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Koki Niwa heads seeding at inaugural Paraguay Open

Published in Table Tennis

Monday, 09 September 2019 05:58

Koki Niwa is one of three players on duty who have won ITTF World Tour men’s singles titles, the other names being Brazil’s Eric Jouti and Thiago Monteiro. In 2015 Koki Niwa won in Russia, the following year Eric Jouti succeeded in Argentina, Thiago Monteiro in Chile.

In Asuncion, Eric Jouti is the no.6 seed, Thiago Monteiro, the no.8 seed. The names next in line to Koki Niwa are Brazil’s Gustavo Tsuboi followed by Austria’s Robert Gardos, Japan’s Masataka Morizono and Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej; Italy’s Niagol Stoyanov fills the no.7 seeded spot.

One step short

Notably, on the ITTF World Tour, Gustavo Tsuboi was the runner up in 2013 and 2014 on home soil in Santos; the same fate that befell Robert Gardos in 2006 in Chile as well as on the ITTF Challenge Series last year in Spain and one month ago in Nigeria. Likewise, at the 2014 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open, the runner up spot was the lot of Masataka Morizono, as was the scenario for Lubomir Pistej at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Slovenia Open.

Slightly differently, for Niagol Stoyanov, he has yet to reach the final of an open international tournament but make no mistake he is a challenger for a podium finish. On the 2014 ITTF World Tour, he reached the penultimate round in Belgium.

Adriana Diaz heads order

Meanwhile, in the women’s singles event, Honaka Hashimoto and Hina Hayata appear next in the order of merit behind Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz. Winner of the Universal 2019 Pan America Cup in February on home soil in Guaynabo, Adriana Diaz has yet to enjoy the same level of success at an ITTF Challenge Series tournament; earlier this year she was a quarter-finalist in Croatia, last year she progressed to the same round in Slovenia.

Somewhat conversely, Honoka Hashimoto is no stranger to ITTF Challenge Series finals; she won in 2017 in Spain and has finished in runner up spot on no less than six occasions. One of those occasions was earlier this year in Portugal when beaten by Hina Hayata. Additionally, Hina Hayata won in Oman and Serbia, as well as in 2017 in Spain and on the ITTF World Tour in 2016 in Australia.

Slovakia’s Barbora Balazova is the no.4 seed, a semi-finalist earlier this year in Serbia; she is followed by Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi who reached the same round one home soil in São Paulo in 2017. A quarter-finalist last year in Slovenia, Maki Shiomi is the no.6 seed; Italy’s Deborah Vivarelli and Puerto Rico’s Melanie Diaz, both players yet to reach the later rounds of a women’s singles event at an open international tournament, complete the top eight names.

Prominent names

Similarly, in the under 21 women’s singles event, the names of Maki Shiomi and Bruna Takahashi are prominent, they occupy the top two seeded positions; in the counterpart under 21 men’s singles competition, that privilege belongs to Romania’s Cristian Pletea and Belgium’s Florian Cnudde. Notably, in the age group Maki Shiomi won on the 2017 ITTF World Tour in China, in 2015 Bruna Takahashi succeeded in Chile.

Likewise the name of Maki Shiomi is prominent in the women’s doubles event; she partners Honoka Hashimoto and occupies the top seeded spot ahead of Adriana and Melanie Diaz, the winners at the recent Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

Meanwhile, in both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles events, the notable name is that of Lubomir Pistej. Top seeded in both disciplines; in the former he partners Masataka Morizono, in the latter Barbora Balazova, the player with whom he reached the quarter-final round at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships earlier this year. Adriana Diaz and colleague Brian Afanador occupy the no.2 seeded position, bronze medallists at the recent Pan American Games.

Formidable challenge

Undoubtedly, Brian Afanador and Adriana Diaz present a formidable challenge to the aspirations of Lubomir Pistej, as in the men’s doubles do the next in the order of merit. Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet. They occupy the no.2 seeded spot followed by Brazil’s Eric Jouti and Gustavo Tsuboi. Earlier this year on the ITTF Challenge Tour, Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet were the runners up in Croatia, Eric Jouti and Gustavo Tsuboi won in Slovenia.

