By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

Wow, if only somebody had seen this coming. Notorious celebrity-spawn/felonious lead foot Nick Hogan has wrecked another car. Unlike last time, nobody was rendered a vegetable, but the fact that he was coming directly from a Los Angeles charity event called Keep It On The Track makes me think the eight months he spent in the slammer for his previous Supra-destroying/best-friend incapacitating incident didn’t make much of an impact. Personally, I don’t care if it was just a fender-bender, because to paraphrase Maverick’s cigar-chomping CO in Top Gun, he’s got to be driving better, and cleaner than the other guy. But the really mind-numbingly stupid element to this story? The organizers of Keep it on the Track have his dumb-ass mug plastered all over the front page of their website. Maybe those jokers have been spending a little too much time at the “dispensaries” that pepper La La Land? Come on, guys! Perez Hilton via Jalopnik

Californians have always thought about the future, and this November, citizens will vote on whether to spend some—ok, a lot of money—on developing a bullet train that will travel between Los Angeles and San Fransisco. The trip would take about 2.5 hours, which seems reasonable for a $55 dollar fare. Please California? Please? Anyway, here’s the news:

• After 166 days, reckless lead-foot Nick Hogan has been released from jail. Apparently, he returned home to a "thumping" party, and I’m sure he’s relieved to be out of the clink. Meanwhile, the friend he injured during the crash that sent him to jail is still a vegetable. Maybe I should have written a whole blog on this, but even I’m sick of this story. TMZ
• Is there a show that’s the opposite of America’s Dumbest Criminals? Maybe something like America’s Most Lovable Outlaws? Because if there is, I’d like to nominate the Utah crook who escaped the cops in a modified golf cart. MSNBC
• Personally, I think car sharing is a pretty cool idea, and I think smart is being pretty "smart"—sorry, had to do it—by launching its own program. While it’s currently testing in Germany, a stateside version would probably attract customers who just want to get behind the wheel of the micro-machine. Motor Authority
• While the industry has been buzzing about a possible merger between GM and Chrysler, it’s not like nothing’s happening over at the Blue Oval. Kirk Kerkorian—Ford’s largest private investor—has just dumped a bunch of the company’s stock. And he might not be done yet. Freep

Ok, so stealing people’s property isn’t funny. But it’s really hard not to laugh when said property is a robot gorilla, there’s a ransom video involved, and the AP story detailing the whole sordid mess mentions a Robot Gorilla Factory. Fortunately, the mechanical primate has been found unharmed, and is being held by Vermont state police until the owners can arrange to pick it up. Let’s hope it’s not one of the rogue models last seen antagonizing Dale Jr., or that the boys down at the station at least have plenty of Amp Energy on hand. Anyway here’s the news:

• Spy shots of the 2010 Mustang interior have surfaced and the big surprise is… nothing, actually. In fact, you really have to study these pictures to see any differences from the current model. But does that really matter? Personally, I think the best thing Ford could do is offer an interior delete package. How cool would that be? Jalopnik
• Yesterday, I wrote about how Las Vegas Hummer is closing, and how that doesn’t portend well for the brand. But the real kicker to the story? The owner of the doomed dealership is going to start selling smarts instead. Talk about a total reversal! Wall Street Journal
• Should parents be liable for what their children do behind the wheel? It’s an interesting question, and it opens up a gigantic can of worms. One person who thinks it’s a bad idea? The Hulkster. For sure. Autoweek
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing to give American automakers some 50 billion in loans. Hopefully, the cash infusion will allow America’s struggling industry to get back on its feet. But isn’t 50 billion, like, pocket change to Uncle Sam? Freep

This week, my intern has been on vacation. So not only have I been tasked with fetching my own tea, I’ve also been processing event photos, which is about as fun as poking yourself in the eye with a fork. Anyway, here’s the news:

