Posts Tagged ‘United States’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

David Ragan on pole at Texas

April 11th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Loans
Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Fort Worth, TX, United States (AHN Sports) – Hoping to put some of his bad luck behind him, David Ragan won the pole Friday for Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Ragan has been fast in practice but not been able to win a pole all season, and in the season-opener a snafu at the end of the race may have cost him a Daytona 500 win. Ragan changed lanes before the final restart and was penalized, which put him out of contention.

Five races later, Ragan tried to put that behind when his lap of 189.820 mph put him up front for the start of Saturday night’s race.

“I don’t know how we pulled that off but it was really fast. I have to give credit to our UPS team and (crew chief) Drew Blickensderfer, who made a gutsy call,” said Ragan. “We made our last qualifying run in practice and we decided to change the car up a little bit. It stuck and did what it needed to do. I really like this place, it is a fun place to come and it is cool to get a pole here. Hopefully we can turn that into a good run tomorrow.”

Fastest in Thursday’s practice session, Ragan knocked Roush Fenway Racing teammate Carl Edwards (188.521 mph) off the pole.

Richard Childress Racing’s Clint Bowyer (188.232) will roll off third alongside Matt Kenseth (188.199) as Roush Fenway Racing put three drivers among the top-4 starters.

“We were good. I feel like that was a good lap for us but I think it might have been at the wrong time,” said Edwards. “I have a feeling there will be guys that run some screaming laps in the next 15 to 20 minutes. It is good though. We will go race tomorrow for 500 laps under the lights with our fast Scott’s Ford Fusion.”

Up-and-comer Regan Smith will start fifth and rounding out the top-10 finishers was Jimmie Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch. All four Roush Fenway Racing cars qualified in the top 10.

“It was an OK lap with our Shell/Pennzoil Dodge,” said Kurt Busch. “The car just didn’t loosen up for qualifying. It’s a long race tomorrow night. We just need to make adjustments during the race and stay up with track and be there in the end for a shot at a win.”

David Starr qualifier the No. 95 Ford 33rd, allowing Leavine Fenton Racing to make its series debut, while Travis Kvapil was the only driver who failed to qualify for the race.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mercedes-Benz recalls 136,000 vehicles over cruise control glitch

April 5th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Loans
Linda Young – AHN News Writer

Detroit, MI, United States (AHN) – Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. is recalling more than 136,000 Mercedes-Benz M class SUVs because the brakes might not automatically disengage the cruise control.

The recall follows a preliminary investigation the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began in December.

In a statement on the NHTSA website, officials said, “Difficulty or delay in disengaging cruise control can increase the risk of a crash.”

However, the NHTSA also said that drivers should still be able to end cruise control by pumping the brakes rather than applying consistent pressure, although the “level of force required may be unusually high.”

The recall involves 136,751 of the 2000-02 M Class and 2000-04 M-Class AMG manufactured from August 1999 to June 2004.

Dealers will make the necessary repairs free of charge with the safety recall slated to begin in September. Owners can contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372 or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dario Franchitti wins IZOD IndyCar opener in St. Pete

March 28th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Loans
Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

St. Petersburg, FL, United States (AHN Sports) – Dario Franchitti avoided the carnage on the opening lap to come away with a win in Sunday’s season-opening IZOD IndyCar Series race at St. Petersburg.

Franchitti, fresh off of winning a championship in the series last season, stayed cleared of a six-car pile-up on Turn 1 and went to win on the road/street course in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

“These points count anytime; on the first race all the way through to the last race and I hope that I can make it easier on the team this year. But the Championship can change in a heartbeat and you have to fight all the way through to the end,” said Franchitti. “The caliber of teams and drivers that we are up against shows what the Target Chip Ganassi team did today. It is great to be here in the sunshine of St. Petersburg with the stands full and the Target car was running like a dream.”

Franchitti and pole sitter Will Power kept their cars’ noses clean at the start and stayed out front the remainder of the 100 laps on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit.

