THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2010 C3 AutO RacinG NHL Record run, revisited Chelios leaning HOLLAND RACER FULFILLS GOAL TO BEAT HIS OWN STANDARD toward retirement BY STEVE KAMINSKI track with a qualifying pass I wanted to keep playing until THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS of 10.77 seconds at more than Former Red Wing eyes there was nothing left in the 120 miles per hour. The run tank. I think I’m there.” Phil Veldheer was able to eclipsed his 2007 record of family time, business After 46 regular season scratch one item off his bucket 10.80, but the IHRA requires games with the Chicago Wolves list last weekend. that racers back up a record of the AHL last season, Chelios Veldheer, of Holland, set run with a second pass within BY ANSAR KHAN was recalled the International Hot Rod 1 percent of the first. PRESS NEWS SERVICE by the Atlanta Association’s F/CM class That proved no problem for Thrashers and record three years ago in his Veldheer, who went 10.79 his DETROIT — Chris Chelios appeared in 1969 Camaro hot rod, and his next trip down. is almost certain he is done seven games. dream was to break it when Any driver who wishes to playing hockey but, in case an Chelios is Martin’s U.S. 131 Motorsports chase a class record in the opportunity arises, he is not working out Park hosted the IHRA ProAm. IHRA must disassemble his ready to make his retirement regularly at Veldheer, 61, kept remind- engine and reassemble it in front COURTESY PHOTO official. J o e L o u i s ing himself of that list when he of series tech inspectors. Top flight: Phil Veldheer broke his own record set three At age 48 and after 26 NHL Chris Arena. He will was working on his car in the The whole process took years ago. seasons, including 10 with the Chelios go to southern scorching heat at the Martin Veldheer more than five hours Detroit Red Wings, he said he California next quarter-mile last Friday. Friday afternoon and, once he and I had a massive wheel at the Bonneville Salt Flats in plans to spend more time at month and begin his annual “I’m underneath the car, was cleared, he took a pair of stand on my second, and I Wendover, Utah. home. He will watch sons Dean off-season training regimen changing the oil, and I had practice runs Friday evening. knew I was going to be OK. I “I have 25 percent of the and Jake play at Michigan State with several NHL players, sweat dripping in my eyes “I made a run at 6:30 and was somewhat relieved when parts for the new engine and be more involved with his including Red Wings Dan and they are burning,” another at 7, and both were it was over because it was that is going to take me to two Detroit-area restaurant/ Cleary and Jiri Hudler. Veldheer said. “It was so hot, under the old record,” Veldheer No. 1 on my bucket list.” Bonneville,” he said. “We know bars. Chelios has two Cheli’s Chili and I’m thinking, ‘What am I said. “Those didn’t count, but Veldheer, a veteran area drag what we are going to do, and “I haven’t decided 100 per- Bars, one in Dearborn and one doing?’ But I had a goal to set this I wanted to make sure every- racer who heads a six-car team, we are going to do it slowly. I cent, but it looks like I’m not across from Comerica Park. record again.” thing was OK and that nothing has a new No. 1 item at the top don’t have any timetable yet on going to play again,” Chelios He said business hasn’t been The effort paid off because was leaking. of his bucket list. He recently when we are going to do it.” said. “The desire is there, but as good downtown — “like Veldheer returned Saturday “I came back Saturday morn- purchased a 1999 Z-28 Camaro, after last year, it would take a everybody else, it’s been a morning and ripped down the ing and ran one pass under it, and his goal is to crack 200 mph E-mail: [email protected] special opportunity to leave my struggle” — which relies family again. heavily on crowds from Detroit “I did what I wanted to do. Tigers games. Keselowski gets a Nationwide pass GRIFFINS thE BUZZ STEVE PLAYERS CONTRIBUTING IN FINALS KAMINSKI Pit stops CONTINUED FROM C1 THE PLAYERS AUTO RACING A look at the national racing scene: “My role has changed a little bit, I get to be a little more yle Busch and Kevin WHo’s HOT AND NOT HEADING INTO WIMP OF THE WEEK But Kanaan’s effort did not offensive,” Kopecky said. “In Cup runneth over KHarvick are making Brad THIS WEEKend’s aCTION? Did you catch Davey Hamilton’s match Scott Goodyear’s 1992 Detroit, there was so much Keselowski’s quest for a Hot: Jamie McMurray has comments about Tomas run when Goodyear finished talent up front that you had Thirteen former Grand Rapids NASCAR Nationwide finished second in three of Scheckter during Sunday’s Indy second to Al Unser Jr. by to adjust your style and take a Griffins have been on NHL Series championship a the past five NASCAR Sprint 500? 