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Topic: June's Southwest Report: 2012 Season Wrap Up
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November 25, 2012 at
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2012 Season Wrap Up and More
by June Gardner
2012 began with a great start. I was able to come over from California to Phoenix for the Winter Challenge at Canyon Speedway Park. It was an awesome 6 races in 9 days. I had so much fun. I met some great people that became great friends during that time. I knew then that I wanted to make the move from California back to Arizona; I just didn’t know how soon I could do it. Thanks to a very understanding husband, I was able to move back to Phoenix in September to look for work. With a lot of luck, prayers and work, I found a job that I’m enjoying. It’s so good to be back in the Valley of the Sun. I didn’t realize how much I missed living here until I moved back. I received such a great welcome from the racing community and my friends that I really feel like I’m back where I should be.
Before September, I was able to make it over for a few races. It was so hard being in California while the ASCS guys were racing but thanks to social media (Facebook, Twitter and Text Messaging) I was able to keep up. Special thanks to people like Bruce St. James, Lyndsay Sickles, Bob Ream, Jr. and others, I was able to feel like I was at the track from my home in California. My husband Jimmy and I came over for two races and I was able to show him why I love racing here in AZ more than racing in California. To me, there is a difference. When Rickie Gaunt came over to race a couple of races at Canyon, he said it best when he said, “Racing over here reminds me of the good ole days of racing. Everyone is like a big family.” I totally agree with that statement as I feel the same way.
Once I moved over here in September, racing consumed my life again. I lived for Saturday nights. I was made to feel so welcomed here that it was almost like I never left. It felt so good to reconnect with people like Robbie, Gaye and Jessica Allen, Bob Ream, Jr., Bruce St. James, Byron Mitchell and so many more. I ran into people that I haven’t seen since I left as well. People like Bernie Smith, Jeff Henry and his 2 very tall sons Devon and Chase and made so many new friends like the Sickles Family, Joe Ott, Curtis Read, Jerry Terranova and so many others that it would take my whole column to name. My racing friends mean so much to me that if I didn’t name you here, please know that it’s not because you don’t mean something to me. Everyone on the track means something to me. I appreciate everyone who makes it possible for me to enjoy the sport I love. From guys like Kevin Montgomery who promote the races and work so hard at the track, all of the staff and management at Canyon and ET/Arizona Speedway, to the car owners, drivers, crew members and their families, I want to take the time to say thank you for all of your hard work and efforts. I sincerely appreciate everything you all do.
I have to say congratulations to one of my all-time favorite people on winning the 2012 ASCS Canyon Series Championship. Charlie, you had a helleva year and it was so fun to watch you run. I wish you nothing but continued success in 2013. Congratulations to Charlie Davis, Jr. and his Massey Motorsports team on being #1 for 2012.
One thing that I noticed this year was something that really troubles me. It seemed like this year that the racing had the same “boys have at it” rule that is in NASCAR. I haven’t seen so much bumping and banging in sprint car racing in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, I know there will be some bumping and banging going on, that’s racing, but what I’m talking about is intentional bumping and banging. When I first saw it, I thought that it was because it was the beginning of the season and everyone is getting their feet wet again. But when it continued until the last race of the season, it made me think about it. After the brawl between Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon at PIR and what could have happened there, it made me do some serious thinking about it at the local level. I’m not ashamed or afraid to say that it scares the living hell out of me. There is one driver in particular that did it more than most. I watched him run into cars for no reason at all this entire season. Even at the Western World Championships, this young man drove both divisions and was a squirrel in the winged division and was using his opponents as bumper cars in the non-winged division. This young driver scares the hell out of me every time he gets on the track. I am talking about Dalten Gabbard. This young man has the best equipment, the big hauler but I’m afraid he’s driving over his head. I’ve watched him hit numerous drivers and cause serious damage to their cars. After the last race at ET/Arizona Speedway, I was in the pits talking to Josh Pelkey and Robbie Allen when Mr. Gabbard came over. He apologized to Josh and told him that he couldn’t see Josh when he was stopped on the track in turn 1. I’m sorry to say this, but how in the hell can you miss seeing the Robbie & Gaye Allen owned #12 on the track? It’s DAY-GLO!!! When young Mr. Gabbard made this statement to Robbie and Josh, right then and there I realized that this kid has no idea of what he’s doing on the track nor is he paying attention and concentrating to what’s going on around him. When I got home from that race, I