The Scot held off the Australian all day as he begins his quest for a third consecutive series championship.

“It was a very interesting start today. Dario Franchitti got me fair and square at the beginning. When we had all of the restarts after caution periods, we got hit hard and went into neutral,” said Power. “We dropped to seventh position but were able to get back up to second again. I was in survival mode after getting hit. I struggled a lot on the blacks today and I was trying to hold Tony Kanaan off as he was hounding on me from behind.”

Power, the 2010 championship runner-up, finished 7.1612 seconds back and running third was Tony Kanaan, who had four practice sessions in the No. 82 KV Racing Technology-Lotus car.

Simona de Silvestro finished a career-best fourth in the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy/HVM Racing car.

“It was hard to pass because there was so much dust in the inside of the track. It was kind of a big risk to take to try to pass him so I was happy with fourth, but for sure I tried a couple of times,” said dr Silbestro. “I couldn’t make it. But, since he has been in the series such a long time and I was battling with him for most of the race, it was pretty fun.”

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Alcohol-sniffing anklets find increasing popularity

March 24th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Loans
Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

Memphis, TN, United States (AHN) – A new DUI bill in Tennessee has prompted courts across the state to turn increasingly to high-tech monitoring.

The devices keep tabs on hard core drunk drivers facing charges for a new offense. The alcohol-sniffing anklets, known as SCRAMx (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor), are monitoring offenders 24/7 before trial to keep the high-risk group from drinking, as well as keeping the public safe.

SCRAMx is an alcohol testing system that includes an anklet, worn around the clock, that actually samples a person’s perspiration every 30 minutes to test for alcohol consumption.

The anklets gained notoriety recently when Hollywood starlet and habitual alleged drunk driver Lindsay Lohan famously wore one for weeks.

However, since the new law went into effect on Jan. 1, use of the device has soared 738 percent from when an early generation of the SCRAMx went into use in 2005.

“It’s a win-win for the community, both for safety and as taxpayers,” commented Paul Ross, director at The Justice Network. “Our biggest growth market right now in many states is the monitoring of offenders who meet the criteria for Hard Core Drunk Driver pre-trial.”

Hard core drunk drivers account for more than 70 percent of DUI fatalities nationwide each year.

Launched as SCRAM to the corrections market in 2003, the system has monitored more than 170,000 offenders for alcohol in 48 states to date.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NASCAR endured tough week off the track

March 21st, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Loans
Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Bristol, TN, United States (AHN Sports) – The week was quite tragic off the track in NASCAR this week.

Daytona 500 Cinderella story Brian Keselowski had to have emergency gall bladder surgery, Richard Childress Racing’s Mike Dillon was diagnosed with a blood clot and Rick Ware Racing lost one crew member and had another paralyzed in a car crash away from the track.

Keselowski, pushed to his first Daytona 500 start a month ago by kid brother Brad Keselowski, had emergency surgery Thursday night to remove his gall bladder and was replaced temporarily by Dennis Setzer.

Keselowski is expected to miss races at California, Martinsville and Texas before returning for Talladega.

Then there is Dillon, RCR’s vice president of competition and son-in-law to team owner and boss Richard Childress, who was admitted to the hospital late last week after doctors discovered a blood clot in his lung.

The 46-year-old former NASCAR driver and father of drivers Austin and Ty Dillon underwent a series of tests and is awaiting results but was released from the hospital according to an RCR statement.

The night before the Camping World Truck Series race at Darlington, S.C., Rick Ware Racing lost one team member and another was paralyzed after being involved in a weekend car crash near Thomasville, N.C.

Dean Shaut was killed and Stephen Masch was paralyzed while riding in Shaut’s personal vehicle during the late evening hours on Friday, March 11.

According to RWR, Shaut, the 44-year-old driver, apparently approached a turn on Ball Park Road and clipped a telephone pole, hitting a tree which sent the vehicle overturning several times before coming to a stop. Masch 29, was transported to Wake Forest Trauma Center where he underwent extensive surgery to relieve pressure on his spine.

