In a Blaise of Glory: 10 Years Later

Something came to mind for me this week. During the trip to the Williamsport meet, I saw ads for the Blaise Alexander dealerships along Interstate 180 in Pennsylvania. The minute I saw the billboards, my brain opened to memories of watching Alexander, a young rising star in the ARCA Racing Series heydey. He drove for underfunded teams, but raced well. Week in week out he was a threat just like Ty Dillon is today in the #41. By 2001, Blaise was trying for NASCAR Busch Grand National Series races, starting 6 races that year, with a best finish of 11th.

2001 for NASCAR did not start off on a great note. On February 18, 7-time Winston Cup champion and 76-time winner Dale Earnhardt Sr was killed in a Lap 199 crash at the Daytona 500. The previous year, up and coming drivers Kenny Irwin Jr. and Adam Petty, the 4th generation of the Petty family, were both killed in practice accidents at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (This was so bad they ran restrictor plates at New Hampshire, which was a colossal failure.) A lot death in racing was evident clearly in those two years. On October 4, 2001, fate would take its last victim, and arguably the most forgotten.

Kerry Earnhardt is the forgotten Earnhardt driver for sure. The popularity of his brother and father far more than his. Kerry did most of his racing in ARCA or the Busch Series. He won a few races here and there but never got the stardom the rest of his family did. On February 18, it had been hard for the entire family with the death of Dale Sr. Racing unfortunately had to move on and they did. Kerry and Dale Jr. continued racing in their respective series. Kerry was good friends with Blaise, and the two raced hard against each other despite.

On October 4, 2001, NASCAR and ARCA were both present at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The ARCA race would be the first at the track on Thursday night. The EasyCare 100, a 67-lap shootout for the series was held. Alexander and Earnhardt were clearly the class of the field and were duking it out until Lap 63. On Lap 63, Alexander and Earnhardt clipped coming out of Turn #4 and onto the frontstretch. Both made contact, with Blaise's car going head on straight into a then non-SAFER barrier wall, while Earnhardt's car caught air and flipped upside down. Kerry's car went flying down the track towards Turn 1 in flaming rage of sparks upside down. Alexander meanwhile was still in the tri-oval, his #75 a wreck. Kerry thought about Alexander and wanted to run to the car, but instead was hurried off to the infield care center. After he was checked out and released, Earnhardt tried to run to see Alexander again, but by that point, the ambulance had shut its doors and was on its way to the care center.

Kerry would never get the chance to talk to Alexander. After no response by the body in terms of breathing, they performed lots of CPR on Alexander. Other cardiac measures were handled. However, it was too late. At 10:20 PM on October 4, Blaise Alexander was pronounced dead at the age of 25. Instead of finishing Laps 64 - 67, the race was called, and Earnhardt declared the winner, since he led Lap 63. Blaise never wore the HANS device, but wore the required ARCA neck collar, which was intact upon further inspection. Kerry spent time afterwards in the infield with the family, but soon after, Alexander's family was rushed home to Montoursville, Pennsylvania to be with their mother. On October 10, after the racing weekend was over, Alexander was laid to rest in Montoursville, with a ceremony of 1,000 people near his home. People attending included Felix Sebates and ARCA president Ron Drager. Most importantly, this funeral was attended by Kerry Earnhardt.

On an NASCAR.com article later in the year, Earnhardt admitted it was a year to forget, losing his father and a dear friend in the sport of racing. Both died doing what they love. Kerry continued on driving, soon landing other rides. However, Alexander's memory was soon lost time to time. In a bad coincidence, a year later at Charlotte, driving Eric Martin, driving the same #2 that Kerry did a year prior was killed in a practice crash. His car wrecked and then stopped on the track. Deborah Renshaw who had no spotter in the grandstands, didn't see him and crashed head-on into Martin's car. This killed Martin instantly.