called my husband in California and asked him (since he was a driver) how someone could miss seeing the #12 car stopped on the track. I even went so far to ask my husband to ask his grandfather, Jack Gardner, Sr. who is 1954 CRA Champion, if he thought it was possible to miss seeing this car. Grandpa’s words to me (after seeing a picture of the car on the computer) were, “How in the hell can you miss that bright car?” I could understand if Dalten was right behind Josh and had nowhere to go, but he had plenty of time to see the incident and move around it. When Dalten made this statement, it reminded me of the crash that took Jeff Bagley’s life at Ascot. It was said by many, that Jeff could have slowed down and avoided the entire incident that night. We will never know with Jeff Bagley, but to hear this from Mr. Gabbard, really shook me up. I’ve been thinking about writing about this ever since that night and wasn’t sure if I had the courage to do this, but after all of the incidents at the Westerns, I knew in my heart that I have to do it. I don’t know if it will make a difference or not to anyone, especially young Mr. Gabbard, but at least I’ve tried to make him aware of what needs to be done. There’s so much controversy about the entire Gabbard team. I’ve heard so many things that have gone on in the pit areas. I’ve heard that the Gabbard family fights all of Dalten’s battles for him. That’s just so sad. In my opinion, if he’s man enough to strap in a sprint car, then he’s man enough to fight his own battles. I think his family needs to step back, sit down and let Dalten fight it out for himself. It just makes Dalten look like a wimp, in my eyes. In all of my years of racing, I’ve never been on a team that fights the battles for the driver. If our driver had a beef with another driver, he went up to that driver and had it out with him. The rest of the team never got involved unless the other team went after us. Our drivers always said, let me fight my own battles otherwise I lose any respect I’ve ever earned. Well, Dalten has lost all of my respect and I have no respect for his family either. My biggest fear is that Dalten is going to hurt himself or someone else out on the track; or even worse kill someone. As a sport that has lost so many, we DO NOT need anyone on the track who is not totally focused on driving. That is the way drivers are hurt and/or killed. This sport doesn’t need that kind of publicity.
I want everyone to realize that this column is of my OWN PERSONAL OPINIONS and facts that I’ve personally gathered or witnessed. I refuse to let anyone influence my writing. I have a lot of friends who were victims of Mr. Gabbard’s rough driving this year but that isn’t why I’m writing this. It’s because I’m truly scared of what could happen if this isn’t stopped. I don’t know why the tracks allow the fisticuffs to continue when it’s the same people week in and week out that are starting it. That’s not my business. My business as a writer is to call it as I see it. And I’m doing just that.
If you have a beef about what I’ve written, please don’t get on the owners of the websites about it. Have the courage to face me with your opinions. My email is [email protected]. I’m always open to discussing what I write with anyone. However, if you want to attack me, threaten me or anything else, just don't. It’s not worth my time to deal with that kind of crap.
I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. I’m really looking forward to the 2013 Winter Shootout at Canyon Speedway Park starting January 25, 2013. Remember to look for me in Turn 1 because that’s where the action is at. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Cya in 2013.
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November 25, 2012 at
10:18:59 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: ljennings on November 25 2012 at 02:42:31 AM
2012 Season Wrap Up and More
by June Gardner
2012 began with a great start. I was able to come over from California to Phoenix for the Winter Challenge at Canyon Speedway Park. It was an awesome 6 races in 9 days. I had so much fun. I met some great people that became great friends during that time. I knew then that I wanted to make the move from California back to Arizona; I just didn’t know how soon I could do it. Thanks to a very understanding husband, I was able to move back to Phoenix in September to look for work. With a lot of luck, prayers and work, I found a job that I’m enjoying. It’s so good to be back in the Valley of the Sun. I didn’t realize how much I missed living here until I moved back. I received such a great welcome from the racing community and my friends that I really feel like I’m back where I should be.
Before September, I was able to make it over for a few races. It was so hard being in California while the ASCS guys were racing but thanks to social media (Facebook, Twitter and Text Messaging) I was able to keep up. Special thanks to people like Bruce St. James, Lyndsay Sickles, Bob Ream, Jr. and others, I was able to feel like I was at the track from my home in California. My husband Jimmy and I came over for two races and I was able to show him why I love racing here in AZ more than racing in California. To me, there is a difference. When Rickie Gaunt came over to race a couple of races at Canyon, he said it best when he said, “Racing over here reminds me of the good ole days of racing. Everyone is like a big family.” I totally agree with that statement as I feel the same way.
