Kentucky hoping for NASCAR Sprint Cups in 2009 Kentucky Speedway

Governor Beshear: Hopes Still High for NASCAR Sprint Cup Race in Kentucky for 2009

Press Release Date: Sunday, May 25, 2008
Contact Information: Dick Brown 502-564-2611

State officials visit Sprint Cup Race at Charlotte

FRANKFORT, KY – Gov. Steve Beshear and Jerry Carroll, the man who helped build the Kentucky Speedway, spent Sunday getting a first-hand view of how a world-class NASCAR Sprint Cup race is run. Both the governor and Carroll returned to Kentucky optimistic that new Kentucky Speedway owner Bruton Smith can find a way to get a similar race in Kentucky as early as next year.

Gov. Beshear, Carroll, and Larry Hayes, Secretary of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet, were guests of Smith for the running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The visit comes days after the announcement that Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI), headed by Smith, would acquire Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.

“It’s an amazing thing to see. It is something that will have a tremendous economic impact for Kentucky as we help further develop the Kentucky Speedway with this new group,” said Gov. Beshear. “We talked in general about forming a partnership to make sure that Mr. Smith’s operation is a success. I assured him that we would do that. He will be coming to Kentucky in the near future and he and Mr. Carroll will be meeting with me and my staff and we will have more specific conversations about that at that time.”

The question of whether Smith and SMI can get a Sprint Cup race scheduled for the Kentucky Speedway in 2009 has been up in the air. While NASCAR is quoted as saying it may be too late to change the schedule of races for next year, Carroll says he has faith that Bruton Smith can make it happen.

“I’ve been around him for awhile, and I have to say that whenever Bruton Smith says he can do something he normally gets it done,” said Carroll. “I was very encouraged by the things he said today. I would keep my hopes up for 2009, I really would. He wants to have the race here. He loves Kentucky.”

The atmosphere surrounding the race and the potential that a similar event offers Kentucky are all positive factors that Gov. Beshear looks forward to seeing in the Commonwealth.

“It was an exciting day. It’s really a great family affair. And it’s going to fit in so well here in the Commonwealth and so well there at Kentucky Speedway,” said the governor. “There are some great things ahead for the Commonwealth of Kentucky in NASCAR racing.”

Combined with the international attention that will be focused on Kentucky in September with the Ryder Cup and the World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010, Gov. Beshear says a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in 2009 would be a true trifecta for the Commonwealth.

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Related Story Speedway Motorsports buying Kentucky Speedway

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We wish all of our friends and cousins in Gallatin County all the best with their economic and tourism efforts. A big shout out to John "Spike" Wright, Gallatin County Attorney. Get Kentucky Insurance Quotes Online

East Ky Miners Pace still shopping Majors Pikeville KY

East Kentucky Miners basketball star, Josh Pace still shopping his chances in the NBA. Pace was the leading scorer in the CBA in 2007-08, by scoring a average of 23 points per game. Josh was one of those players I thought might be a "tweener" but I tell you what, teams are giving him a serious look. He is trying out for the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, and the Golden State Warriors.

We are big fans Pikeville's East Kentucky Miners, and wish for alumni Josh Pace only the best with the NBA.

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Charlie Pinson is an independent Kentucky insurance agent. He is also "The Voice of Pikeville College Bears" and numerous other high school sports teams broadcast on WPRG-TV 5, Intermountain Sports by Gearheart Communications. He is pictured above with East Kentucky Miners Diamond Girls in from of the East Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville. Visit Charlie's Kentucky Insurance agency online.

Kentucky Govenor weighs in on sale of Kentucky Speedway

Governor Steve Beshear’s statement regarding the sale of Kentucky Speedway

Press Release Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008 Contact Information: Dick Brown
502-564-2611

“This is an exciting day for Kentucky and all NASCAR fans. The economic impact to the state will be tremendous. I am pleased that Kentucky Speedway will be in the hands of a great sports entrepreneur like Bruton Smith.

Jerry Carroll and others built this into a world-class track and their long-held dream of having a permanent home for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race may finally come true. As Speedway Motorsports and Bruton Smith take the wheel, I look forward to working with him to bring a coveted Sprint Cup event to Kentucky Speedway.

