Danica Patrick Says No Formula 1 for Her

Oh what shame, what a talent she would have been in F1.


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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — IRL IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick says her plans for her racing future are uncertain, but she has ruled out a move to Formula 1 with the new Charlotte-based Team USF1.

Patrick says she has not been contacted by the team, owned by Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor, despite rumors linking her with the new entry, which will begin competing next season.

Team USF1 has indicated its desire to have American drivers in its two cars. Patrick, although she has only one career victory, is one of the hottest commodities — and one of the most marketable drivers — in American racing.

MENZIES Motorsports ADDS COYNE Motorsports Unlimited Pro 4 to ‘Big Red Machine’ for REMAINDER of 2009 Lucas Oil Off Road Series

Young Gun Bryce Menzies to RACE 3 Classes at Lucas Oil Off Road Series Rounds 7 & 8 on July 25-26 at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Complex in Southern California

Las Vegas, Nevada (July 20, 2009) One of America’s top young racing superstars, Bryce Menzies, has been tapped to race the Coyne Motorsports Unlimited Pro 4 race truck at the 2009 Lucas Oil Off Road Series this weekend.

The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series rounds 7-8 are set to entertain thousands of off road racing fans in Southern California on July 25-26, 2009. The two-day off road racing extravaganza will exploded on the 1-mile purpose-built dirt raceway hewn at the edge of Lake Elsinore in Riverside County. A full field of off road racers will take to the track for the first time this season under the lights and in front of a packed house of Southern California off road racing fans.

In addition to racing the big horsepower Coyne Motorsports Unlimited Pro 4 race truck, Menzies Motorsports’ ‘Big Red Machine’ will call to duty the Super Clean- sponsored Unlimited Pro 2 race truck, as well as the Menzies Limited Buggy for the 21-year old racing phenom, Bryce Menzies.

“I’m super stoked to be racing the Coyne Motorsports Unlimited Pro 4 truck. I’m definitely going to be busy on the track racing three different classes, but in the long run it will give me more track time. We’ve got the motor issues worked out of the Unlimited Pro 2 truck. We lost two motors last time we were at Lake Elsinore and I’m looking forward to making up for some lost points in the Unlimited Pro 2 class,” said a smiling Bryce Menzies.

Unlimited Buggy winner, Larry Job, has prepped his buggy for the action as he hopes to repeat his double-win performance from LOORS rounds 5-6 where he was victorious on both Saturday and Sunday in the ultra-competitive Unlimited Buggy ranks.

Cameron Steele will take a break from his busy action-sports television commentating schedule and pull double duty himself racing alongside his teammate, Larry Job, in the Unlimited Buggy class, as well as providing colorful commentary for the Lucas Oil race action.

Team owner, Steve Menzies explained, “The opportunity came about for Bryce to race the Coyne Motorsports Unlimited Pro 4 race truck and the timing is just about right. We’re at the halfway mark of the 2009 season with eight races remaining this year. Marty and Travis Coyne are great racers and they’ve got a storied history of winning within the world of off road racing. This prospect provides Bryce with the chance to experience yet another level of racing in his young racing career. We’re planning on having a great weekend of racing across the board as Larry Job and Cameron Steele will join Bryce in his run for the checkers at Lake Elsinore. Menzies Motorsports will roll out the red carpet for all of our fans and make sure you stop by for a signed poster from our drivers Bryce #7, Cameron #916 and Larry #907”

Menzies Motorsports 2009 sponsors include: Super Clean, Ahern Rentals, BFGoodrich Tires, FOX Racing Shox, Kroyer Racing, KMC Wheels, MSD Ignitions, Kartek, Mastercraft Seats and Pro AM.

Menzies Motorsports PIT ZONE will be open to fans from the time the gates open so please come by our PIT ZONE for a signed poster and to watch the crew in action as they work on the race trucks in preparation for some great racing.

For ticket information and more information on the Lucas Oil Off Road Series, visit www.lucasoiloffroad.com

For more information on Menzies Motorsports, visit www.menziesmotorsports.com

MacCACHREN PREVAILS at Barstow FREEDOM 250 Desert Race

MacCACHREN PREVAILS at Barstow FREEDOM 250 Desert Race
MacCachren DOMINATES 1600 Class / Misses OVERALL by 1 minute 54 seconds to Class 1 cars!


Barstow, California - Rockstar Energy Racing's ROCKSTAR, Rob MacCachren, settled into his Mastercraft Race Seats 3G suspension seat for what would be another brutal day at the office for the off road racing champion. The 2009 version of the MORE Freedom 250 desert race kicked off at 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening, as the blazing desert sun baked thousands of race fans who came out to the Mojave desert night race.
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The barren Mojave Desert near Barstow, California, was transformed for about 24 hours, into a miniature city of desert racers and their loyal fans. Motor homes, trailers, campers and shade awnings lined the popular 2.5 mile section near the start/finish line. As the sun rose above the desert, early afternoon temperatures peaked round 115 degrees, racers continued testing and tuning there race trucks and cars for the 6:00 p.m. start.

