Instead, the track continues straight into the air through inversions before making its way back down to the other side.
Good thing they have a lap bar on this ride, because you'll need one. It may be a short ride, but it's certainly action packed and the drop at the end is enough to get the blood pumping. Let's check out some information about the crazy ride.
Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster
The strata coaster was manufactured by Intamin, and it was the sixteenth built inside the park. The tagline for the Top Thrill Dragster is "Race For The Sky" and it's not hard to see why. The hydraulic system that launches the trains down the track is definitely its most notable unique feature.
When this new roller coaster first debuted at the theme park in 2003, it broke world records for the tallest complete circuit roller coaster, tallest roller coaster, tallest roller coaster drop, and fastest roller coaster. Amazingly, you will hit a top speed of 120 mph on the stretch of launch track in under 4 seconds. The previous records were held by rides like Tower of Terror II, Dodonpa, and Superman: Escape from Krypton at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Two years later, Kingda Ka opened at Six Flags Great Adventure and took two of the records away from Top Thrill Dragster.
As if the ride wasn't scary enough, there's also occurrences known as "rollbacks" that happen from time to time. This happens when the train does not have enough speed to make it all the way up and over the hill, causing it to roll back down the way it came. Luckily, the ride is equipped with magnetic braking fins so it can be slowed down if this happens. On rare occasions, it can even get stuck at the very top due to not having enough speed. In this scenario, a mechanic takes the elevator up and pushes the train forward so that it can roll down the other side.
The Top Thrill Dragster and the Millennium Force rides are reported as the top two largest investments in Cedar Point history. If you're ever in Ohio, this should definitely be one of the places that you stop at. Keep in mind, this is only just one of the rides at the theme park.
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Tom Cruise is Obsessed with Motorcycles
You know Tom Cruise. Well, you may not know him personally, but surely you're aware of him from that one movie? The one where he feels a need for speed? Ok, what about the films in the Mission Impossible franchise? Knight and Day? Oblivion? Risky Business? Surely this is ringing a bell.
Those who are familiar with Tom Cruise's portfolio will know that he likes to perform his own stunts, particularly ultra-daring motorcycle stunts. Therefore, it's not shocking at all to learn that he has an impeccable collection of personal motorcycles.
Here are a few of the most notable motorcycles that the Hollywood daredevil has ridden. From his own personal collection to the bikes that he hand picks to be in movies with him, it's clear that Tom Cruise has impeccable taste in motorcycles.
When your net worth is somewhere around $480 million, you can afford to buy yourself a nice birthday present. At least, that appears to be the case with the nearly $104,000 Vyrus 987 C3 4V Tom rode for his 51st birthday in 2013.
Terms like "most powerful" and "most expensive" are associated with the production motorcycle, but of course, most records were made to be broken. Hailing from Italy, the Vyrus 987 C3 4V has a 1.2L engine that is able to hit 209 miles per hour. Given its lightweight frame, that should satisfy most people's need for speed.
There are at least two Ducati motorcycles associated with Hollywood legend Tom Cruise. There's the grey Ducati 999R he gifted himself for his 46th birthday. Only 200 of this model were produced, making it a truly special present, indeed. That makes it horrifying on many levels to note that the Ducati 999R was the bike he almost wrapped around a tree in Los Angeles.
Then there's the Ducati Desmosedici RR. Again, a limited edition, with only 1,000 of this bike produced. Cruise generously took Knight and Day co-star Cameron Diaz for a ride on his Desmosedici RR during filming. Considering this bike costs around $72,500 and can easily hit 200 miles per hour, that must have been an impressive Sunday drive.
In the first Top Gun film, Tom Cruise was seen riding around on mesmerizing Kawasaki GPZ900r. In true Cruise fashion, he performed his own motorcycle stunts, including racing a fighter jet. At the time, this was the first and only bike to cross the 150mph threshold, so this isn't necessarily as irrational as it may seem, though it's probably not something most riders need to try. You'll at least have to sign a waiver.
