T.J.’s Travels – Page 2 – TJSlideways.com

T.J.’s Notebook: Mansfield Removing Pavement is a Game Changer

Mansfield Speedway announced on Wednesday the scope of the track’s conversion to a dirt racing surface changed by removing the existing blacktop surface. Originally the plan was to lay the dirt over the blacktop, but after evaluating the surface and potential pitfalls the decision was made remove the asphalt. Thursday the first images appeared of the work taking place. […]

T.J.’s Notebook: Friday Picks for the 2017 Chili Bowl

The final preliminary night for the 31st Annual Chili Bowl Nationals pushes off tonight. My 2017 picks have been…something. There is no truth in the rumor of victory lane confetti being made up of torn […]

T.J.’s Notebook: Schedules, Drug Testing, and more

After a busy week with PRI, catching up on schedule overload, and digging out from over 20 inches of snow I do have a few noteworthy items from the past week in racing. […]

Great Lakes Edition and Notebook: McCarron Hoping to be FAST in 410’s for 2017

Dan McCarron is ready to take the plunge into the deep end of the pool when it comes to sprint car racing in Ohio. […]

T.J.’s Notebook: Saldana No Longer Shopping for Ride on Cyber Monday

By T.J. Buffenbarger After a relatively quiet Thanksgiving holiday business picked up on Monday with official announcement of Joey Saldana driving for Matt Wood and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the World of Outlaws circuit. While […]

T.J.’s Notebook: Christopher Bell Racing for a Championship, NSL News Not Surprising

Happy Friday everyone. I’ve often made mention on social media and in this space about not watching NASCAR racing on Sundays because I content reading the box scores and finding out how the drivers coming out of sprint car racing did in the event. This weekend could be an exception though starting tonight with Christopher Bell racing for a championship. […]

TJ’s Travels: Poirier is That Good

By T.J. Buffenbarger After winning the 2006 Canadian Sprint Car Nationals I’ve touted Steve Poirier as one of the best sprint car drivers that a majority of the world is unaware of. Racing primarily in […]

T.J.’s Knoxville Preview: Schatz the Favorite to Win His 10th Nationals Title

By T.J. Buffenbarger Over the next week we will see prognostications and lists from pundits with predictions about the 56th Annual 5-Hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals. When looking at the statistics there are two statistics that […]

Remembering BC

Bryan Clauson was a better person than he was a driver. If you saw him wheel a race car, that is saying something. […]

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TJ’s Travels: Ohio Speedweek Memories

By T.J. Buffenbarger Ohio Sprint Speedweek holds a special place in my heart. Personally I wasn’t crazy about the shift away from the week of July 4th, but it seems appropriate that its held over […]

Frustrated Keith now an internet staple in the Open Wheel world

The story on how a screen capture by Ross Wece from the 2015 Chili Bowl became an internet sensation… […]

Social Media is a Scapegoat for Unsuccessful Racing Endeavors

Instead of worry about social media, strive to give your customers a better experience… […]

T.J.’s Afternoon Notebook: Doty Classic comes full circle

For Attica Raceway Park promoter John Bores and General Manager Rex LeJeune today’s announcement of the Brad Doty Classic returning to Attica in 2016 is having a whirlwind of events coming full circle. Bores and LeJeune took over at Attica right after the announcement that the Doty Classic was moving to Limaland Motorsports Park in the midst of some uncertainty over the future at the 1/3-mile oval in the sleepy town of Attica, Ohio. Over the past 10 years of hard work and paying attention to minute details the return of the Doty Classic is a product of their effort. […]

TJ’s Take: Time to kick back and enjoy the popcorn…

I’ve had a lot of questions about my opinion on Sprints on Dirt, the new Great Lakes Super Sprints series, and Michigan Sprint Car Racing overall. The announcement of Barry Marlow’s series has not really changed my opinions at all. […]

Hammers leading the revival of Millstream Speedway

This Sunday UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions will visit Millstream Speedway in Findlay, Ohio for the second time this season. 20 years ago an All Star visit to Millstream would be a normal thing, but for most of the past 20 years except for some short stints of operation Millstream has remained devoid of racing action. For the first time since 2010 that has changed with Randy and Lisa Hammer signing a lease agreement to operate the Speedway in 2014. One year later Millstream has held two events leading into Sunday’s second visit with the All Stars. […]