- Rock-N-Bowled for the first time ever.

- Bought my truck, a 2005 Chevy Colorado.

- Set a date for our wedding...10/31/09.

- Enjoyed one of the coolest birthday celebrations ever, and it wasn't even mine.

- Went to my first wedding in years, Jeff & Amanda's.

- Lost not 1, but 2 of my beloved pets.

- Was given one of the coolest Christmas gifts I've ever recieved.

- Took my first trip to New Orleans, Louisiana

- Saw my first ever New Orleans Saints home game.

- Enjoyed being part of a 5 win, championship race team.

- Went to Cruefest, one of the best concerts I've ever been to.

- Walked through Arlington National Cemetery.

- Saw a 17' alligator live, in person, and reeeeally close up.

- Greatly expanded my shot glass collection.

- Became a used race car salesmen for about a week.

- Bowled my first ever 600 series.

- Bought a Wii...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

- Saw the USA Olympic softball players in Williamsport.

- Enjoyed my first real Saints tailgate party at the 'Skins game.

- Ate beignets for the first time.

- Took a bus trip to Atlantic City for the Gambler's Classic.

- Went to my first live baseball game ever.

- Got a raise...woohoo!

- Saw USAC sprint cars @ Big Diamond.

- Made a few nifty wood projects.

- Saw a grown man ride a Barbie 3 wheeler wearing a hardhat with antlers.

I know there is probably a ton more things I've missed, but this was a good place to stop. All in all 2008 was a pretty great year filled with lots of good times and good friends. My only wish is that 2009 is just as much fun...not only for me, but for you all as well. Happy New Year everyone!

First it was Gizmo last month...now today we lost Stewart. Such a brave little boy. He fought to stay with us to the very end and willed his ailing body to move. I can remember the day I brought him home. Unprepared, all I had to put him in was a backpack. All the way home from the Poconos all he wanted to do was play. We shared a hamburger and a cup of water at Wendy's. He was a happy-go-lucky, face-licking, toe-chasing, chew-stick loving little boy. Unfortunately sickness began taking away his body a few months ago and we couldn't stop it. The morons in the white coats didn't have anything to offer either. We did the best we could to keep him as well as we could, loved him as much as we could, and prayed as many times as we could, yet we couldn't save him. Today it was clear that it was time to free his spirit from his suffering body. I held it togther really well...until they brought him to us with the catheter. I lost it. I held him while his took his last breath and cried. I hope he knows how much we loved him. He was a wonderful and beloved pet who will be missed. He now joins Jasper, Crash, Coco & Gizmo in the big hammie in the sky. Have fun kids...we miss you all.

The newest member of our furry family, Gizmo, passed today. He has been ill for a few weeks now. After several trips to the vet with no answers we treated him as best we could and prayed for a miracle. We started to witness what we thought was a miracle rebound to a mystery illness. He was so good for a few days. But yesterday he took a turn for the worse, worse than he had been even.

This morning I resigned myself to the fact that it was time to ease his pain, suffering and illness and help him across the bridge.

This morning I resigned myself to returning home from work and taking his weakened body to the vet to release his strong spirit so he may cross the bridge to be with our family members who passed before him.

This morning I resigned myself to saying goodbye to him tonight.

Unfortunately I didn't get that chance. I returned home to only find the forever sleeping physical shell to what was once the vehicle to a fun-loving, crazy & beautiful spirit. I never got to say goodbye. I never got to say how much joy and laughter he brought us in the little less than a year he was with us. I never got to say I'm sorry. Sorry for not being able to give him a longer life. I thought I had saved him from an early demise when we recused him from the the sentence of death handed to him by his previous owners. I only pray he was happy in the extra time we gave him and that he knew how much we loved him.

Goodbye Gizmo...you will forever live on in our hearts. Say Hi to the rest of my kids when you see them.

Whew! Looking ahead it's going to be a busy, but kick ass couple of weeks.

Just got tickets to see Cruefest @ Montage Saturday with Kenny.

In a little under 3 weeks I'm off to DC with to see the Saints play the Redskins with Ang, Steve & Anita.

The following Sunday is the Selinsgrove Raceway Park micro sprint all star race. 

Later that week we have tickets to see Three Days Grace at the Bloomsburg Fair.

Fast forward 10 more days and we're off to New Orleans for a week to see my first Saints home game and to take in the cajun culture.

Then a week after we get home, if all goes well we'll be at Linda's Speedway for the Race of Champions Invitational.

The next day we're off to Jeff & Amanda's wedding, where I get to MC the reception and party with PTM.

Not to mention there is 5 more Friday points races left @ Selinsgrove in between all that mayhem!

I'm so excited! In the immortal words of Gene Simmons "that's why it's good to be....Me."

After a few years of engagement we've finally set a wedding date. On October 31, 2009, I will make Angelia Suzanne Nardi my wife.  And no, we didn't pick the date becuase it's Halloween. We agreed that it's a beautiful time of year not to mention that racing is wrapped up by then (yes, that's important). And it just so happens our dear friend, who is hands down the most talented photographer in the area, has that very date open. We have a lot of details to work out yet, but we've given ourselves lots of time to prepare for the amazing day. I have to admit, as long as we put it off for various reason, I'm really happy we've got something nailed down now. Go us!

Duke back on top with 5th win of the season

Ken Duke, of Selinsgrove, led flag-to-flag for his fifth win of the season in Friday night's 25-lap micro sprint car main event at Selinsgrove Raceway Park. Duke tied Todd Hoover, of Mt. Pleasant Mills, as the two leading feature winners at the track this season.