Racing this past weekend marked MacCachren's official "racing" return to Barstow in
several years. MacCachren regularly tests the ROCKSTAR/Riviera Racing trophy truck in the same area, but it has been several seasons since he entered a race that featured the difficult Barstow terrain. Rob MacCachren is no stranger to Barstow, as he raced in the late 1980's through the mid-1990's, when the Barstow Fireworks 250 was held around the same area.

As the sun faded, MacCachren climbed into the Rockstar Energy Racing #1603 car for what ended up being a 4 hour 32 minutes' day in the office. He started near the back of the 17-car field and as the green flag dropped, he began picking off the competition one-by-one.

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MORE officials announced the 130 race entries would be starting every 10 seconds. Blinding heavy dust, combined with triple-digit heat, set the stage for slower than normal first lap speeds, but that didn't slow down Rob MacCachren, who has won four consecutive 1600 races so far in 2009.

After the first 36-mile lap, MacCachren set a torrid pace across the rocky desert. With 174-miles left in the race, the multiple time 1600 racing champion focused on the overall leader of the race, who was racing a 600 horsepower Class 1 Unlimited car.

With each lap, the Las Vegas-based off road racing veteran closed in on the overall leaders and at about 10:40 p.m., the familiar sound of the FAT Performance Racing Engine signaled the charge of the #1603 racing the last few hundreds yards towards the checkered flag.

Climbing from the top of the single-seat Alumicraft-built racecar, MacCachren said, "It was hot and miserable in the car today, but I had a great run. This AlumiCraft 1600 car was near perfect today and I used up just about all my FOX RACING SHOX suspension on the Barstow bumps, but FOX Shox gave me the chance to run up front all night long. We didn't have a single flat tire on our BFGoodrich Tires and I have to thank my crew and our marketing partners who continue to support our desert racing programs," commented the winning racer.

MacCachren's AlumiCraft is fitted with 5-KC HiLites HID lights, which illuminated the black desert darkness allowing the veteran racer to push his single-seat 1600 car to full tilt in his race for the overall victory. "The KC HiLites were absolutely perfect all night long, they are incredibly lightweight and bright," said the smiling Class 1600 winner.

caliente250MacCachren drove the #1603 ROCKSTAR Energy Drink Racing 1600 buggy to an impressive win in the Pro 1600 race. He nearly missed winning the overall victory by 1 minute and 54 seconds to the 600 horsepower Class 1 cars competing in the race. The Class 1 Unlimited race cars feature 24" inches of front and rear suspension travel along with unlimited horsepower, while MacCachren's 1600 race car boasts 70 horsepower from an air-cooled VW 1600cc powerplant along with much less suspension.

Rob MacCachren is the team owner/driver of Rockstar Energy Drink Racing. MacCachren returns to the race action at the 2009 TORC Series on August 8-9 for Rounds 9-10 in Bark River, Michigan.

The 2009 TRAXXAS TORC Series Rounds 7-8 were broadcasted on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. Check your local listings for re-broadcast times near you and visit www.torcseries.com for more information.

About Rockstar: Bigger. "ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available in eleven amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango Orange Passion Fruit, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, and Roasted Light Vanilla. ROCKSTAR ENERGY SHOTS are available in Wild Berry and Tropical Punch flavors.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout the United Kingdom."

2009 Rockstar Energy Racing Sponsors: Rockstar Energy Drink, BFGoodrich Tires, FOX RACING SHOX, Mastercraft Race Seats, Pro AM, Rancho Drivetrain Engineering, Patton Racing Engines, MAKITA Industrial Power Tools, KC HiLites, DIRTnewz and Racin' Dirty.

Rob MacCachren Racing: For 28 years, Rob MacCachren has been racing in the open desert. As a second-generation desert racer, Rob began his career following in the footsteps of his father while growing up in the Nevada desert. His career accomplishments include winning three consecutive Borg-Warner Championships, as well as three Governor's Cup Championships, all at Crandon International Raceway in Wisconsin. Rob has also accumulated 5 SCORE Baja 1000 victories and another 5 SCORE Baja 500 wins. MacCachren was heralded as the premier driver after winning the longest distance (1296 miles point-to-point) SCORE Baja 1000 ever held in 2007. The multi-disciplined championship racer has accumulated over 150 victories and numerous championships between closed short course and open desert racing.