However, could the pair to note be Argentina’s Gaston Alto and Horacio Cifuentes? They won the men’s doubles title at the recently concluded Pan American Championships; at the 2019 ITTF Challenge Paraguay Open, they are the no.5 seeds behind Thiago Monteiro and Brazilian colleague, Vitor Ishiy.

A pair in form; also at Pan American Championships, Vitor Ishiy was in form. He won the men’s singles title. Not seeded at the ITTF Challenge Series Paraguay Open, could he cause a major upset?

Overall 51 men and 30 women will compete in the first ever ITTF Challenge Paraguay Open.

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“Squash à la Franglaise”: Nantes Open builds on Anglo-French “Squash Twinning”

Published in Squash

Monday, 09 September 2019 06:04

The modern glass court in an ancient courtyard: now ready to welcome squash fans from around the world

“Squash à la Franglaise”: Nantes Open builds on Anglo-French “Squash Twinning”
By JAMES ROBERTS – Squash Mad Reporter

France and Britain: two great nations so close geographically and yet so different. We may take the mickey out of each other, with our “Frogs” and “Rosbif” jibes, but despite past conflicts, cultural differences and superficial disdain, there is more that unites us than divides us and deep down lies a lot of mutual admiration and respect.

This is why driving into many British towns and cities, you often see French places on the ‘Welcome To’ road sign mentioned as the Twin Town. The reverse is obviously true for French town and city ‘Bienvenu à’ signs.

I think this is particularly evident in the world of squash. On our side of the Channel, we have long admired the skill, artistry and determination of their top players. The likes of Gregory Gaultier, Thierry Lincou and Camille Serme have regularly been quoted amongst British squash fans’ lists of favourite players.

French squash fans I’ve spoken to also love and admire our players, with the tenacity of Nick Matthew, the accuracy of James Willstrop and the flair of Daryl Selby coming in for particular French admiration.

British and French fans are also united in their total delight that, after a long period of fasting, the diet of live squash on their screens is about to be resumed with the 5th edition of the Open International de Squash de Nantes, now deservedly rebranded the Open de France.

Dancers rehearsing their moves for the artistic pre-squash curtain-raisers

This unique and innovative tournament, with its changing iconic locations and fusion of art with sport, has fast become one of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments on the Tour.

Many people draw comparisons with the ever-popular Canary Wharf Classic held in London, which although never changes location, nevertheless offers a spectacular backdrop and generates a similar buzzing atmosphere, which the players feed off.

This is no complete coincidence as both organising teams have liaised closely and visited each other’s tournaments. In some ways, you could say that, like many town and city twinning arrangements, these are ‘Twin Tournaments’.

Last year’s Squash Travel tour group enjoyed some squash playing at La Maison du Squash

The increasing popularity and profile of the Nantes Open has also lead to a steady increase in the number of British squash fans hopping over the channel to watch the action in person. Squash Travel, the agency that assists many of the current professional players and the sport’s associations with worldwide travel arrangements, last year organised a package trip to Nantes, including flights, hotel and tickets to the semi-finals and finals. The trip was so successful that Mel and Ian have reorganised a similar tour for this year – I know as I’m part of it!

The Squash Travel tour group from 2018 also enjoyed unrivalled access to the pro players, seen here with the men’s Champion, Declan James

In addition, increasing numbers of British squash fans have organised their own trips, either with club mates or individually. One such club is Lings Squash Club in Northampton. Since 2014, Lings has organised a trip to North-western France each September to play squash and enjoy a bit of French culture, usually in the La Rochelle area.

Lings On Tour: the Lings contingent show off their tour shirts and nicknames on the quayside at La Rochelle back in 2016.

Northamptonshire County has long links with this area, with the former county junior coach, Sam Willis, having run squash holiday camps there previously. Indeed, Lings has now forged close links with local club Squash La Rochelle, with their coaches and players having also organised a return visit to Northampton just last year.

Squash a la Fraglaise in action: competitive fun and friendship between clubs at Squash La Rochelle

This year and given their admiration of the Nantes Open, the Lings Club has decided to stay in Nantes so they can build in watching the Open de France semis into their busy schedule of squash, tourism and general merriment. I will be joining them for a lot of their itinerary, especially the squash playing, tourism and merriment!