Though early reports indicated the Kawasaki GPZ900r was coming back for Top Gun 2: Maverick, early press indicates that the role of Tom Cruises's super-sweet bike will be played by a Kawasaki Ninja H2R. This is the track-ready version of Kawasaki's Ninja H2, and yes, it's the one that casually zoomed up to 248 miles per hour in just 26 seconds. Definitely fighter jet racing material for the new millennium.
Tom Cruise doesn't necessarily own every bike he has ever ridden in the Mission Impossible movie series, but popular legend has it that he had input into which motorcycles made it onscreen. It stands to reason that doing your own stunts gives you that kind of privilege.
In Mission Impossible 2, Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise, of course) tools around on a 1999 Triumph Speed Triple. This was The Sports Bike to have in the 1990s. Not only could it speed around at over 140 miles per hour, it was actually designed with the rider in mind. You might not immediately think "road trip" while watching Cruise leave the bad guy on the Daytona in the dust, but the idea isn't... impossible.
The next installment in the franchise, Mission Impossible 3, starred a Triumph Bonneville Scrambler. This bike was custom-built for the movie, and allegedly auctioned off afterwards. You'll notice this bike is a bit more rugged, compared to the other bikes. The chrome. The vintage styling. It's essentially made to be stared at.
Honorable Mention goes the Confederate Hellcat Tom Cruise rode to the premiere of Mission Impossible 3. In keeping with the "rugged and manly" theme, this 121 horsepower, 140 lb/ft torque bike is a force to be reckoned with, and has gained the stamp of approval from another Hollywood fan, Brad Pitt.
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is the fifth installment in the Impossible Film series, and the black BMW S1000 RR. This is definitely back on track with the racing bikes, as the BMW S1000 RR was international speed superstar Michael Dunlop's ride for many a road race.
If you haven't seen Mission Impossible: Fallout, you don't want to know what happens to the BMW R nine T Scrambler. When you do watch it, just remember that not everything in the movies is real. The BMW R nine T Scrambler is absolutely real; in fact, with a starting price just around $14,000, you can custom design your own.
So what kind of motorcycles can we expect in Mission Impossible 7? Director Christopher McQuarrie has teased a few photos of a motorcycle jump, and a lot of things flying through the air independently off a cliff, but sadly, the teaser is just that. More details will surely follow.
In the meantime, we can expect Tom Cruise to continue to choose the best, the most powerful, and naturally the most expensive motorcycles for himself, Maverick, and Ethan Hunt. And once our collective jealousy subsides, maybe we can get organized and start writing up that bucket list of bikes to try.
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Eddie Van Halen’s Iconic Lamborghini Miura Was Featured in “Panama”
By now, everyone has heard about the tragic death of legendary guitarist and musician Eddie Van Halen. He was a massive influence in the world of music, and he will be missed greatly around the world. In memory of this icon, it seemed appropriate to look back at one of the coolest supercars that he owned: a 1972 Lamborghini Miura.
Now, Eddie Van Halen was a massive car guy who loved motorsports, owning tons of different high-end sports cars, such as a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Ferraris, Mercedes-Benz AMGs, and two supercharged Audi R8s, one of which has the V8 engine and the other fitted with the V10. While all of his cars are pretty badass, the Lamborghini just matched the persona of this guitarist so perfectly.
Back in 1984, the rock star released the song Panama, and it left many Van Halen fans confused as to what sound was played following his mind-blowing guitar solo. The sound was later revealed to be revving from the V12 inside the Lamborghini. This unique exhaust noise was incredibly different from other race cars, and it was a great touch to an already fantastic song.
Read More: Top 10 Modern Collector Cars, Including '96 Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Ram SRT10, and Ford Bronco
Eddie originally received the car as a wedding gift from his former wife Valerie Bertinelli. John Temerian is an entrepreneur and supercar enthusiast, and he is the one that currently owns the vehicle. He jumped into details on the widebody Lambo in a video he made on his YouTube channel Curated TV.
