Daytona
Palm Beach Post Endorses Andrew Gillum for Governor
Published
6 years agoon
By
FNN NEWSORLANDO, Fla. – Yesterday, the Palm Beach Post endorsed Mayor Andrew Gillum for governor in “ As gov, Gillum will move state forward for all Floridians.” Read the full editorial below:
With the nearing November election, Florida has the chance to change course for the first time in a generation. Voters seeking fairness and compromise can begin to loosen Republicans’ 20-year control of state government. And by rejecting one of President Donald J. Trump‘s favorites, they can repudiate the divisive policies and rhetoric threatening to hurtle our state backwards.
The Post Editorial Board endorses Andrew Gillum for governor. True, we chose former Congresswoman Gwen Graham in the primary, believing her the most electable of the five Democratic candidates for the general election. And Graham is much more of a centrist Democrat than the Tallahassee mayor. Gillum, in fact, is by far the most boldly progressive candidate ever to run as a major party candidate for Florida governor.
But we were wrong about that electability. Gillum’s surprise victory in the primary was a signal that his lesser funded campaign had struck a chord. His performance on the campaign trail since then has confirmed it. For a liberal, African-American candidate to draw overflow crowds in conservative bastions like Sarasota County, something must be in the air. That thing is a surge of hope for a new chapter in Florida governance, one that emphasizes the needs of average citizens, not corporations and the very rich.
Ron DeSantis, the former congressman from Jacksonville who made his name as a Trump disciple on national TV, is all wrong for the job of leading this state. The Republican candidate seems to spend more time in front of Fox News cameras than coming up with thoughtful solutions to Florida problems or mixing with Florida citizens. On Friday, he finally released an uninspiring economic platform, and we’re still waiting for his plans for health care or transportation.
Gillum, on the other hand, has done much more in his career than posture. As the mayor of the city with Florida’s fastest-growing per-capita economy, the 39-year-old has grappled with real-world challenges of governance and gained real-world understanding of the needs of people.
On issue after issue, Gillum has better ideas on moving Florida in a better direction. For starters, he wants to see much more spending on public education – by far the best way to build a stronger economy, the only long-term answer to mass incarceration, and long overdue in a state that ranks 42nd in per-pupil spending. He would raise teacher salaries and invest in early childhood education and modern vocational training. DeSantis emphasizes school choice.
Gillum wants to raise $1 billion for K-12 public schools by increasing the corporate tax rate to 7.75 percent from 5.5 percent, which would affect only the largest 2 percent to 3 percent of businesses. He won’t get that from the Republican-controlled Legislature, but it’s a strong opening position to invest heavily in the state’s future. Gillum would welcome the legalization of marijuana as another rich source of revenue.
Gillum wants to expand Medicaid as provided under the Affordable Care Act, believing it unconscionable that Gov. Rick Scott has denied health insurance for more than 1 million Floridians, even though Florida business leaders had pushed GOP lawmakers to fashion a compromise. Gillum also proposes a state law to prevent insurers from denying applicants because of pre-existing medical conditions.
Gillum believes we must take steps to fight climate change — a game-changing position, given the stubborn climate denial of the Scott administration — by transitioning to clean energy as soon as possible. He’ll rebuild environmental protections weakened by the Scott and Trump administrations.
Gillum vows to break the National Rifle Association’s grip on state politics and work across the aisle for sensible gun safety laws.
DeSantis takes opposite – and extreme — positions on just about every point.
We are aware that Gillum is campaigning under the cloud of an FBI investigation into lobbyists’ influence at Tallahassee’s City Hall. Gillum has been told he is not a target of the probe.
Whatever ethical lapses may be at issue in the Tallahassee investigation, none can be as egregious as DeSantis’ repeated decisions to share the stage with white supremacists or to smear Gillum as an anti-Semite because he opposed positions of Israel’s government. DeSantis’ conduct is that of a politician who preys on fears and exploits tribal loyalties – the divisive formula from the Trump playbook that should have no place on the campaign trail, let alone earn entry to our Governor’s Mansion.
The rise of Andrew Gillum produces the possibility of exhilarating change for Florida. Change that would mean better funding public schools, taking action against existential threats to our environment like sea level rise and red tide, and promoting a fair economy that doesn’t leave behind hard-working Floridians.
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Auto Racing
Chris Buescher Wins, Bubba Wallace Clinches Playoffs at Daytona’s Coke Zero 400
Published
8 months agoon
August 27, 2023By
Mike BrodskyDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Florida National News) – Chris Buescher has won the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and Bubba Wallace has secured the 16th and final spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This will be Wallace’s first time racing for a championship.
Wallace had entered the race in 16th place, but a victory from a driver below the cut line could have knocked him out of the playoffs. An early accident took out several drivers including Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and several others. A spectacular crash late in the race by Ryan Preece had him flipping at least ten times over the grass. Fortunately, he was able to exit the vehicle.
The sixteen drivers in the Playoffs include the points leaders William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Bubba Wallace.
NASCAR’s first Playoffs Round of Sixteen race takes place next weekend at Darlington, Sunday, September 3rd. Each three-week round of the playoffs will reduce the field by four drivers, leading up to the Season Finale on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the final four drivers competing for the NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Be sure to stay tuned to Florida National News (www.FloridaNationalNews.com) and Florida Sports Channel (www.FloridaSportsChannel.com) for more.
Auto Racing
Last Chance For NASCAR Playoffs at Coke Zero 400 in Daytona
Published
8 months agoon
August 25, 2023By
Mike BrodskyDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Florida National News) – NASCAR fans are already packing the Daytona International Speedway as the regular season comes to its finale Saturday, August 26, with the Coke Zero 400. While fifteen drivers have already secured a spot in the playoffs, the 16th is still up for grabs based on the race results.