This is without doubt the squash trip I have most looked forward to as it is combining so many amazing elements: top squash action presented innovatively in an iconic location, in a region of France I love where I have many friends (whom I will also be visiting) and also sharing it with squash friends I have made at home.

The Open de France venue taking shape at the 800-year-old Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne

I arrive in Nantes this Wednesday and after making a short initial visit to the Château des Ducs de Bretagne to get my bearings, I will firstly be visiting local friends near Nantes and in the neighbouring city of Angers.

On Friday, I return to Nantes, initially heading to La Maison du Squash to watch the inaugural Amateur Open de France, before then linking up with the Lings Club for some squash, in advance of returning to the Château to take in the Open de France semi-finals.

More squash playing, some tourism and the Finals will follow on the Saturday, with a barbecue planned on the Sunday at the large house Lings have rented in Nantes, which will be attended by their friends from Squash La Rochelle.

I look forward to bringing you a short daily blog to provide a squash fan’s perspective on this innovative tournament. As a member of the organising team for World Squash Day, which will be taking place on Saturday 12th October, also look out for a bit of promotional activity planned during the tournament.

Perhaps more squash clubs across Britain and France should follow the example of Lings and La Rochelle and forge twinning arrangements? Vive le Squash à la Franglaise!

Pictures courtesy of : Open de France, Lings Squash Club and Squash Travel

Posted on September 9, 2019

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'It was tough to take' - Wales' Anscombe on World Cup heartbreak

Published in Rugby

Monday, 09 September 2019 08:11

There are fewer crueller things in sport than missing a World Cup through injury.

Especially when you are in the prime of your career. That is what Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe is coming to terms with as Wales fly out to Japan this week.

Anscombe suffered a serious knee injury against England in the opening warm-up match last month, which he confirmed should rule him out for up to nine months.

"I guess when Japan comes around that will be the hardest time to deal with it," said Anscombe.

"It was tough to take after a thorough eight weeks in a gruelling training camp.

"The most frustrating thing was that I had such a fitness base and my body was feeling fit and healthy.

"For it to be taken away was a tough pill to swallow and I can't say it has fully hit me yet.

"Those are the things I will miss, even stepping out of the Wales WhatsApp group a couple of weeks ago was tough.

"I had been working towards this tournament for a long while and felt I could have played a key role in helping the team achieve something pretty special.

"So I suppose the hardest time for me will be waking up and watching the boys play in Japan."

His World Cup dream ended with what appeared an innocuous incident as he sidestepped England full-back Elliot Daly. Anscombe continued afterwards and even kicked a conversion before being forced off.

"It was a funny 20 minutes," said Anscombe.

"I was feeling good and it was all done on the run down the sidelines and stepping Daly.

"I went to step him running full speed, a motion I have done countless times before.

"I just felt a pop and remember hitting the deck and did not feel right. We checked the knee and structurally it was positive so we did our best to carry on.

"I was then kicking the ball out of hand and it felt looser not stable. I did a chip kick at the end, a shot to nothing, and I knew I was coming off."

Anscombe left Twickenham on crutches that night, but initially did not fear the worst.

"I was still optimistic, because I was able to play on, that there was a chance it could be a grade one strain with four or five weeks out," he added.

"That would have still given me the chance to be alright. The fact it was an ACL tear with a seven to nine month rehab was something we did not predict."

Anscombe had established himself as Wales' first choice fly-half ahead of Dan Biggar and played an integral part in the Grand Slam success and record 14-match unbeaten run.

"I have been fairly happy with the last 18 months," said Anscombe.

"It has been great to be a part of the Wales environment and going on the winning run and achieving something special.

"The fact the team got to number one in the world briefly should be respected and recognised because it had never happened before.

"Although it counts for nothing it is nice to achieve that and we have gone a long way to establishing ourselves as contenders in world rugby."

So how does Anscombe feel Wales will fare at the World Cup?

"I am optimistic and it is why it is going to be so hard to watch because if they can go and achieve what I think they can, it is tough to sit on the couch as a spectator," he said

"If they can get to the semi-finals anything can happen. When it gets to the tight games we have shown we are good in those situations."

After joining Ospreys from Cardiff Blues, Anscombe will miss most of the season at the new region and hopes to keep himself busy.