The car even still had the wedding date on the license plate. On a daily basis, Eddie would drive this car in the streets of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, normally listening to tapes of his latest music or other content to inspire him.
The Eddie Van Halen Lamborghini Miura is certainly an amazing piece of history, and it’s great to know that it’s in good hands right now. Many people made hot rods out of these cars, but Eddie kept things original for the most part. It was discovered that the car was a factory widebody car that also came with bigger wheels.
Even today, this supercar is absolutely stunning, and it is now serving as a magnificent tribute to the late, great Eddie Van Halen.
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Remastered Footage Shows Mario Andretti Race in 1966 Indy 500
Whether you’re a diehard auto racing fan or just a casual spectator, you’ve likely heard the name Mario Andretti. Boasting a career spanning more than 30 years, Andretti pretty much did it all, racing in everything from Formula One to IndyCar to USAC to NASCAR. With a Formula One World Championship, four IndyCar titles, and numerous other awards and accolades under his belt, Andretti will not only go down as a racing legend, but an overall sports icon.
Of course, despite having plenty of victories throughout his career, Andretti had his fair share defeats, too. And, many of those crushing defeats came at the Indianapolis 500. Yet, even in defeat, Andretti was really something else to watch on the track. In the above remastered footage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we get an incredible POV look at Andretti running a lap during the 1966 Indy 500. It’s hard to imagine that this happened more than 50 years ago. Just check out at how amazing that looks!
Now, like 28 of his 29 attempts at the Indy 500, Andretti’s ’66 running ended in disappointment. Despite leading for 11 laps, he eventually had to drop out due to a valve issue. It wasn’t until three years later, at the 1969 Indy 500, when Andretti took his first, and only, trip to victory lane at the Indianapolis race.
Unfortunately, this win came with a steep price and spawned what many refer to as the “Andretti Curse,” which kicked off a string of bad luck at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that not only affected Mario, but also his son Michael, his son Jeff, his nephew John, and his grandson Marco. Reputation wise, most racers probably couldn’t bounce back from a “curse” of that magnitude. But most racers aren’t Mario Andretti.
Mario Andretti’s valve issue wasn’t even close to being the only mishap at the 1966 Indy 500. Following a first-lap crash involving Billy Foster and Gordon Johncock, 11 racers were eliminated right off the bat, including Foster, A.J. Foyt, Gary Congdon, Cale Yarborough, Arnie Knepper, Al Miller, Bobby Grim, Larry Dickson, Ronnie Duman, Billy Foster, Don Branson, and Dan Gurney (who you may remember for his famous Eagle car and as the founder of All American Racers). Though they were also involved in the crash Johncock, Carl Williams, Mel Kenyon, Joe Leonard, and Bud Tingelstad, were able to successfully restart the race.
Of the 33 competitors, only SEVEN ultimately finished, marking the fewest finishers ever in an Indy 500. But, the problems didn’t stop there.
Despite a promising run from rookie Jackie Stewart — who led for 40 laps in John Mecom’s Lola T90-Ford, but was eliminated after his oil pressure dropped too low — Firestone-sponsored Graham Hill was declared the winner, with Jim Clark getting second and Jim McElreath getting third. However, this victory was marred in controversy, as Clark and his Lotus team thought that should have been declared winners. It was later theorized that when Al Unser’s car, having been painted nearly identical to Clarks, crashed out on lap 161, Clark was mistakenly dinged, leading to him dropping back significantly in the restart position.
Unfortunately for Clark, when the standings were released the day after the race, they remained unchanged and Colin Chapman and Andy Granatelli, the entrants of Clark’s Lotus team, declined to file an official protest. Apparently Mario Andretti wasn’t the only racer to have bad luck at the Indy 500.