Point leader Duke started on the pole and powered into the lead at the drop of the green flag. By the completion of the fourth lap, Duke had developed a straightaway lead over fourth-place starter Nathan Ritter.

Despite a series of caution flag periods, Duke was able to distance himself from the rest of the field on each of the subsequent restarts. At the checkered flag, Duke was victorious over Ritter, Geoff Gill, Corbin Leiby, and Chad VanHorn.

Micro Sprint Cars – 19 Entries

25-Lap A-Main: 1) 67 Ken Duke 2) 76 Nathan Ritter 3) 57G Geoff Gill 4) 1 Corbin Leiby 5) 45 Chad VanHorn 6) 21 Steve Ernest 7) 71 Jessica Anderson 8) 4U David Utt 9) 36 AJ Walters 10) 27 Grant Sabo 11) 10 Kris McKeown 12) 71A Amanda Anderson 13) 24B Dustin Baney 14) 911 Roger Spencer 15) 7 Mark Mehalick 16) 32 Matt Bower 17) 7S Tyler Snook 18) 75 Kenny Edkin DNS 19) 07 Colby Womer DNS

Heat Winners: Ken Duke, Dustin Baney

Duke wins fourth micro main of 2008

Ken Duke, of Selinsgrove, won his fourth micro sprint car feature of the season Friday night at Selinsgrove Raceway Park and, with the win, took over the Selinsgrove Ford points lead from defending champion Todd Hoover, of Mt. Pleasant Mills, who also has four wins this season.

Duke started on the pole in the 25-lap feature and led the first lap before the caution unfurled on lap two for a spun car in turn four. On the ensuing restart, Duke set the pace, with second-place starter Jake Hummel and fourth-place starter Todd Hoover in pursuit.

On the second circuit, Hoover passed Hummel for second and set his sites on the leader. On the eighth circuit, the caution flag regrouped the field again when Matt Bower hit the fourth turn guardrail.

Duke and Hoover raced away from the pack when the race resumed. On a lap 10 restart, however, Hummel reclaimed the runner up position while Duke stretched his lead. At the halfway point, Duke developed a straightaway lead over Hummel, Nathan Ritter, Hoover, and David Utt.

With five laps remaining, Duke began to encounter slower traffic. At the finish, Duke posted a comfortable victory over Hummel, Ritter, Hoover, and Utt.

Duke wins third micro main event in 2008.

 Ken Duke, of Selinsgrove, won his third race of the season in the 25-lap micro sprint car main event Friday night at Selinsgrove Raceway Park.

Polesitter Matt Bower powered into the lead at the start of the main event. Bower was chased by fourth-place starter David Utt for the first lap before third-place starter Duke moved into the runner up position.

On the third circuit, current point leader and four-time winner Todd Hoover was involved in a turn two tangle. Hoover was able to rejoin the field and finish in the sixth position.

Bower appeared to be on his way to his first win until a mechanical problem on the 23^rd lap ended his hopes of a victory. Duke inherited the lead with two laps remaining and went on to post the win over Utt, Chad Thomas, Jake Hummel, and Steve Ernest.

SELINSGROVE RACEWAY PARK SUMMARY – 13 June 2008

Micro Sprint Cars – 21 Entries

25-Lap A-Main: 1) 67 Ken Duke 2) 4U David Utt 3) 33 Chad Thomas 4) 6H Jake Hummel 5) 21 Steve Ernest 6) 19 Todd Hoover 7) 2B Brayden Winters 8) 7S Tyler Snook 9) 7 Mark Mehalick 10) 1 Corbin Leiby 11) 16 Matt Cochran 12) 32 Matt Bower 13) 51 Justin Hartz 14) 3W Gene Burd 15) 36 AJ Walters 16) 75 Kenny Edkin 17) 57 Geoff Gill DNS 18) 71 Jessica Anderson DNS 19) 71A Amanda Anderson DNS 20) 24 Dustin Baney DNS 21) 76 Nathan Ritter DNS

Heat Winners: Matt Bower, Todd Hoover, Kenny Edkin

Duke Wires The Field For Win Number Two In 08'

Micro Sprint Cars – 18 Entries

25-Lap A-Main: 1) 67 Ken Duke 2) 2B Brayden Winters 3) 3W Gene Burd 4) 33 Chad Thomas 5) 6H Jake Hummel 6) 21 Steve Ernest 7) 4U David Utt 8) 76 Nathan Ritter 9) 19 Todd Hoover 10) 75 Kenny Edkin 11) 7S Tyler Snook 12) 1 Corbin Leiby 13) 71A Amanda Anderson 14) 10 Kris McKeown 15) 7 Mark Mehalick 16) 24 Dustin Baney 17) 57 Geoff Gill 18) 36 AJ Walters

Heat Winners: Dustin Baney, Ken Duke

With the NFL schedule being released last week, it was time to start planning our vacation. Unfortunately due to some scheduling conflicts, our original idea  to catch a road game just didn't pan out. So I put on the ole thinking cap and started mulling over our options. Finally I decided this would be the year I would finally take in a game in "The Dome". That's right I'm heading south to see my beloved New Orleans Saints play at home. After 25+ years of being a Who Dat supporter, I'm going to revel in the joy of being amongst 70,000 other Saints fans instead of being a quite, polite out-of-towner at a road game. And we're going big...we picked a Monday night game. It's a long way off, but I'm uber-excited already. Found a great deal on a flight and hotel, so all I need to do is hunt doen some tickets and I'm all set. Special thanks go out to Uncle Sam for funding this capital expenditure.