RED BULL HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE AND RHYS MILLEN SET WORLD RECORD TO TAKE PIKES PEAK TIME ATTACK TITLE

World Champion Driver Rhys Millen Claims Ninth Mountain Win


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 19, 2009 – The 87th Annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has a new world record holder today - the Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe. World Champion driver Rhys Millen piloted the Genesis Coupe to his ninth overall class title, breaking one of his two world records in 17 trips to the Hill Climb.

"Driving the Genesis Coupe for the first time at Pikes Peak in front of thousands of fans is an amazing experience," said Millen. "Nothing compares to the pressure and thrill of Pikes Peak while competing against yourself for the record."

Millen set the record time of 12 minutes, 9 seconds (12:09.397) more than 1 minute and 23 seconds faster than his nearest competitor in the rear-wheel-drive Time Attack Class. At the finish line on the summit of Pikes Peak, Millen reported that the car that never skipped a beat, no matter how hard he challenged the diverse terrain and high altitude, and finished with both rear tires down to steel belts. Millen utilized the Genesis Coupe's rear-drive layout to its full potential, power-sliding his Genesis Coupe mere inches away from guard rails, trees and 2,000-foot cliffs, while besting his own record of 12 minutes, 31.61 seconds by 22 seconds.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America, second only to the Indianapolis 500, and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs. First run in 1916, this year marks the 87th running of the thrilling "Race to the Clouds."

The race is run on a course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the oxygen-depleted 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak. As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of up to 30 percent of their power at the summit. It's a true test of endurance for competitors and vehicles.
This year the race has 11 classes and features a variety of automotive, semi-truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro truck and motorcycle classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.

With more than 16 years of racing experience, Rhys Millen has established himself as one of the premier rally/drifting drivers in North America. Born in New Zealand in 1972, Rhys is the son of famed rally and off-road racer Rod Millen. Rhys joined Rod in the U.S. as a teenager and soon afterwards established himself as racer by taking first at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the Open Division and winning Rookie of the Year. He won the Formula Drift championship in 2005 and the Red Bull Drifting World Championship in 2008.

Millen and his team are an ideal match to help launch Hyundai's motorsports effort with the Genesis Coupe. Millen's driving credentials include movie stunts, multiple drifting championships, a Pikes Peak world record and his recent New Year's Eve Las Vegas truck flip. But behind Millen's success in the driver's seat is a full team of engineers and fabricators that know how to maximize the potential of a race car.

Millen had his first opportunity to test drive the Genesis Coupe's performance credentials when he performed precision driving for the car's debut advertising campaign airing during Super Bowl XLIII. Millen flogged a Genesis Coupe for a full three days during the filming process at Road Atlanta racetrack, and the car never stopped asking for more.

Tajima wins again at Pikes Peak

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Reigning champion Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima again took top honors in the unlimited class at the 87th running of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb on Sunday, driving his new Suzuki SX4 hillclimb special.

Tajima fell 14 seconds shy of his record 2007 run with a 10:15.368 on the at the top of the 12.4-mile, 156-turn course, which runs up the famed Pikes Peak Highway. The veteran complained of time lost due to loose gravel on the dirt sections of the course. The late runners were also hit by some thunder and lightning with sudden downpours, causing a few delays and leaving the asphalt parts of the hill particularly slippery.

Former F1 driver murdered in Colombia

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Ricardo Londono Bridge, who hoped to become the first Colombian to race in Formula 1, back in the 1980s, has been killed in his native country. The 59-year-old was killed on Saturday along with two associates as they were leaving a spa in the town of San Bernardo del Viento, close to Cispata, where Londono owned a hotel. Two other men were injured in the shooting. Police and soldiers carried out operations track down the killers in the area but no-one was arrested. Londono had lost most of his $10m property empire in 2000 when the Colombian government seized it, claiming that it had been acquired using money made from drug trafficking.

Surtees' son killed in race crash

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The son of motorsport legend John Surtees has been killed in a "freak" accident during a Formula Two (F2) race at Brands Hatch in Kent.

Henry Surtees, 18, was flown to the Royal London Hospital after he was struck by a wheel which flew off Jack Clarke's car.

His father, John, who won the Formula One World Championship in 1964, said Henry would be "deeply missed".

"Henry had followed his heart from the time he first sat in a kart," he added.

Trulli mystified by F1 tire behavior

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Jarno Trulli says he has been baffled by the inconsistent performance of some Formula 1 teams this season as a result of their problems handling Bridgestone’s tires.

“This year we have had a lot of troubles to predict and also during the weekend we have had tire handling problems, warming them up, and not very good consistency so far,” said the Toyota driver. “The performance is good but sometimes we could not find an explanation on one car or another.”