Free Republic

Paralyzed Driver Says There’s More to Come after Podium Finish in First Michelin Pilot Challenge Race By Jeff Olson February 16, 2022 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Deep in the comments of one of Robert Wickens’ Instagram posts is one from someone he’s never met: You’re so inspirational.It could have been any of the 319 comments on a workout video viewed more than 33,000 times. Like many of the comments, inspiration is the theme. Wickens didn’t intend to be an inspirational figure. He didn’t share the agony, challenges and progress of his rehabilitation or the photos of his wedding, standing...

LONG POND, PA.—Canadian rookie Robert Wickens went soaring into the fence at Pocono Raceway in a scary wreck that brought Sunday’s IndyCar race to a halt. Wickens connected with Ryan Hunter-Reay and shot into a 360-degree spin into the fence. The fence was destroyed and parts of Wickens’ Honda scattered over the track. Wickens was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. Hunter-Reay, Canadian James Hinchcliffe and Takuma Sato were among the drivers involved in the wreck. Hinchcliffe seemed to be in pain, grabbing his wrists as he slowly left his car. What an awful crash. My thoughts and prayers...

Erdogan was initially on the roster of speakers on the funeral — a list that includes a number of famous names, such as former president Bill Clinton and comedian Billy Crystal. However, on Monday, Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell had said that two unnamed speakers had been added to the program, meaning that foreign guests Erdogan and King Abdullah II of Jordan would no longer be able to make an address. Gunnell told reporters that the two world leaders had been “gracious and understood.” But there were a number of suggestions that perhaps Erdogan had been removed from the list...

Ambitious TurkeyReasons and tips for showing our displeasure with Ankara's neo-Ottomanism A few days ago, Turkey’s foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, grandiloquently proclaimed that “if the world is on fire, Turkey is the firefighter. Turkey is assuming the leading role for stability in the Middle East.” Such ambition is new for Ankara. In the 1990s, it contentedly fulfilled its NATO obligations and followed Washington’s lead. Starting about 1996, relations with Israel blossomed. In all, Turkish policy offered an attractive exception to the tyrannical, Islamist, and conspiracist mentality generally dominating Muslim peoples. That the country’s political leaders were corrupt and fumbling seemed...

In an astonishing and reckless attack on the US the Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the country considers itself at war with any nation that stands by the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. He said: "Any country that protects Fethullah Gulen will be an enemy to Turkey." Moderate cleric Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, has been a constant scapegoat for Erdogan who has accused him of trying to establish a “parallel state” to rival his own fiefdom. The statement by Mr Yildirim will be seen as a thinly veiled threat to America to give up Gulen, who lives...

New emails and documents uncover ties between the Clintons and an Islamic imam from Turkey who has been in self-exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. According to The Daily Caller, several pieces of evidence tie the Clintons to Fethullah Gulen, against whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan has launched a crackdown.

Justin Wilson, a British IndyCar driver, was struck in the head by debris from another car during today's race. IndyCar reports he is in a coma and listed in critical condition.

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) - Officials at Pocono Raceway say one person is dead and nine are injured after a lightning strike in the parking lot behind the grandstand after a race. Pocono officials say two people were taken to hospitals in critical condition after Sunday's lightning strike. Track president Brandon Igdalsky confirms that one of them later died at Pocono Medical Center. He provided no details. Track vice president Bob Pleban says five people were treated at the scene. Three others were hospitalized with moderate or minor injuries.

Deja VU.. seems like we were just here not too long ago. No matter, its time to ploof the pillow, stir the hambone soup and hear the roar of Junior Nation as we watch the field Chase their tails at Pocono. as the GrateFul Dead used to sing.. What a long strange ride it's been .. or sumthin'.

Join us Sunday at Long Pond for 400 miles as the CoTank engines, trannies & rear ends get a work out and then some over the 2.66 mile track and long straightaways... TnT has the race coverage.

Off to Pocono and a make or break race for more than a few drivers hoping to stay in the hunt for the Chase..