Honestly, I missed that Thursday night race at Charlotte. However, I was watching the TNT broadcast later that weekend. I remember watching the above telecast with Bill Weber explaining the death. I was heartbroken, even though I was only 10 at the time, I had memories of watching Alexander race at different tracks. It hurt watching the race because someone you loved so much is dead, and I was crying for a while. When I saw the Blaise Alexander car dealer signs on Interstate 180, all of those memories immediately came back. Tears welled up in my eyes in the car, and for a few moments, I felt lightheaded. Come this morning I realize its October 2, and realize that the 10th anniversary of Blaise's death nears. I don't remember October 4, 2001 for anything else, but the race.

Unfortunately, the great possible career Blaise Alexander had, was cut short. Alexander had a best ARCA finish of seventh, but never won a race. He finished 11th best in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. However, the man who probably could've tacked on future wins and maybe become a star driver, never got to see that day. On this nearing 10th anniversary, I and I hope all NASCAR fans who remember that far take a moment of silence and remember the career that never happened for such a great driver.

1/3 Of The Season Done: The Top 15 in Nationwide Series Points: Surprises and No Shockers

As many NASCAR fans know, in 2011 NASCAR instituted a new rule that you must declare which championship title you must get points for. This as a result denied Brad Keselowski the right to defend his title as 2010 champion, unless he didn't want to run for the 2011 Cup Championship. With all the cup drivers winning (Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, etc), there is still quite the fight for the championship in the Nationwide series. This one however, stands a chance to become interesting. Right now the Top 15 in points are separated by 178 points, which under the old system was about 1-2 races. The current points leader is former Cup driver Elliott Sadler in Kevin Harvick's #2, which a 1 point margin over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

#15 - Mike Wallace
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Mike Wallace rounds out the Top 15, driving the #01 car for Davis Motorsports. Wallace has struggled the last few seasons, but yet is always ever present at the end of races, notching Top 15 finishes on a constant basis. At the race at Talladega, Mike Wallace, paired with Joe Nemechek were both fighting hard for the win in the race. It was very unfortunate that Mike on the last lap got spun out and ended up in a rather nasty wreck.

Based on his finishes, 15th is about a good estimate for where he should stand. However, all feel sorry for what happened at Talladega, where he was definitely a threat to win the race, not finish 15th.

#14 - Jeremy Clements
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I don't know how many realize it, but Jeremy Clements is a hell of a driver. He has some good finishes under his belt, including the 14th place finish at Iowa. At Iowa, he ended up making pit strategy work and after a late caution, he was 6th. Sure he finished 14th, but Clements, who drives the #51 for his own team, did a hell of a job. Clements has been over a number of rides through the years, including at the 2007 Sam's Town 300 (the infamous 25-caution spectacle), he was flying through the field until being wrecked late.

I think honestly, if you could get Jeremy Clements a good ride in the Nationwide Series, Clements would pass for a great driver, one who could fight for Top 10s, 5s and wins throughout the season. He is a charm that seems to be forgotten in the Nationwide Series.

#13 - Mike Bliss
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Those who remember NASCAR Busch Series racing know the name Mike Bliss. Bliss is a veteran who has unfortunately been unable to sustain certain rides. This year he is driving the #19 for TriStar Motorsports, paired with Eric McClure in the #14. Bliss's talent however, has not gone away. In the #19, mostly sponsorless car, Bliss has had very good Top 10 and Top 15 runs. He was on another Top 10 run at Dover when he got involved in the Bowyer/Logano wreck on the second-to-last lap of the race.

Bliss, is also a person with great talent, and honestly, deserves a good ride permanently to show off his talents for years to come. Maybe this season the #19 might go to victory lane. We'll see though.