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Lisa Kelly Was a Badass on “Ice Road Truckers”
History Channel's Ice Road Truckers (IRT) had a good long run with its 11 seasons. Not many truck drivers can last very long out in the harsh snow storms of Canada and Alaska, but there was one woman who knew she had what it took. Lisa Kelly was originally featured as the first and only woman on the reality TV show until Maya Sieber was introduced, but she quickly became a popular character until the show ended in 2017.
Originally born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, her family made the big move to Wasilla, Alaska when she was just six years old. She claimed that she had no intention of becoming a truck driver, but watching her parents medical careers scared her from going the same route. She returned to Grand Rapids for a second time to attend Cornerstone University, but later dropped out. Instead, she held a wide variety of small jobs including being a and riding motocross. It wasn't until she had a job as a pizza delivery driver that she realized she loved being behind the wheel. This ultimately pushed her into getting her CDL.
Ice Road Truckers
In a recent interview during Trucking HR Canada’s annual Women with Drive event, Lisa opened up and gave people an inside look into what it was like broadcasting her career as an American trucker on the dangerous Alaskan roads for the show.
Lisa landed her first big rig job with a trucking company by the name of Carlile Transportation. It was there that she realized just how hard she had to work to prove herself. She stated that because she was a woman, she felt as if people were waiting for her to fail, and that she would be quick to get called out on mistakes that other drivers would normally get away with.
Her boss forwarded a number for the TV show and asked if she wanted to be part of it, and Lisa agreed before she even knew what it was about. After getting more info, it was made clear that she was picked to be "eye candy" for the viewers. This only motivated her further to prove that she was capable of more than just looking good. The more she drove, the bigger her fan base got. While in the long run she may not have been portrayed exactly how she wanted in the show, she still undoubtedly proved that she was a hard working woman.
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Many articles came out with Lisa as the subject, but they focused on looks more than anything. When asked how she felt about an article calling her the "Sexiest trucker alive", she chuckled and noted that it was better than being known as the fattest trucker alive. Regardless, her time on the show granted her with more fame than she had before, and she talked about the multiple fans that stop her along her journeys.
Not only was she part of the show for eight seasons, but she also got involved in the spinoff, IRT deadliest roads with Rick Yemm and Alex Debogorski, where she spent a couple of months driving in India, Bolivia, and Peru. In later years of IRT, she began working for Darrell Ward's new company before his death after season ten. After finishing off the last season with the show, she's extremely grateful for her time spent on screen, and admitted “I don’t know how it went so long. I’m just pleasantly surprised”.
Personal Life
Still residing in Alaska, Lisa has been married to Traves Kelly since 2008, but they do not have any kids. Traves is an Aleut Native Alaskan and big into motocross, which is perfect for Lisa. In her spare time, she also enjoys riding dirt bikes, as well as horse riding, snowboarding, skydiving, and hang gliding. Safe to say she enjoys living life on the edge.
Lisa is also a big animal lover. She owns a miniature horse named rocky, and a cat named Tanzi. During her time on IRT: deadliest roads, she even brought a puppy for the ride, which she named Rampur Jackson. After the show was finished, the puppy was happily taken home by one of the producers from the show.
Lisa proved to everyone that just because she has good looks and blonde hair, doesn't mean she's blind to hard work. This chick is probably tougher than most of the men on the roads today. Maybe one day we will see her return to the television screen for another show, but until then we wish her the best of luck out on the roads.
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Satisfy Your Need for Speed With These Electric Dirt Bikes
Sorry Huffy, but kids outgrow their toddler ride-on toys, training wheels, and regular ol’ bikes just like anything else. Kids yearn for exciting toys the older they get. I don’t blame them! They see Mommy and Daddy driving big trucks and want to go fast too. Well, before we can hand them over a license, I say we let them get acquainted with an electric dirt bike.
Electric dirt bikes for kids aren’t too pricey, are generally safe, and can be budget-friendly. (If you shop around for the right one.) Luckily for you, we gathered four of the best electric dirt bikes for kids. These electric dirt bikes are perfect for summertime fun with your little ones.
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