Upward of 400 people heard a brief presentation by Casey of the health bill passed by his Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that seeks universal insurance coverage. This was followed by questions. Both supporters and opponents turned out in large numbers, but there were few of the sharp exchanges that have characterized similar forums held by elected officials around the country.

Democrats will take to the streets in Stroudsburg and other towns across the country tonight as a way to build public support for the national health care bill. "It's a candlelight vigil to memorialize the people who have been adversely affected by poor health care policy, or lack thereof, in the United States," said Patrick McDermott. McDermott is a legislative aide to state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18, but said he is working the vigil on his own time. "I'm incredibly passionate about the need for health care reform in this county, and I want to lend my voice and efforts...

Join us this weekend for the action on the long straightaways of Pocono Raceway. God bless our troops, families and this nation under God. This thread is dedicated to the men and women in our country's armed forces defending our freedoms. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

CAMDEN, N.J. - Six Muslim men suspected of plotting to massacre U.S. soldiers at Fort Dix were ordered held without bail Friday. Prosecutors argued that the men, all born outside the United States, pose a flight risk. They are being held at a federal detention center in Philadelphia. The men were arrested Monday night during what the FBI said was an attempt to buy AK-47 machine guns, M-16s and other weapons. They targeted Fort Dix, a post 25 miles east of Philadelphia that is used primarily to train reservists, partly because one of them had delivered pizzas there and was...

Join us this weekend for some long straightaways at Pocono. God bless our troops, families and this nation under God. This thread is dedicated to the men and women in our country's armed forces defending our freedoms. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

SI.com has learned that for the first time in history, a major presidential candidate may sponsor a race car in NASCAR's premier series. According to sources, Barack Obama's campaign is in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing's No. 49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3. **** Obama will also be present for a second private fundraiser on July 30 in Miami, in which team owners Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau -- staunch Republicans -- will give the Democrat an opportunity to spread his message of change. Randy Moss and Fergie are among the...

FREE REPUBLICNASCAR THREAD POCONO 500 Welcome all to the Sprint Cup race atPocono Raceway (Click on the Pics, Graphics, & Links for related news & info.) Current Cup driver standings Jeff Burton to Appear at the Tricky Triangle Club Track Schedule for the Pocono 500 Pocono 500 Entry List Qualifying: Friday 6/6 3:30 pm ~ Coors Light Pole Qualifying ~ SPEEDRace: Sunday 6/08 2:00 pm SPRINT Cup Race ~ TNT Speed's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 11:30 am/etTNT's Countdown to Green Pre-Race Show: 12:30 - 2:00pm/etScheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:10pm/et Jayski.com TV listings Track Details with Current & Historical Track...

FREE REPUBLIC NASCAR THREADPennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway Welcome all to the Nextel Cup race at Pocono Raceway! (Click on the Pics, Graphics, & Links for related news & info.) Pocono and other area race tracks will be on site as we speed through the science behind what makes these fast cars go! Qualifying: Fri August 3, 3:30 pm Nextel Cup Qualifying ESPN2Race: Sun August 5, 2:00 pm Nextel Cup Race on ESPN NASCAR Countdown - Pocono NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: ESPN2 1:00 pm/et(Caution Pool opens then!) Jayski.com TV listings Track Details with Current & Historical Track info from...

FREE REPUBLIC NASCAR THREAD POCONO 500 at Pocono Raceway Welcome all to the Nextel Cup race at Pocono Raceway! (Click on the Pics, Graphics, & Links for related news & info.)Qualifying: Fri June 8, 3:30 pm Nextel Cup Qualifying (LIVE) SPEEDRace: Sun June 10, 2:00 pm Nextel Cup Race on TNTSpeed's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 11:00 am/et(Caution Pool opens then!) Jayski.com TV listingsTrack Details with Current & Historical Track info from NASCAR.com and from That's Racin'NASCAR News, Info and Stats from JAYSKI'S silly season site