#12 - "Front Row" Joe Nemechek
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Anyone who says the Nationwide Series is for the youngins better look again, Joe Nemechek, whose nickname is Front Row for great qualifying efforts in the early 2000s, has had an upswing in success this season. Now its been several years since the #87 has been to victory lane, and honestly, it will happen again. Like Mike Wallace, Nemechek was in great numbers to actually win the Talladega race, working very close with Wallace. However, while Wallace wrecked, Nemechek was near victory. But at the last second, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano passed him, relegating him to a 3rd place finish. Besides sitting out the race at Nashville, Nemechek has only had two finishes worse than 25th in this season, and many Top 15s and Top 20s of the season.

Hopefully we'll see Front Row Joe back in the front row. Let's hope that is 1st and in Victory Lane.

#11 - Michael Annett
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Michael Annett is trying very hard. Rusty Wallace Racing put him in the #62 to work hard, and unfortunately so far the results are mediocre. He's only had finishes worse than 20th three times, but at the same time, he has yet to get a top 10 finish at all. For someone in such a good ride, more work is needed on he and his teams part.

#10 - Josh Wise
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Josh Wise is a good driver. He just doesn't get to drive the #7 all year like he deserves to. For 13 races, Danica Patrick drives that #7. However, every week Wise puts his heart into his driving and these finishes are paying off. He has two Top 10 finishes this season, and that would be likely why he is in 10th place, 136 points behind Elliott Sadler. I think however, in 2012, if Danica Patrick is not in the #7 next year that Josh Wise become the permanently driver of the car. There is potential in him, he just needs more time in better equipment to succeed with it.

#9 - Brian Scott
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I commend Joe Gibbs for the decision to put Brian Scott in the #11 for this season. Putting beside his run of bad luck at Daytona, Darlington & Dover, Scott has had a pretty good season, finishing Top 25 or better in almost all of the other races. There is definite potential for Brian Scott, but it may not come in 2011. I expect however, if Joe Gibbs keeps him in this ride, that he will be a threat for the 2012 points.

#8 - Steven Wallace
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This has been an uncharacteristically bad season for Steven Wallace so far, despite the 7th place at Charlotte and 5th at Darlington. Those are his only Top 10 finishes of the season. The son of the cup star Rusty, Steven is expected that at some point he will come out on top and be another Nationwide series driver to finally break the Cup dominance and end up in Victory Lane. However, this season shows lack of potential so far, and unless something happens now, don't expect Steven to get much further than 8th in the standings.

#7 - Kenny Wallace
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The third and final of the Wallaces, Mike & Rusty's brother (and Steven's uncle) Kenny Wallace is by far having the best season of the three. Kenny Wallace posed a major threat at Richmond, at one point being 2nd to Denny Hamlin. And honestly, he got trapped a lap down during a caution for pit stops and his 13th place doesn't do his hard work justice. At one point, he was beginning to track Hamlin down in the #09 car. Kenny has had a great season, besides a problematic Daytona, and several times has been a threat to win an event. Another veteran of the days long gone, Wallace is due for victory lane, just when will it be?

#6 - Jason Leffler
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Jason Leffler is a good driver, but I think he gets shafted out of his classic Black #38 too much, which is causing a bit of the shift in his results. He seems to perform much better in Turner's #38, but at the same time, he keeps getting put in the #30 when Kasey Kahne is slated to drive the #38. Finally at Charlotte, Steve Turner did what I felt was right and actually put Kahne in the 30 and let Leffler drive his #38. Leffler has been close so many times to Victory, and is still a threat this year to get a win. It just needs to happen eventually.

#5 - Aric Almirola
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Aric Almirola has a win the Nationwide Series, but he wasn't driving it to Victory Lane. Joe Gibbs asked him to get out of the #20 at a race a couple years back to put Denny Hamlin back in the car, who was late from another track. Hamlin won the race, but never got credit for the win, as since Almirola started the race, he got the win technically. However, most people know, especially Aric, that's not winning a race. This year, Almirola got permanently installed in JR Motorsports's #88, vacated by Brad Keselowski two years back. Almirola showed promise at the beginning half of this third of the season, but there seems to have been a drop all of a sudden in performance, pulling only 17th at Iowa, getting involved at the wreck in Dover. He has yet to get a Top 5 finish, best finish of the season 8th in the Aaron's 312 at Talladega.