“This is absolutely devastating news about what has happened within our Rick Ware Racing teams,” said RWR Truck driver Jeffrey Earnhardt. “I am so sorry for what these families must be going through and I send my deepest sympathies to both the Shaut and Masch families.”

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kurt Busch falls short in NHRA finals try; Enders wins by half a car length

March 14th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Loans
Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Gainesville, FL, United States (AHN Sports) – Former NASCAR champ Kurt Busch failed in his professional drag racing debut Sunday, succumbing to fifth-seeded Erica Enders in the first round of the Pro Stock division of the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, FL., Sunday.

The 2004 Sprint Cup champion Busch, who advanced to the elimination round after coming back from two error-filled qualifying runs Saturday, ran 6.541 (211.59 MPH) in his first bid to the NHRA finals.

Busch, a third generation car driver, earned the No. 12 seed in the elimination bracket after covering the quarter-mile strip in 6.532 seconds and reached 211.46 mph in the Pro Stock division.

He secured his Pro Stock license in November with the aim of competing this weekend.

He made his NHRA debut last year in Gainesville.

Despite lacking the necessary experience, Busch decided to turn professional.

Busch, 32, is the older brother of Kyle Busch, who is also a NASCAR driver. Their father, Tom, boasts of several victories in NASCAR sanctioned events.

Meanwhile, Enders registered 6.538 seconds (211.69 MPH) in the opening round of the 16-car field Sunday. She will advance into the next round.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

IndyCar re-ups with Firestone, going with side-by-side restarts

March 12th, 2011 by admin | 1 Comment | Filed in Auto Loans
Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Indianapolis, IN, United States (AHN Sports) – The IZOD IndyCar Series made a pair of huge announcements Friday when it announced that Firestone will continue to serve as the series’ sole tire supplier and that the series will begin using side-by-side restarts.

Firestone re-upped with IndyCar through the 2013 season and the drama in the series will increase with IndyCar adopting side-by-side restarts on all of its venues, beginning with the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 27.

“At the end of last week, we had reached the deadline where both organizations had to make a decision regarding the future to prepare our individual operations for the long term,” said Randy Bernard, chief executive officer, INDYCAR. “This is one of those decisions that it is imperative that you have the team owners 100 percent behind you.

“Early this week we called a meeting to walk the team owners through the process and hear their input. I’m happy to say we walk as one with Firestone. We feel that this new supply agreement will benefit everyone. It provides a proven safe and reliable Firestone product for the transition to the all-new cars for 2012. We have to thank everyone at Firestone for working with us to help ensure the best for the long-term growth of our sport.”

Firestone has supplied tires to IndyCar since 1996 and the new agreement does not include Firestone Indy Lights, IRL’s developmental series.

The move to side-by-side restarts, something NASCAR returned to two years ago, came following input from drivers and teams according to president of competition and racing operations Brian Barnhart.

“After seeking input following our initial restart announcement, we felt it was best to be consistent with the rule and use it at every track,” Barnhart said. “Whether on short ovals, superspeedways, temporary circuits or road courses, side-by-side restarts will certainly be entertaining and further intensify our on-track action.”

Barnhardt said the sanctioning body is still contemplating a ‘free pass’ element, a term NASCAR uses that is called a ‘Lucky Dog.’

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tony Stewart, Lewis Hamilton to swap rides at Watkins Glen exhibition

March 6th, 2011 by admin | 1 Comment | Filed in Auto Loans
Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Las Vegas, NV, United States (AHN Sports) – Unless there is an unforeseen hiccup, former Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart are expected to swap cars for an exhibition later this year at Watkins Glen International.

The only thing that could sidetrack the scheduled exhibition this summer would be an unforeseen scheduling conflict.

Both drivers have connections to sponsorships with Mobil 1, which will have the exhibition on the road-course, the type of layout that both drivers are accustomed to.