0.043 seconds. No one saw little different role. And I was championship teams whole lot easier this Cup races, posting runner- “He’s a knucklehead,” Hamilton Goodyear’s run coming, either. fine with that. weekend. up finishes at Charlotte (May said. Goodyear was bumped out “I think I was fortunate PLAYER TEAM YEAR All three are NASCAR 30), Darlington (May 8) and Knucklehead? Come on, of the race. However, Walker enough to be drafted by Detroit KEVYN ADAMS Carolina 2006 Sprint Cup full-timers, but Talladega (April 25). Hamilton. Can’t you come up Racing replaced Mike Groff with and be able to compete for the DMITRY AFANASENKOV Tampa Bay 2004 only Keselowski is committed Not : Tony Stewart was second with a better name than that? Goodyear, who was the team’s Cup every year,” Kopecky said. MARK EATON Pittsburgh 2009 to running every Nationwide in Sprint Cup points after 12 Wimp. primary driver. “But I’m happy in Chicago. It VALTTERI FILPPULA Detroit 2008 race. The races last year. Stewart is 16th was a good route to take, both DARREN HELM Detroit 2008 Nationwide after 12 events this season. LOCK OF THE WEEK AND THE RUNNER-UP GETS TO DATE organizations are at the top of JIRI HUDLER Detroit 2008 points race is Hot : Helio Castroneves is the Go with Brad Keselowski to win THE VIEW WOMEN? the league.” TOMAS KOPECKY Detroit 2008 close heading lone IndyCar driver to post Saturday’s Nationwide race at My suggestion in Monday’s Leino, meanwhile, opened NIKLAS KRONWALL Detroit 2008 into Saturday’s top-10 finishes in each of the Nashville. Keselowski has five column that Bruton Smith the scoring in the finals with BRETT LEBDA Detroit 2008 7:30 p.m. season’s first six races. consecutive top-five Nashville should go ahead and pay any a goal 6:38 into Game 1, and DARREN MCCARTY Detroit 2008 Federated Not: Ryan Briscoe, a preseason finishes, including a victory in driver who wins the Indy 500 did his part to ensure the DEREK MEECH Detroit 2008 Auto Parts 300 IndyCar title hopeful, is seventh 2008, and with Harvick and and Coca-Cola 600 on the Flyers didn’t fall into an 0-3 CHRIS OSGOOD Detroit 2008 at Nashville in points with one top-five in Busch out of the mix, he will same day $80 million and a series hole when he scored DARREN RUMBLE Tampa Bay 2004 Brad Speedway, but six starts. cruise. date with the women from the 3:10 into the third to tie Game Keselowski it’s about to get Hot : Defending National Hot “Sex and the City” movie didn’t 3 at 3-3. Claude Giroux’s goal STANLEY CUP FINALS ugly. Rod Association Funny Car OLD BUSINESS go over well with everyone. 5:59 into overtime won it for Keselowski is leading champion Robert Hight enters Tony Kanaan’s performance in A poster, buur, wrote: Philadelphia on Wednesday. Busch by one point and this weekend’s event at Joliet, last weekend’s Indy 500 was “Why on earth would anyone After appearing in only one BLACKHAWKS VS. FLYERS Harvick by 94. Take them out Ill., on a three-race winning one of the greatest runs for a want to win a date with the game in the Flyers’ first-round (Chicago leads series 2-1) of the hunt, though, because streak. driver not to win women from the ‘Sex and the series against New Jersey, Leino Game 1: Chicago 6, Philadelphia 5 they are both passing on Not : NHRA’s Antron Brown led the race. Kanaan City movie?’ That is supposed has six goals and nine assists in Game 2: Chicago 2, Philadelphia 1 Nashville, their first misses Top Fuel with six wins last year. started last in to be incentive?” 16 games, and is one point away Game 3: Philadelphia 4, Chicago 3 (OT) of the season. Carl Edwards He is winless through nine races the 33-car field Maybe I’m not as young as from tying the franchise record Friday : Chicago at Phil., 8 Versus is fourth, 257 points out, this season.