Family sues NASCAR, Pocono over 2012 lightning death

NASCAR blew off a severe storm warning at the Pocono 400 race until the storm got so bad it had to stop the race, and 6 minutes later a fan was killed by lightning in the parking lot, his family claims in court. Brian Zimmerman was killed by lightning at 5:00pm on Aug. 5, 2012, his widow Marion claims in the Court of Common Pleas. She sued Pocono International Raceway and NASCAR, on Aug. 1. Ten other people were injured by lightning, one of whom sued NASCAR and the Pocono Raceway in July. Zimmerman claims that NASCAR and the Pocono Raceway received a severe thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service at 4:12pm, but they "did nothing" to stop the race or warn fans until 4:21, when they "attempted to use social media" to warn race fans of the approaching storm. Brian Zimmerman did not have access to social media at the raceway, his widow says. The defendants stopped the race at 4:54pm At 4:59, they used social media again to warn fans to seek shelter. Brian was hit by lightning at 5:00pm and died. In the July lawsuit, Jason Peneck's wife Erin claims her husband suffered "severe and permanent injuries, including, but not limited to, a traumatic brain injury, second degree burns, and dysautonomia."(Courthouse News Service)

Rusty Wallace to join Watkins Glen Walk of Fame

Auto racing legend Rusty Wallace will be inducted into the Watkins Glen Drivers Walk of Fame during a ceremony at 4:30pm Friday. The Rusty Wallace marker in the Drivers Walk of Fame is located in the sidewalk front of Unique Country Boutique, 212 N. Franklin St. in Watkins Glen. Wallace, who retired in 2005, had a career that included 55 NASCAR championship event victories, the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup championship, the 1991 IROC Championship and the 1983 American Speed Association Championship. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in February 2013. The Drivers Walk of Fame, located in the sidewalks of Watkins Glen, honors the drivers who have competed in Watkins Glen events since the first race in 1948.(Elmira Star-Gazette)

2014 Cheez-It 355 at the Glen Race Weekend Schedule

Friday, August 8
12:30 - 2:00pm Cheez-It 355 at the Glen Practice (FS1)
4:30 - 5:55pm Cheez-It 355 at the Glen Final Practice (FS1)

6:15 PM Bully Hill Vineyards 125 at the Glen (FS1 - Will air at another time)

Saturday, August 9
9:40 AM Zippo 200 at the Glen QUALIFYING (ESPN2)
11:40am Cheez-It 355 at the Glen Qualifying (ESPN2)
2:15 PM 2014 Zippo 200 at the Glen (ABC)

Sunday, August 10
1:00pm 2014 Cheez-It 355 at the Glen (ESPN)

ALL TIMES LOCAL TO TRACK

Piquet to make Cup debut at Watkins Glen

Nelson Piquet Jr. is set to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut this weekend at Watkins Glen International, his first national series start of the season. Piquet, a Brazilian native, will drive the Randy Humphrey Racing #77 Ford in Sunday's Cheez-It 355 at The Glen. Since 43 cars are listed for the 43-car event, Piquet will not need to qualify based on his speed in Coors Light Pole Qualifying unless another team files a late entry. The 29-year-old driver competed in two full seasons in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from 2011-12, then raced full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013. This year, he's been competing in Rallycross events, including taking the bronze medal at the X-Games in June. Sunday's race also marks the return of the Randy Humphrey-owned organization to the Sprint Cup circuit.(NASCAR.com)

Could NASCAR require tire pressure sensors?

At several tracks this season, teams have experienced issues with tire failures  and Jimmie Johnson certainly hasn't been immune to those issues. At New Hampshire two weeks ago, the # 48 had two left-rear tires failures in the first 11 laps, the second of which put him out of the race. Although Johnson protested, "I can promise you one thing, it wasn't due to low left rear tire pressure," Goodyear had a different diagnosis after examining the tires. As was the case with Joey Logano and Aric Almirola earlier in the weekend, Goodyear believed the tire failures were due to low air pressure. Each week Goodyear makes minimum air pressure recommendations. But teams don't always adhere to the numbers.
So if the teams don't follow the suggested minimum air pressures, how does Goodyear protect itself against the negative publicity when a driver has a blowout? How about a tire sensor to discourage teams from fudging on their numbers? "We've talked to NASCAR about different things like that," Greg Stucker, director of race tire sales for Goodyear, told Motorsport.com. "We worked on those on and off for several years, but it's come more to the forefront in our discussions with how they're looking at their new officiating. But no decisions have been made whether or not we're moving forward on that. We're doing research and trying to figure out what our options might be in a situation like that, but nothing for sure." Stucker says a tire pressure monitor on a race car would use the same technology to report psi "no different than what you see on your street car these days."(Motorsport)