Hamilton will wheel Stewart’s heavier race-ready No. 14 Chevrolet Impala stock car, and Stewart will drive Hamilton’s 2010-model F1 McLaren.

Teams for both drivers will be on hand to tune the cars for the exhibition.

Stewart formerly competed in USAC Sprints, Midgets and IndyCar open-wheel rides before jumping to NASCAR so the transition won’t be nearly as big for him as it will Hamilton, who has exclusively driven the lighter open-wheel rides.

In 2003, Jeff Gordon traded rides with Juan Pablo Montoya at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Useful Information On Auto Loans For Military

February 27th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Loans

You can obtain a military car loan for if you are in the active service in the United States armed forces. Typically, military auto loans are kinds of car finances that are tailored to cater to the requirements of the members of the U.S. military personnel. In comparison to other conventional auto finances, military auto loans offer much more advantageous terms besides a host of other benefits which ordinary auto loans do not provide. With the help of military car finance you could purchase both new as well as used cars. Here is some crucial information pertaining to the same that could guide you in your endeavor to be eligible for one.

Auto loans for military are car loan finances which are subsidized by the federal government and to that effect prove to be more beneficial than ordinary auto finances. Almost anyone can qualify for auto loan finance as these loans are specially designed to cater to the needs of the military. Besides, when you are approved for military car financing, you are guaranteed much lower monthly auto loan installments on account of attractively low rates of interest. Apart from this, typical military auto loan programs offer a greater degree of flexibility as far as loan repayment terms and conditions are concerned. Additionally, even the loan amounts granted by lenders could be considerably higher in comparison to what they might provide to normal citizens.

The requirements for getting an approval for secure auto loans for military personnel too are very much flexible. Loan applicants are required to furnish is proof of being in active services and particulars of your current posting. No evidence is needed to be submitted regarding your permanent residence. But you could also be required to provide information on your telephone number, e-mail and contact details. The online procedure for filing an application is simple, easy and hassle free. Besides, even if you have joined the job recently, you could still qualify for military auto financing.

However, to obtain a car finance which is affordable, it is always advisable to apply for a blank check car loan. This could invariably enable you to determine the affordability of your monthly auto loan payments prior to approaching a car loan lender who provides auto loans for military personnel. An expert assistance could be of immense help in the entire process since it could enable you to get proper guidance which is very much essential when applying for any kind of auto financing solution.

Shelin Michel PhotoAbout Author
The author Shelin Michel is an new and used car loans financial expert by profession. She has worked as a consultant to many leading car financing institutions in America and has even contributed her valuable knowledge by providing useful information on approved military auto loan financing on various websites.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Beloved volunteer killed while trying to save stray dog

February 16th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Loans
Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

Laguna Niguel, CA, United States (AHN) – A southern California community remembers a mother of two who was struck and killed trying to save a stray dog. Mara Steves of Laguna Niguel was killed Sunday morning as she knelt on the sidewalk and died in a freak accident involving two SUVs.

The dog she was kneeling and holding shortly before her death had been running in and out of traffic prior to the accident. She was walking with her son when the accident occurred and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son was not injured however the condition of the dog remains unknown.

According to authorities one of the drivers involved in the 11 a.m. crash ran a red light propelling another vehicle to strike Steves at the intersection of Moulton Parkway and Nueva Vista.

A 54-year-old man from Anaheim, who was behind the wheel of a Toyota 4Runner, suffered bumps and bruises. His female passenger, a 56-year-old woman, suffered a broken collarbone.

The other vehicle, driven by a 27-year-old man from Placentia, was a Ford Explorer. He suffered bumps and bruises and like the others were rushed to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo for treatment.

Monday evening a vigil was held for Steves who was regarded for her community work. She was a past president of Marian Bergeson Elementary School PTA. More than a hundred people came out to the accident site to remember Steves and support her family.

Authorities are still investigating the crash. Investigators are also awaiting the results of blood tests to determine if alcohol was involved.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Powered by Yahoo! Answers