My staff and I have been in discussions with Jerry about the sale prior to today’s exciting announcement. To make sure we don’t lose any momentum, I will be traveling to North Carolina for the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend to visit with Bruton and get specific about how we will work together to bring a Sprint Cup race to Kentucky Speedway.

With the Kentucky Derby, the 2008 Ryder Cup, the 2010 World Equestrian Games, the recently announced Bluegrass Motorsports Club and Road Course in Gallatin County, and the excellent prospects of a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway, Kentucky is clearly becoming the location of choice for sports enthusiasts from all interests and backgrounds.”

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Kentucky sport fan, and Kentucky insurance agent Joyce Pinson, spent many summers along the Ohio River in Gallatin County. She loves the little river town of Warsaw, where she fondly remembers the soda fountain at Bill Beverly's pharmacy. She often snapped beans on her aunt's farm, near Sparta and the new Kentucky Speedway.Get Kentucky Insurance Quotes

Revvv up for Indy 500

The staff of Charlie Pinson Insurance KY wishes everyone a safe Memorial Day weekend. We are out on vacation!

Interesting articles about upcoming INDY Race

• Helio Castroneves ponders move to Nascar



• Sports Illustrated says Foyt a longshot



• 
  Nascar boring? Then start a fight Dario Franchitti moves to Nascar/wife Ashley Judd

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Everybody knows that Ashley Judd is a dyed in the wool Kentucky Sports fan. The folks here at our Kentucky Insurance agency  are big fans of Ashley, but know very little about Motorsports and car racing. Forgive us.

Big Brown Triple Crown Contender :Casino Drive Spoiler?

"Colorful" hardly begins to describe Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow. Far from being "politically correct" and definitely far from being a "saint", Dutrow has had his ups and downs. An admitted recovering drug addict and banned from racing for numerous infractions including overmedicating horses, you have to wonder how he got to this new crescendo. Big Brown is poised to do something that hasn't been done in thirty years...win the Triple Crown.

Time magazine offers up an article very revealing about Dutrow, the New York enigma. In regard to Big Brown's biggest competition at the Belmont, Casino Drive, who has been making big waves in Japan...here is Dutrow's comments in the Time article, "Dutrow says he would tell his jockey "to find Yamamoto," referring to the Japanese admiral who conceived the Pearl Harbor attack, "and chew his ___." (I deleted the word, but you can figure it out)His jockey is of course two time Kentucky Derby winner Kent Desormeaux.

Casino Drive, won the Peter Pan Stakes a few weeks back. Oddly enough, jockey Desormeaux was "up" on that race. Will that give Desormeaux an advantage? Dutrow, quoting Desormeaux says Casino Drive doesn't measure up to champion, Big Brown.

A rider for Casino Drive has yet to be announced. Rumor has it that Edgar Prado is one of three candidates. In another twist, it was Prado who Dutrow had originally wanted to mount Big Brown.

Big Brown had a workout at Belmont a few days ago, and the trainer is well pleased. Casino Drive, is scheduled to workout on Sunday.

Say what you like about Dutrow, Big Brown seems to be the real deal. Now, as I have said before he is no Secretariat, my all time ideal horse. But with Barbaro and Eight Belles  fates throwing a pallour on racing, it's time for a hero. The win could be healing for Dutrow, for Desormeaux, and for the the industry. We can only hope.

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Joyce Pinson is a Kentucky health insurance agent, who very much enjoys Kentucky sports including horse racing. A big fan of jockey Steve Cauthen, Joyce blogged about the triple crown battles between Alydar and Affirmed  which took place thirty years ago.

Kentucky Sports Safety Tips from SAFE KIDS

Gear Up and Warm Up for Spring Sports Safety

From the Media Center at SafeKids USA; provided on this blog by Kentucky Insurance Agents

Safe Kids Worldwide Offers Sports Safety Tips

Each year, nationwide, more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and under are treated for sports injuries. Roughly half of these injuries are sustained in solo activities — especially biking, skating and skateboarding — but a pproximately one out of four participants in youth soccer, football or baseball has been injured at least once. About 15 percent of kids playing basketball have been injured, and 12 percent of kids playing softball.

In team sports, most injuries — 62 percent — occur during practices, not games. “Always insist that your kids wear the same protective gear, do the same warmups and take all the same precautions when they practice as when they're getting ready for a game,” says Chrissy Cianflone, director of program operations at Safe Kids Worldwide.