Anscombe has set up a company which he describes as a search-engine comparison site for fitness, sports and wellbeing, which will be launched alongside former Wales team-mate Alex Cuthbert among others. The app is expected to be launched in October.

The 28-year-old has been pictured doing his shopping on a mobility scooter as he faces a battle to return to full fitness.

Anscombe says he received well wishes from across the rugby world and revealed the most random message was a tweet from former WWE champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL).

His long-term international targets are getting on Wales' tour to New Zealand in the 2020 summer and the British and Irish Lions trip to South Africa the following year.

"I have not set any goals yet on when I will return, but I would like to play some rugby at the back end of the season," said Anscombe.

"I will need to try and get myself fit for Ospreys and hopefully back playing for Wales.

"Hopefully, I will get on the tour to New Zealand in July, but there is a long way to go and a lot of boxes to be ticked.

"There is the 2021 Lions tour, but there are a lot of good players and a hell of a lot of competition, particularly in my position.

"It would be fantastic to achieve that after watching the effect it had in New Zealand in 2017.

"I would love to do that, but there is a hell of a lot of rugby before that."

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Gatland confident despite Wales' World Cup warm-up defeats

Published in Rugby

Sunday, 08 September 2019 03:19

Three defeats in four warm-up matches, down from first to fifth in the world rankings and a lack of momentum going into the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this month.

However, if Warren Gatland is worried about Wales' World Cup preparations, he wasn't showing it in Dublin after the second loss to Ireland in less than a week.

"The competition starts now". That was the defiant message confidently delivered from the Wales head coach as he reflected on a 19-10 defeat against Joe Schmidt's side.

Wales fly to Japan on Wednesday and face Georgia in their opening match 12 days later with the Australia, Fiji and Uruguay Tests to follow.

The build-up has been long and arduous with a few bumps along the way. Problems have arisen and some questions remain unanswered.

But Wales' World Cup journey now accelerates as Gatland looks to bow out in style as Wales boss.

Summer days

Wales arrived in August for the summer programme of matches as Grand Slam champions, on a 14-match winning sequence and ranked second in the world.

What has followed is a hat-trick of losses, two against Ireland and an England defeat at Twickenham.

A contrasting solitary victory against Eddie Jones' men at the Principality Stadium resulted in a two-week period where Wales were ranked as the world's best side with some fans basking in the short-lived glory.

That double defeat against Ireland in the space of seven days leaves Wales lying in fifth. They are behind South Africa, England, New Zealand and Ireland, who top the rankings for the first time going into a World Cup.

Gatland has consistently said rankings do not matter until the ones published after the World Cup final in Yokohama on 2 November. He has adopted the same mantra for Wales' recent losses.

The three times Grand Slam winner and unbeaten British and Irish Lions series head coach is backing his pedigree of preparing sides to peak when it matters.

"There is no concern at all really," said Gatland.

"That's what these games are all about. We tried some things, different combinations and players.

"Now the competition starts and that's when we'll step up and be good at that. There's probably a little bit of guys making sure they got on the plane too.

"You hold a little bit back and you work on a few things,

"That's important. These are warm-up games under our belts, not a Six Nations match where it matters about winning."

Matters of concern

There should be concern about the manner in which Ireland overpowered Wales in the second half in Dublin, overturning a 10-7 interval deficit with 12 unanswered points.

Captain Alun Wyn Jones recognised the mistakes made against Ireland, while Gatland says it provided a blueprint for how to play against Wales.

What cannot be disputed is the character within the squad and their defiant defence, which laid the foundations of the record 14-match unbeaten run.

Question marks remain though over Wales' power game with a lack of penetrating ball carriers in their ranks, resulting at times in a lateral attacking approach.

The ability to carve opposition teams open needs to be addressed with only seven tries in four matches over the last month.

And how will Wales cope if they lose key men like Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Davies and Dan Biggar? And will Gatland rue his decision to omit Grand Slam winning prop Rob Evans from his 31-man squad?

Influence of Injuries

Wales will at least arrive in Japan with most of their leading lights on board.

In 2015, Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny were ruled out after picking up injuries in the final World Cup warm-up match against Italy, while centre Jonathan Davies was already a long-term absentee.