• After an uber-creepy sex video involving F1 boss Max Mosley surfaced, everyone thought he was done for. But not only did he survive a vote of confidence from the F1 teams back in June, he just won a lawsuit against the paper that broke the story. Wow. World Car Fans
• Since he’s turning 18, Nick Hogan is going to be is being transfered to adult jail. That means he can stop complaining about being lonely and start wishing he was just lonely. TMZ
• Even though the company saw sales rise last quarter—the gas crunch hasn’t been bad for everyone—Hyundai actually made less money. And nope, I don’t understand how that works either. Detroit News
• The Ferrari California is almost ready for its closeup. While the official debut isn’t set to take place until the Paris Motor Show in October, Michael Schumacher has signed off on the finished product, calling it, "surprisingly sporty and fun to drive under any kind of conditions." Motor Authority
• Last quarter, Ma Mopar lost 431 million bucks. And while that sounds like a lot of money, it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to the amazing amount of cash Ford hemorrhaged, but still, it’s not good news. Freep

Nick Hogan’s lawyers have stopped the sheriff from releasing tapes of his personal calls to the media, citing regulations which state that "No photographs, movie films, television tapes or recordings may be made without the consent of the inmate involved." But while his attorneys have managed to keep the world from learning anything further about what a big baby Nick is being, they haven’t managed to get him transfered from the solitary cell where he’s currently being housed. His legal team would like to see him placed in minimum security or sentenced to home confinement, which seems a little posh. Since I believe criminals get the best justice they can afford, I think they’ll probably be successful with one or both of those requests. What do you think? Will Nick get sprung early or go to lite-jail? Or will he serve all his time? For more info on the case—and to see pics of a cell like Nick’s—head over to Tampa Bay Online.

While Brooke Hogan was crossing the Bayside Bridge in Clearwater on Sunday, a car traveling in front of her lost control, spun, and clipped her Mercedes. Florida Highway Patrol has said she wasn’t at fault, but more drama isn’t what the Hogan family needs right now. When he’s called from jail, brother Nick has been crying about being "lonely" and having "nothing to think about." At one point, he laments not learning to read, so he could at least attempt to keep himself entertained. Ok, I made that last part up, but seriously, what a little baby! Maybe he should listen to his dad and "man up." In other news, John Graziano hasn’t complained about anything since he received a catastrophic brain injury in the August crash for which Nick is currently serving time. To listen to Nick whine from jail, head over to Tampa Bay Online. 

After initial drag-assing, the criminal justice system is now doing a swift job on Nick Hogan, who on Friday was sentenced to 8 months in jail for the street-racing wreck that totalled his Supra and put his friend in a coma. The little hulk is already behind bars, his booking shots are making the rounds online, and professional busybodies TMZ have already posted video of his first jail visit by his parents. So do you think he’ll serve anything close to his full sentence, or pull a Paris and whine and bribe his way out?

Via edmunds.

After months of denying any wrongdoing in the August 26th accident that left his friend a vegetable, Nick Hogan appeared in court today and plead guilty to felony reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. It’s not terribly surprising that he chose to cop. The photos of his smashed Supra make it pretty clear he wasn’t doing anywhere near the posted 35MPH, and the fact that he had alcohol in his bloodstream isn’t really a mitigating factor. The judge had wide latitude in the case, and sentenced Hogan to 8 Months in jail. Not too bad considering he could have gotten five years. Thanks for the tip Paul!   

Things have just gotten worse for the Hogan clan. The guardian of John Graziano has filed suit against Hulk Hogan and his wife Linda—who are currently getting divorced—in an attempt to make the couple pay for the injuries Graziano sustained when their son Nick crashed his Toyota Supra into a tree while street racing. While no amount has been named, Graziano’s medical bills have already topped a million dollars, so any judgment against the family won’t be cheap. Now generally, I don’t like the idea of parents being sued for the actions of their children. But given how the Hogans completely ignored their son’s horrendous driving history and supplied him with a constant stream of high-powered sports cars, it seems like they share some of the blame for this awful incident. No date has been set for Nick’s criminal trial, but as soon as I know anything, I’ll post it. Stay tuned!

His trial hasn’t started yet, but Clearwater police have released the official photos of Nick Hogan’s wrecked Supra. Looking at these shots makes you wonder how his defense team is going keep a straight face when they argue that speed wasn’t a factor in the crash. But you never know, maybe everyone on the jury will be blind. 15 more pics after the jump.

Clearwater Police Department via Jalopnik

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