“When we think of sports injuries, we think of dramatic tackles or falls or being hit in the head, but young athletes are also at risk of strains and repetitive-motion injuries,” says Cianflone. “If your coach recommends certain types of warmups, it's not just to make you a better athlete — it will help keep you from getting hurt.” Repetitive-motion injuries account for nearly half of all sports injuries to students in grade 6 and above.

In a 2000 survey by Safe Kids Worldwide, 30 percent of parents said their child had been injured at least once while playing a team sport, 15 percent said their child had been injured more than once and about 7 percent said their child suffered a serious injury. “Contact sports have a higher rate of injuries than solo sports, but injuries from solo sports such as biking or skateboarding tend to be more severe,” says Cianflone.

Kentucky Sports Injury Prevention Checklist

Safe Kids USA recommends these precautions for all children playing or practicing any individual or team sport:

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  ~Before signing up for a sport, get a general physical exam.



• ~Always wear appropriate protective gear for the activity — for practice as well as games — and make sure it's the right size and properly adjusted.



• ~Do your warmups. Again, if it's important before a game, it's important before practice too.



• ~Make sure responsible adults know and enforce the safety rules of the sport, are present to provide supervision, and are trained in first aid and CPR. Also, make sure the field is in safe condition.



• ~Never “play through” an injury. Get immediate help from a coach or trainer and be sure to mention everything that hurts or aches.



• ~Follow the rules. In most sports, the rules are based not only on sportsmanship, but safety.



• Last but not least: “Stay hydrated,” says Cianflone. “Drink plenty of water or electrolyte sports drink before and during the activity, and rest frequently during hot weather. A child can lose up to a quart of sweat during two hours of exercise, and kids get overheated more quickly than adults and cannot cool down as easily.”

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Charlie and Joyce Pinson,  Kentucky health insurance agents,  first became acquainted with the Safe Kids program through the local Kiwanis club. With the summer Kentucky sports season heating up, all athletes and armchair quarterbacks should consider taking steps for their health and safety.

He is right! Dick Vitale on UK Wildcats and Hartford Insurance Playbook for Life

Kentucky Recruiting

Running Amuck

College basketball recruiting is getting pretty weird according to Dick Vitale. He said it is "absolutely wacky" as an eighth grader has given Lexington Kentucky Wildcats Coach Billy Gillispie a verbal committment. Apparently Gillispie saw the player, Michael Avery, at a Lavon James camp and offered him a scholarship on the spot.

Dick Vitale is knocking this move. Alot can happen in those five years between junior high school and college. The world is a changing scenerio. Vitale points out that there is much pressure on these young athletes, being observed so early in their careers.

In my own observations, we are seeing too many children scrutinized too early. Look at O.J. Mayo. By eighth grade, there was constant buzz about his NBA career. What kind of pressure is that putting on the players? Can kids really be kids? Even though the player in question is being recruited by the Wildcats, I must agree with Dickie V. Five years out, who knows how a player will change. We cannot predict athletic development, academic performance, or even social skills. Why put kids under the microscope so early? And as a recruiting team, a committment five years out may not be what the team needs when the committment is due to be fulfilled. This cannot be good for the athletes or the University of Kentucky.

Read ESPN Dick Vitale's Recruiting Article

Hartford Insurance "Playbook for Life"

Partners with Dick Vitale

I love Kentucky sportscasting. But my "real job" is being a  Kentucky Insurance agent. One of the greatest motivation speakers I have had the pleasure to meet, Dick Vitale was a featured speaker at a Kentucky Health Insurance conference sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross a few years back. More recently, Vitale is a spokesperson for Hartford Insurance's Playbook for Life.

Originally designed for student athletes, Hartford Insurance's Playbook is now available free online. The playbook aimed at students uses interactive quizzes and games to help students better understand financial responsibility. Topics include savings, planning to buy a car, finding the right job, and managing credit cards. A financial calculator is also available.

A second playbook is designed for parents as a tool to helping their children navigate through financial matters that we all face. While not a specific guide, the exercise is one I think would be helpful to students and parents alike.

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Charlie Pinson is a Kentucky sportscaster and Kentucky Insurance Agent.
Kentucky Health Insurance Quote and  :  Kentucky Car Insurance Quotes are available on the Kentucky Insurance agency website.