The unlucky players in this campaign were British and Irish Lions number eight Taulupe Faletau and fly-half Gareth Anscombe and the pair are significant losses.

Faletau's collarbone injury was picked up in training, while Anscombe suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the opening defeat against England in Twickenham.

Further issues remain about Dragons captain Cory Hill and Rhys Patchell. Lock Hill has a fractured leg and is battling to be fit for the second game against Australia.

Fly-half Patchell will need to overcome a head injury after he was forced off against Ireland with another concussion, his third of the season.

Battle hardened

Having as many as four warm-up matches was a source of constant debate, but Wales' top players have come through some bruising battles ahead of the attritional World Cup schedule.

The main men had to play and will have benefitted from the experiences of Twickenham, Cardiff and Dublin in recent weeks. Even if they have suffered defeats.

New players have emerged with Dragons back-rower Aaron Wainwright proving the most impressive performer in the warm-up campaign.

The gruelling fitness camps in Turkey and Switzerland could pay dividends with Wales being programmed to reach peak condition in Japan, not in August or September against England and Ireland.

That is what Gatland bases his confidence on and what he will ultimately be judged upon.

So he is right in one sense. The World Cup competition starts now. The warm-up war is over.

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RugbyX: One-on-one to decide drawn games in sport's version of Twenty20

Published in Rugby

Monday, 09 September 2019 10:10

RugbyX will see the introduction of rugby's version of the 'Super Over', with drawn matches decided by a revolutionary one-on-one contest.

In the event of a draw, a single attacker from one team will try and score past a single defender from the other.

The 'one-on-one' has been included as part of the full laws of RugbyX, which have now been confirmed by World Rugby.

Rugby's newest version launches at the 02 Arena on 29 October.

England, Ireland and the Barbarians are among the teams involved at the debut tournament, which involves both men and women's teams.

Dubbed 'Rugby's Twenty20', RugbyX is a five-a-side version of the game, is full contact and played on a half-sized pitch.

Halves will be 10 minutes each, with no break in between.

Kicking is allowed, but kicks must not exceed 10 metres in height, with the distance monitored by ball tracking technology.

Among the other confirmed laws:

"The RugbyX laws have been developed with the objective of encouraging simple, fast and skilful gameplay with minimal stoppages, whilst retaining the core fundamentals of the game we love," said RugbyX Technical Director Ben Ryan.

Former England winger Ugo Monye, co-host of the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, believes the 'one on one' is a dramatic and revolutionary way of deciding a game.

The attacker will start with the ball 30 metres from the line, while the defender will begin 5 metres out, with a 10 second time limit.

"As a defender it's a nightmare, but as an attacker the pressure is on you to score," he said. "I would love to see someone like [Springbok wing] Cheslin Kolbe doing it.

"For me, RugbyX is a simplified and condensed version which cherry-picks the best bits of what rugby is."

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Howard Returning To ARCA At Salem

Published in Racing

Monday, 09 September 2019 09:09

CONCORD, N.C. – Colby Howard will make his return to the ARCA Menards Series at Salem Speedway on Saturday.

In just three career ARCA starts, Howard has earned three top-10 finishes, with an average finish of 9.0 heading into the weekend.

The high banked Indiana short track was the site of Howard’s ARCA Menards Series debut in 2018, where he started and finished in eighth.

This time around, the 18-year-old plans on bettering his results with Win-Tron Racing in the No. 32 Project Hope/Yurpal, Inc. Chevrolet.

“I am really looking forward to returning to Salem,” said Howard. “We had a good run in the test on Tuesday, and should have had a Top 5 finish in last year’s race until I made a mistake on pit road. This time around, it should be better, because our car is really solid on old tires, which is critical on Salem’s worn out surface.”

Earlier this season, Howard debuted for team owner Kevin Cywinski and crew chief Jamie Jones at Iowa Speedway. The No. 32 team finished 10th at Iowa, and plans on bringing the same racecar to Salem.

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NHRA Reveals 18-Race Pro Stock Calendar

Published in Racing

Monday, 09 September 2019 09:15

GLENDORA, Calif. – NHRA officials released the 2020 schedule for the Pro Stock category of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series on Monday afternoon.

Pro Stock teams will compete at 18 of the 24 events on the series.