Once I moved over here in September, racing consumed my life again. I lived for Saturday nights. I was made to feel so welcomed here that it was almost like I never left. It felt so good to reconnect with people like Robbie, Gaye and Jessica Allen, Bob Ream, Jr., Bruce St. James, Byron Mitchell and so many more. I ran into people that I haven’t seen since I left as well. People like Bernie Smith, Jeff Henry and his 2 very tall sons Devon and Chase and made so many new friends like the Sickles Family, Joe Ott, Curtis Read, Jerry Terranova and so many others that it would take my whole column to name. My racing friends mean so much to me that if I didn’t name you here, please know that it’s not because you don’t mean something to me. Everyone on the track means something to me. I appreciate everyone who makes it possible for me to enjoy the sport I love. From guys like Kevin Montgomery who promote the races and work so hard at the track, all of the staff and management at Canyon and ET/Arizona Speedway, to the car owners, drivers, crew members and their families, I want to take the time to say thank you for all of your hard work and efforts. I sincerely appreciate everything you all do.
I have to say congratulations to one of my all-time favorite people on winning the 2012 ASCS Canyon Series Championship. Charlie, you had a helleva year and it was so fun to watch you run. I wish you nothing but continued success in 2013. Congratulations to Charlie Davis, Jr. and his Massey Motorsports team on being #1 for 2012.
One thing that I noticed this year was something that really troubles me. It seemed like this year that the racing had the same “boys have at it” rule that is in NASCAR. I haven’t seen so much bumping and banging in sprint car racing in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, I know there will be some bumping and banging going on, that’s racing, but what I’m talking about is intentional bumping and banging. When I first saw it, I thought that it was because it was the beginning of the season and everyone is getting their feet wet again. But when it continued until the last race of the season, it made me think about it. After the brawl between Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon at PIR and what could have happened there, it made me do some serious thinking about it at the local level. I’m not ashamed or afraid to say that it scares the living hell out of me. There is one driver in particular that did it more than most. I watched him run into cars for no reason at all this entire season. Even at the Western World Championships, this young man drove both divisions and was a squirrel in the winged division and was using his opponents as bumper cars in the non-winged division. This young driver scares the hell out of me every time he gets on the track. I am talking about Dalten Gabbard. This young man has the best equipment, the big hauler but I’m afraid he’s driving over his head. I’ve watched him hit numerous drivers and cause serious damage to their cars. After the last race at ET/Arizona Speedway, I was in the pits talking to Josh Pelkey and Robbie Allen when Mr. Gabbard came over. He apologized to Josh and told him that he couldn’t see Josh when he was stopped on the track in turn 1. I’m sorry to say this, but how in the hell can you miss seeing the Robbie & Gaye Allen owned #12 on the track? It’s DAY-GLO!!! When young Mr. Gabbard made this statement to Robbie and Josh, right then and there I realized that this kid has no idea of what he’s doing on the track nor is he paying attention and concentrating to what’s going on around him. When I got home from that race, I called my husband in California and asked him (since he was a driver) how someone could miss seeing the #12 car stopped on the track. I even went so far to ask my husband to ask his grandfather, Jack Gardner, Sr. who is 1954 CRA Champion, if he thought it was possible to miss seeing this car. Grandpa’s words to me (after seeing a picture of the car on the computer) were, “How in the hell can you miss that bright car?” I could understand if Dalten was right behind Josh and had nowhere to go, but he had plenty of time to see the incident and move around it. When Dalten made this statement, it reminded me of the crash that took Jeff Bagley’s life at Ascot. It was said by many, that Jeff could have slowed down and avoided the entire incident that night. We will never know with Jeff Bagley, but to hear this from Mr. Gabbard, really shook me up. I’ve been thinking about writing about this ever since that night and wasn’t sure if I had the courage to do this, but after all of the incidents at the Westerns, I knew in my heart that I have to do it. I don’t know if it will make a difference or not to anyone, especially young Mr. Gabbard, but at least I’ve tried to make him aware of what needs to be done. There’s so much controversy about the entire Gabbard team. I’ve heard so many things that have gone on in the pit areas. I’ve heard that the Gabbard family fights all of Dalten’s battles for him. That’s just so sad. In my opinion, if he’s man enough to strap in a sprint car, then he’s man enough to fight his own battles. I think his family needs to step back, sit down and let Dalten fight it out for himself. It just makes Dalten look like a wimp, in my eyes. In all of my years of racing, I’ve never been on a team that fights the battles for the driver. If our driver had a beef with another driver, he went up to that driver and had it out with him. The rest of the team never got involved unless the other team went after us. Our drivers always said, let me fight my own battles otherwise I lose any respect I’ve ever earned. Well, Dalten has lost all of my respect and I have no respect for his family either. My biggest fear is that Dalten is going to hurt himself or someone else out on the track; or even worse kill someone. As a sport that has lost so many, we DO NOT need anyone on the track who is not totally focused on driving. That is the way drivers are hurt and/or killed. This sport doesn’t need that kind of publicity.