Almirola needs to turn it around soon if he wants to compete for the Championship, as he is already 51 points behind Elliott Sadler.

#4 - Justin Allgaier
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Justin Allgaier is a good driver, driving the 3rd of 4 Tuner cars, he is the 2nd of them in points, currently 4th, 22 behind Sadler. He started the season with a damn good run for himself, including only two runs worse than 15th for him (Daytona and Dover). He was running fine at Dover until a tire blew and he went into the outside wall. Allgaier has one win and despite the 22 point deficit, still stands a hell of a chance to improve on that and is still in the hunt for this championship.

#3 - Reed Sorenson
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Reed Sorenson has had great runs all season, no doubt about that. Sorenson has been a threat to win several races this season, including Iowa, where he led the most laps (77), but a tire problem later on caused him to get relegated back to a respectable 4th place finish. Sorenson has been a threat for years and finally deserves to be back in Victory Lane. If you remember the 2nd to last race at Gateway last year, he was 3rd when the Keselowski-Edwards wrecked occurred. Had Edwards wrecked as well, in all likelihood, Sorenson would have won. He ended up finishing 2nd to Edwards at a track Sorenson does well at.

A former Cup driver, Reed is a very strong competitor each week in Turner's #32 Dollar General car. We just need to see that yellow paint scheme in a car not driven by a Cup driver.

#2 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
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Anyone who counted Ricky Stenhouse out as a first time winner or a threat to the Championship after his performances in 2010 should be shaking their heads. At Iowa, Stenhouse finally had a car that was better at the end of the race than the beginning of the race. As a result, Stenhouse held off Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski, and finally got his first series win and the first non-weekly competitor at the Cup level to win since Boris Said at Montreal in 2010. Stenhouse had a displeasing 2010 until Iowa. At Charlotte, he was sat out a race to get racing back together. And since that sit out, Stenhouse has excelled, being a threat to end.

As of this posting, he is 1 point behind Elliott Sadler and who knows. By the time we come to Homestead, he could be holding the trophy.

#1 - Elliott Sadler
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Elliott Sadler has had a much better season. Dropping down to the Nationwide Series for 2011, Sadler had a rather bad season to start with. He for this season is driving Kevin and DeLana Harvick's #2 OneMain Financial car and has by far the best finishes average for the season far, with 7 Top 5s and no runs worse than 13th pardon for Daytona. Sadler is currently the points leader, and based on those finishes, is a major threat to win it. He has exceled in each race, continuously fighting for the win at races, just to come up a little short. Don't count him out though.

For final thoughts, I see this chase for the Nationwide Series title will probably be a big one all the way down to Homestead in November. Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr are by far the clear favorites to win it. However, the drivers 4th - 7th are not out of it in my opinion (Allgaier, Leffler, Almirola and K. Wallace) since they have good finishes to back up and if bad luck strikes the top 3, they are there to pounce.

This should be an interesting fight when we get to Homestead in the fall.

20 Ways To Shift 566 Municipalities: #20 - Cape May Point -> Lower Township

In New Jersey, we have 566 municipalities, some of which don't need to exist, and some of which should be made from large communities within the larger townships. A lot of the problems of why we have 566 is because of boroughitis. Yes that may be strange, but in 1905, the state went nuts having boroughs made left and right through Trenton. This as a result has caused quite the redundancies and we waste our tax money on towns that don't deserve it.

On the other hand, there are many booming communities within township governments that deserve to be promoted to full sized municipalities. The way I determined the twenty locations was by a number of things:

- 1: Population (as of the 2010 Census)
- 2: Location
- 3: Reason for forking in the first place
- 4: Diversity

And now we begin our hillarity.