Throughout the year, NHRA will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this exciting and competitive class.

Pro Stock returns to several venues in 2020, including the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals in Houston; the NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta; and the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals in Topeka, Kan.

Additionally, fans in Bristol, Tenn. and Epping, N.H. will see Pro Stock in action at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and the NHRA New England Nationals.

Also of note, Pro Stock will compete in five events in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Points will be adjusted accordingly.

NHRA’s two nitro categories – Funny Car and Top Fuel – will participate at all 24 national events in the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

2020 NHRA Pro Stock Schedule

NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock Regular Season

Feb. 6-9 – Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.
Feb. 21-23 – Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals, Phoenix
March 12-15 – AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla.
April 3-5 – DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Las Vegas
April 17-19 – Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals, Houston
May 15-17 – NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta
June 12-14 – Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals, Topeka, Kan.
June 19-21 – NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn.
June 25-28 – Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
July 24-26 – NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Sonoma, Calif.
July 31-Aug.2 – Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Northwest Nationals, Seattle
Aug. 21-23 – NHRA New England Nationals, Epping, N.H.
Sept. 2-7 – NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis

NHRA Mello Yello Countdown To The Championship

Sept. 17-20 – Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 25-27 – NHRA Carolina Nationals, Charlotte
Oct. 15-18 – AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, Dallas
Oct. 29-Nov. 1 – Dodge NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas
Nov. 12-15 – Auto Club NHRA Finals, Pomona, Calif.

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Herr Foods Backing Lucas Oil ARCA Race

Published in Racing

Monday, 09 September 2019 09:33

TOLEDO, Ohio – Herr Foods, Track Enterprises and the Automobile Racing Club of America have announced that Herr’s will sponsor the ARCA Menards Series visit to Lucas Oil Raceway.

The Herr’s Potato Chips 200 is scheduled for Saturday night, Oct. 5 at 8:00 p.m. CT.

ARCA practice and General Tire Pole Qualifying will precede the 200-lap feature event, which is scheduled for live broadcast coverage on MAVTV.

There will also be a compete Thunder Roadsters program on the night’s racing card.

“We continue to benefit from the exposure ARCA provides us as we grow the Herr’s brand nationwide,” said Bob Clark, VP of Marketing at Herr Foods, Inc.

The Herr’s 200 will be the championship event for the Sioux Chief Short Track Challenge, ARCA’s championship within a championship contested at tracks one mile in length or less.

After nine of eleven events, Michael Self leads Bret Holmes by 140 points, with only races at Indiana’s Salem Speedway and the Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway yet to be contested.

The Lucas Oil event will also be the second-to-last race of the season for the ARCA Menards Series, with the season finale set for Oct. 18 at Kansas Speedway.

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Stewart Soaks In Harvick’s Brickyard Triumph

Published in Racing

Monday, 09 September 2019 11:00

INDIANAPOLIS – As Kevin Harvick was celebrating his second Big Machine Vodka 400 victory Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the famed Yard of Bricks, team owner Tony Stewart stood under the flagstand taking in the moment.

Stewart knows the feeling of winning at the Brickyard as a driver in 2005 and 2007. Sunday’s win was also his second as a team owner, with Ryan Newman earning him his first triumph as a team owner in 2013.

Stewart is able to compare the unique feeling to winning it as a driver and as an owner.

“It is close because where it’s an individual accomplishment as a driver, it’s an accomplishment for your driver and 350 people who bust their ass to make these cars go,” Stewart told SPEED SPORT Sunday night. “Your focus goes from a personal goal to a team goal.”

Stewart has three of his four drivers in the NASCAR playoffs including Harvick, Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer, who officially clinched his place with a fifth-place finish in Sunday’s final race of NASCAR’s regular season.

The only driver who didn’t make it in from Stewart-Haas Racing was Mexico’s Daniel Suarez, who brushed the wall early in the race and finished 11th.

“It’s hard to do,” Stewart said. “You look at all the good cars and good teams out here, to think you would get 25 percent of the championship field, that’s hard to do. It’s a big deal.”

Stewart was proud of Suarez effort to battle back, however.

“That’s one thing about Daniel; it’s never a lack of effort,” Stewart said. “He got behind today, and it didn’t work out as planned, but you can point to 10 days that we could have done something different and got those 10 points.