I want everyone to realize that this column is of my OWN PERSONAL OPINIONS and facts that I’ve personally gathered or witnessed. I refuse to let anyone influence my writing. I have a lot of friends who were victims of Mr. Gabbard’s rough driving this year but that isn’t why I’m writing this. It’s because I’m truly scared of what could happen if this isn’t stopped. I don’t know why the tracks allow the fisticuffs to continue when it’s the same people week in and week out that are starting it. That’s not my business. My business as a writer is to call it as I see it. And I’m doing just that.
If you have a beef about what I’ve written, please don’t get on the owners of the websites about it. Have the courage to face me with your opinions. My email is [email protected]. I’m always open to discussing what I write with anyone. However, if you want to attack me, threaten me or anything else, just don't. It’s not worth my time to deal with that kind of crap.
I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. I’m really looking forward to the 2013 Winter Shootout at Canyon Speedway Park starting January 25, 2013. Remember to look for me in Turn 1 because that’s where the action is at. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Cya in 2013.
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WOW WOW WOW Hey Dalten is a great kid maybe we need to take the roll cages off. Dalten likes to STAND on the gas maybe drivers who should be in the senior sprints at the PAS should not be hot heads when moved out of the way. Charlie FLAT WHEELED his way to a championship YES everybody needs to get out of Charlie's way JMO. It is hard to race clean at Canyon, 1 1/2 groves wide but Kevin is trying to make it better.
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November 25, 2012 at
02:18:41 PM
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I'm sorry you feel like I'm talking about just one incident Upfront. I guess you missed the part when I stated I'm afraid that the young man is going to hurt himself or someone else. Oh well, since you won't state your name and use a screen name, I just have to take your criticism w/a grain of salt and let it go.
RIP Chet and Mark. You might be gone but never will
be forgotten.
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November 25, 2012 at
03:33:07 PM
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June
Regarding your "2012 Season Wrap Up" report.....
I opened the thread looking to read about what all transpired during the racing season through your views as I know how you are a very dedicated fan. I see a mention where Charlie Davis won the championship (ASCS) but other than the Gabbard issue, I dont see any other racing information about 2012 that one would typically see in a season review or wrap up report. There isnt any info about on-track success and/or victories or any information on any races during the year
Thus I do have a question: Where is the racing info for the 2012 season?
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November 25, 2012 at
03:41:57 PM
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There is more to follow. I'm still gathering more info for the wrap up. Waiting on some emails to come in with some much needed info since I wasn't here for the entire year. I should have put part 1 but I thought about it after I emailed it.
RIP Chet and Mark. You might be gone but never will
be forgotten.
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November 25, 2012 at
04:11:23 PM
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OK, I trust you can see how viewers like myself would be curious based on the thread title. Will read "part 2" when posted
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November 25, 2012 at
04:21:40 PM
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It probably won't be done until next weekend as I'm on overtime all of this week. I know I have at least a 10 hour day tomorrow at work and I'm not sure about the rest of the week. I love the money but hate how work cuts into my racing time. LOL. 
RIP Chet and Mark. You might be gone but never will
be forgotten.
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November 25, 2012 at
04:38:10 PM
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Good to see that someone is working.
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November 25, 2012 at
05:40:54 PM
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Go number 77 just like I said when that whole out of control family that was sitting around you going into turn 1. was all in a uproar over getting mixed up in a racing deal . At the westerns I was in section B row 10 seat 2 my name is Randy and I still say go 77 . Thank you for showing up with a wing car and a non wing car .
We need more sprint car racing at our home track.
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November 25, 2012 at
05:53:18 PM
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Wouldn't a wrap up article require you to be at a all the races or atleast more that three? Lol
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November 25, 2012 at
06:21:33 PM
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This message was edited on
November 25, 2012 at
07:24:16 PM by BIGFISH
Dalton has been on my radar since he first showed up in a sprinter and that means I've seen him run way more than a few times, and in my opinion he's very much like the other young men his age who while trying to get a handle on a non wing car, get over that line more than some might think is acceptable. I could name more than a few that have no problem at all about the way Dalton gets up on the wheel, and I could name plenty who've been on their top way more that Gabbard has since he's been in a Sprinter.
TUCSON, Ariz. (August 21, 2010)A rookie contender (the be Dalton) with the wingless ASCS Canyon Region, the 17-year-old donned wings for the first time and charged past R.J. Johnson for the lead on the ninth circuit en route to victory lane aboard the Arizona Heat Trucking No. 77d. http://daltengabbardracing.com/Hey, it's not like the kid can't drive, and like Joshua Hodges fron NM who I think a lot of, he's going to go over the line at times looking for it.
Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.
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