#20 - Cape May Point
Cape May Point is a small borough of 291 people in Cape May County. This area represents the southernmost end of New Jersey on the tip of Cape May. The chartered municipality makes up for only 3/10 of a square mile of land, and unfortunately, only 201 of those are permanent residents. The other 90 are part-time residents. The only real notability to Cape May Point is that it has Cape May Lighthouse in its geographical area.

Now the question of why it was made. Cape May Point is actually on its second lease of life. It was actually started first as a borough in April 1878 via a referendum to fork from Lower Township. In August of 1891, the borough, then known as Seagrove, was reincorporated. Low and behold on April 8, 1896, nearly 18 years after the borough was started, it was merged back to Lower Township. On April 8, 1906, ten years after the merge, yet another referendum was held, and just 13 days later, the boroughship was reinstated. It has remained split from Lower Township ever since.

Here's the problem however. We pay our tax money to fund these municipalities, but when we do, you have to assume they should live in the town they get funding for! As I mentioned before, only 201 of the 291 are actual year-long residents of this small bayside community. The other 90 are vacationers who spend time there. Besides the fact that these 90 shouldn't even be counted in the Census, what does 201 people have that we need to fund them for? If its a commune that work together in helping their community, why not help contribute to Lower Township? We waste our money to fund a borough of 201 people who want to live by themselves and 90 more people who don't even stay part of the year? Lower Township can have it.

The Lake View Station on the former Erie Railroad Main Line

(Lake View Station in 1909)

In one of the runs with my camera to Paterson, I finally got to see the Lake View station site in Paterson, New Jersey on the old Main Line, closed April 2, 1963. I only had what I could work on via a photo from 1909 and some shots in Robert Yanosey's "Erie Railroad Facilities in Color: New Jersey" to figure it out. Finally, on the dark winter day of February 21, I got to see the station. I thought I'd express some of the interesting stuff with the station site.

To go into detail, Lake View station was originally built in 1885 at the intersection of Crooks Avenue and Railway Avenue in Paterson, on the Clifton border. (Its a long misnomer that this is a Clifton Station, but it is in Paterson). The station was unaffected by the 1952 station rebuild that got the Clifton Station and Main Street-Passaic Station. When the Passaic Plan was put into effect April 2, 1963, Lake View was bypassed along with Clifton, Passaic Park, and Main Street-Passaic onto the old Boonton Branch of the DL&W. There are rumours (I can't say definite) that South Paterson on the new Main Line was built to replace Lake View. I've also heard rumors the old station stood after the main was cut through Clifton and Passaic. Those rumors included the old 1885 depot suffering the same fate as the 1902 station at Lackawaxen, demolition by runaway train cars in 1964.


Notice something unusual with the driveway to the nearby building and the car wash shared behind me? This is actually the Lake View inbound platform, which never got anything more than a shelter. It still serves purpose today as the driveway, but looks like the platform of the original station, painted and all.

There's not much of importance to the station in the shot, except the long driveway / parking lot and a shot of the outbound platform. The parking lot was technically "there" back during the Erie maintenance, not all that much to it though.


This is the important photo of the lot. This explains a lot of issues with the station location nowadays. The first thing, if you notice in the top left corner, what was once a great car siding is now the site of Roxxies, a Gentleman's Club. Like now really? Next, by my sense of direction, the snowed over woods bit are well placed, as that was the station depot site. (Not as easy with all the snow to determine everything unless you're a dedicated Erie researcher like I am.) I bet you if Lake View was still used that NJ Transit wouldn't particularly like having a Gentleman's Club right next to an active train station. Kind of bad taste if you ask me.


This is not on the station site, but may be there before the building was constructed. This lone set of signals for crossing trains remains on East Railway Avenue.


And to wrap up, this shot of the old Main going towards XW shows how this stretch from XW to the Clifton Station site has stood the test of time. Its hard to believe that 48 years ago, trains still stopped here every day picking up and dropping off Patersonites.

Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it.

Roadgeek Adam
Erie Railroad Historian