“It always comes down to this last race and take care of the points that you need.”

Stewart said his emotions ranged from trying to get Harvick to win the race to getting both Bowyer and Suarez into the NASCAR Playoffs.

“We hoped for good results for all three of them,” Stewart said. “We just didn’t get the result for all four of them. He just came up four points short.

“I told him if he didn’t make this 16, there is still a lot to do for the rest of the season and win some races.”

Stewart expects another great playoff for NASCAR, with lots of pressure and intensity over the next two and a half months.

“It literally comes down to that last restart in the last race at Homestead,” Stewart said.

He won five of 10 races in 2011 to win his third NASCAR Cup Series title during the playoffs. He is the only driver to win Cup titles under three different formats, including the old full-season points system in 2002.

The driver from Columbus, Ind., remains a Hoosier Hero at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“The cool part is where we lined up today, A.J. Foyt’s brick was right in front of me,” Stewart revealed. “That was pretty cool to me.”

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Miller & Luginbuhl Enter Team Penske Hall Of Fame

Published in Racing

Monday, 09 September 2019 11:04

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Former Penske Racing South President Don Miller and Dan Luginbuhl, one of the pioneers of motorsports marketing and public relations, have been inducted into the Team Penske Hall of Fame.

The duo were honored Monday morning in a special ceremony at the team’s Mooresville, N.C., facility.

Miller met team owner Roger Penske in the early 1970s during his time as a sales manager for National Engines and Parts, Co. in St. Louis. Miller joined Penske Racing in 1972, working on the team’s stock car and IndyCar programs. A former racer himself, Miller brought a wide range of experience to the team and he worked in many capacities on his way to becoming Vice President of Penske Products.

Miller was instrumental in bringing Penske Racing back into full-time NASCAR competition in 1991 with driver and fellow Team Penske Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace. Miller then became President of Penske Racing South, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the team’s stock car program. Under Miller’s leadership, Penske stock car teams produced a total of 69 victories in NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA competition until his retirement in 2007. The Chicago native was also an innovator in the sport, helping to design and develop several car safety advancements in NASCAR while leading the Penske team.

“When I first started at Team Penske there were 29 of us,” said Miller. “The population has grown significantly since then, but there is no place I’d rather be. I always tried to do the very best, not only for this team, but for Mr. Penske. When you are a member of this team, he will always have your back. I really appreciate this award. I am honored to be a part of this organization and the Team Penske Hall of Fame.”

When Luginbuhl joined Penske Racing in 1969, he helped chart the course for the team’s innovative and successful partnership model. He also helped pioneer modern motorsports public relations and marketing. Early in his tenure with Penske Racing, Luginbuhl cultivated the relationship with key team sponsor Sunoco, before he helped foster partnerships with some of the other top brands in motorsports including Pennzoil, Marlboro, Miller, Goodyear, Mobil, Mercedes-Benz and many other Fortune 500 companies.

Under his guiding hand, Team Penske became the industry leader in American motorsports media relations, sponsorship and hospitality – a standard that continues today. During his 35-year career with Team Penske, Luginbuhl distinguished himself in numerous roles within the organization as he helped define and refine the Penske brand. He served as Vice President of Communications when he retired in 2002 and he continues to be a valued resource for Team Penske.

“I am very honored to receive this special honor. And I am humbled to be in the company of some amazing people,” said Luginbuhl. “It’s been my privilege to work with many a great people over the years. We have come a long way since 1969 and our team of 10 working at the four-bay truck garage in Pennsylvania. But the mission today is still the same – work together, get the job done, keep building the Penske brand worldwide and of course, ‘effort equals results.’”

Inductions into the Team Penske Hall of Fame occur annually. Each year, two inductees are chosen from current and former drivers, employees and partners that have made a significant impact on the team and its history. The Hall of Fame class members are honored both at an event and within the walls of the Team Penske facility in Mooresville, N.C.

Miller and Luginbuhl join past Team Penske Hall of Fame inductees including: Roger Penske (2016), Mark Donohue (2016), Rick Mears (2017), Karl Kainhofer (2017), Rusty Wallace (2018) and Walter Czarnecki (2018).

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