The fifteen drivers who are already guaranteed a spot in NASCAR’s first Playoffs Round of Sixteen race at Darlington, Sunday, September 3rd include the current points leaders Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael McDowell. The top two drivers, Truex and Hamlin, will compete Saturday night to win the Regular Season Championship. There are seventeen drivers who are competing at the Coke Zero 400 for that final spot in the postseason. Bubba Wallace is currently in 16th place, and could clinch with 24 points. Ty Gibbs and Daniel Suárez could clinch with enough points to pass Wallace or with a victory. AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric, Justin Haley, Ryan Preece, Aric Almirola, Todd Gilliland, Corey LaJoie, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Harrison Burton, Chase Briscoe and Ty Dillon need to win on Saturday night to secure their spot in the playoffs.
Each three-week round of the playoffs will reduce the field by four drivers, leading up to the Season Finale on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the final four drivers competing for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Joey Logano is the reigning champ after winning in Phoenix last season.
The action begins Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to stay tuned to Florida National News (www.FloridaNationalNews.com) and Florida Sports Channel (www.FloridaSportsChannel.com) for more.
Daytona
Paasch Makes Another Last-Second, Daring Pass to Win His Second Straight DAYTONA 200
Published
2 years agoon
March 12, 2022By
FNN SPORTSDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Source: Daytona International Speedway // TOBC Racing’s Brandon Paasch executed his DAYTONA 200 plan to perfection Saturday, loitering around at the back of a four-rider pack until the time was right to pull the trigger on his Triumph Speed Triple RS.
As it turns out, the 20-year-old had just the right amount of ammo at his disposal. He exited the Le Mans chicane in fourth place, went down low on the banking, and started making moves until delivering the final dagger with a double-draft pass on Cameron Petersen and Sheridan Morais at the finish to win his second successive DAYTONA 200 – this one by just .007 of a second.
Paasch had spent his afternoon at Daytona International Speedway lurking at the back of the lead group – no matter how many riders it consisted of. But when it came down to his final pit stop, the only way he was going to be in a position to battle for victory was to take on just fuel and not tires.
The New Jerseyan got in and out of the pits quickly and found himself just behind the duo of SYNTAINICS Racing’s Morais and Squid Hunter’s Josh Hayes, the pair smartly squabbling over second and all the while pulling themselves to the back of Petersen, the South African alone and helpless as he watched his four-second lead evaporate all too quickly. Suddenly, it was a four-rider race to the finish and the man at the back was the man at the front when he needed to be. At the finish.
Paasch beat Attack Performance Yamaha’s Petersen by the .007 margin with Morais third, another .057 behind, with Hayes fourth and .126 of a second from victory.
Fifth place went to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante, some 46 seconds behind Paasch, but well clear of four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick on the second TOBC Racing Triumph.
TSE Racing’s Harry Truelove, who races in the British Superbike Series, was just a tick behind Eslick at the finish and some eight seconds ahead of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Geoff May. Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin rounded out the top 10.
Pole-sitter Herrin was in the lead group when he ran out of fuel on his way to the first pit stop, coasting to pit lane and losing gobs of time in the process; and 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne, who qualified third-fastest, lasted only a few laps in the 200 before pulling out due to back pain from his crash in the morning warm-up session.
Paasch averaged 113.162 mph in winning the race and he also set the fastest lap of the race, a 1:49.959, en route to snagging his second Rolex watch.
Paasch, who gave Yamaha its 27th victory in the 2021 Daytona 200, brought Triumph its fourth victory in the 200 and the first since Eslick won on a TOBC Triumph in 2014.
The race was red-flagged on the seventh lap when Jose Lloreda crashed exiting the chicane, leaving debris on the racetrack.
DAYTONA 200 Top-10 Finishers
- Brandon Paasch (Triumph)
- Cameron Petersen (Yamaha)
- Sheridan Morais (Yamaha)
- Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
- Richie Escalante (Suzuki)
- Danny Eslick (Triumph)
- Harry Truelove (Yamaha)
- Geoff May (Suzuki)
- Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)
- Josh Herrin (Ducati)
Mission King Of The Baggers
It seems that no matter what kind of motorcycle you race at Daytona International Speedway, strategy and timing are so important on the run to the checkered flag.
In Saturday’s Mission King Of The Baggers race two, Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams made a perfect pass, at the perfect time, to take the victory. The Mission Foods/S&S Cycle Indian Challenger racer has competed on all kinds of motorcycles, and in road races all over the world (including Daytona nearly 20 years ago), and he put his experience and racecraft to good use when he rocketed past Roland Sands Design Indian rider Bobby Fong, who was in the lead on the final lap. With the finish line in sight, McWilliams’ teammate Tyler O’Hara also drafted past Fong to take second place, relegating Fong to third. It was an all-Indian podium in the Harley-Davidson versus Indian Big Twin racing series.
Twins Cup
The final event of the day was in Twins Cup, and their second race of the weekend was, once again, action-packed. Fluid on the track caused multiple riders to crash on the opening lap, and the race was red-flagged and restarted with a five-lap sprint to the checkers. Eight riders were at the front and in it to win as the laps wound down. At the checkered flag, Cycle Tech Yamaha rider Hayden Schultz got the win, which was the first of his MotoAmerica career. Veloce Racing Aprilia’s Jody Barry finished second, just .241 of a second behind Schultz, and Italian expatriate Tommaso Marcon, .256 of a second behind Barry, rounded out the podium in third in a wild-card ride for Robem Engineering Aprilia.
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