Roush Racing News Rumors Page 2

Roush goes home for a day: A record number of fans gathered at the Riverbarn in Manchester to see, get an autograph from and maybe get a picture with Manchester's own Jack Roush. After a night of racing in Charlotte, Roush flew in Sunday morning to again be honored by his hometown family, friends and fans. Spectators crowded into the community building at noon to have lunch with Roush. He told of his start into racing and the growing business NASCAR racing has become. Jack is the owner of Roush Racing, and at this time has five drivers in the "Chase to the Championship." Greg Biffle in the 16 car is 2nd in points, Matt Kenseth in the 17 car is 5th in the points, Carl Edwards driving the 99 car is 6th in the race to the chase, Kurt Busch, piloting the 97 car is 7th in points and probably one of the most famous drivers, Mark Martin in the 6 car is 9th in points. With only five more races to finish out the 2005 season, the championship is still reachable by any of the Roush drivers. After the dinner, Roush was escorted to the Riverbarn, by Sammy Holbrook in his Chevelle. Holbrook was the winner of the drawing held in conjunction with the car show. (More at Peoples Defender)

Roush ready to fight cap ruling: It took more than a week, but Jack Roush gave his definitive opinion about NASCAR's proposed plan to cap the number of cars owned by one person in coming seasons. "I'm ready for a big fight," Roush said Monday in a national conference call with racing media. On Oct. 8 at Kansas Speedway, NASCAR chairman Brian France and president Mike Helton said they hope to attract new team owners by capping the number of teams one person is allowed to have in Nextel Cup. "I didn't understand what was behind it and I don't know what the end game is yet," Roush said of the France-Helton press conference. Roush Racing fields five, full-time teams in the series and his entire stable of cars made the 10-car Chase field this season. Rick Hendrick has four cars and drivers in the elite division. Other owners have three-car teams. "We don't care if Jack's got five, six or 10 cars -- if it were good for the sport," Helton said. "But we don't think it's good for the sport and we have to address that, and that's a big move for us." During their impromptu discussions with media in Kansas City, France and Helton said a cap timetable would be established and hinted strongly at a three-car, ownership limit in Nextel Cup competition. "We haven't arrived at that (cap figure), but very shortly we're going to be announcing a long-range policy that will speak to that," France said. (Daytona News-Journal)

Roush makes argument: Car owner Jack Roush — who owns five teams that all qualified for NASCAR's Chase for the championship — was told of the plans second-hand, and his management group spent a large part of this week preparing the five-page document they placed around the garage area at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "We were taken by complete surprise by their remarks last weekend," said Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing and author of the document. "We felt like we wanted to make it an intellectual issue if we were allowed to." The document argues that multicar teams have improved the level of competition in the sport; have given new drivers an opportunity to break into the sport; and made it easier for new teams to enter NASCAR competition. It also maintains that potential team restrictions represent a significant loss to every owner, while arguing that Roush's five-car team and Rick Hendrick's four-car operation are not even the largest in NASCAR. The Roush camp alleges that Toyota's Craftsman Truck Series operation is the biggest team owner because the carmaker provides all chassis and engines to eight teams. All of NASCAR's top teams are multicar operations, and France said their success is viewed as an obstacle to people contemplating coming into the sport. Roush, who has won the past two championships, is having a hard time believing the cap isn't directed at his organization. "Is it a coincidence? We don't know," Smith said. "It's just hard to believe that it is." (USA Today)

More on NFL WR Brown sponsorship: Roush Racing’s Sam Belnavis said Sunday morning that former NFL star wide receiver Tim Brown should know within seven to 10 days whether or not he’ll have the sponsorship necessary to fund a start-up Cup team in 2006. Brown announced plans for a new team in August at the Brickyard 400, but whether the team begins next year or in ’07 depends on sponsorship. Roush is helping Brown put the team together. (Speed Channel)

3 to 4 weeks on Roush decision on Busch: Car owner Jack Roush says he probably won't decide Kurt Busch's 2006 plans "for three or four weeks," while Geoff Smith, the head of Roush Racing, reviews sponsorship commitments and options in assessing whether to let Busch leave to join Roger Penske. (Salem-Journal)

Fenning to stay at Roush: Roush Racing #97 crew chief, Jimmy Fennig, a man of very few words said on Friday morning that he will not follow his current driver Kurt Busch to Penske Racing -- his loyalities are to the team owner. "I'll Stay with Jack (Roush) no matter what," says Fennig. Was Fennig surprised that Busch had jumped ship and signed with Penske and was he upset at the turn of events? "It was pretty much a surprise, but that's racing," Fennig continued, "Was I upset -- No? Life goes on" (InsiderRacing.com)

Craven unsure about future: Ricky Craven looks like the forgotten man on Roush's deep roster. Craven, driving on the Craftsman Truck Series for Roush this season and still looking for a first win, is at a crucial point in his career. Earlier this season, Craven was one of the names on Roush's list as a possible replacement for Mark Martin in 2006, after Martin's retirement. However, Craven, ninth in the Truck standings, has apparently faded from the picture. Craven, in fact, seems reluctant to get his hopes up for a possible return to the Nextel Cup tour, where his smoky, fender-banging Darlington win over Busch is still talked about. "I have allegiance to Jack Roush," Craven said. "He called me, and he offered me a job (racing trucks). I accepted the job, and Jack's been 100 percent with me. "He's been good to me, and he's been good for me, and I've enjoyed building that relationship. "It would be difficult for me to entertain thoughts of substituting for a year (on the Cup tour)," Craven said. "I'm 39, and I have expectations, and I'm just not sure that's what I would want. That probably wouldn't interest me, not for a year. "I'm not closing the door on Cup, but I think the Truck series has satisfied a lot of things for me." (Salem-Journal)

Busch hopes Roush lets him out early: Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch is hoping car owner Jack Roush will change his mind and release him with a year remaining on his contract. ``It's Jack's decision,'' Busch said Saturday at Watkins Glen International. ``We'll see what happens.'' Busch went to Roush earlier this week to tell him he had a deal to drive for Roger Penske in 2007 and asked to be released from his contract after this season. Roush said no, then told Busch they'd have to find a way to work together for the rest of this season and all of the next one. ``The thing I'll give you today is that you shouldn't expect a release for 2006,'' Roush told him. Given that, Busch was asked if he thought his departure after this season would be best for everyone. ``You could speculate on that,'' he said. ``For me, I'm happy wherever I go.'' He called 2006 a question mark but said he has a great opportunity to win for either car owner. Beyond that Busch would not comment on 2007. (Yahoo! Sports)

Roush won't release Busch for 2006: Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch won't be released from the final year of his contract with Roush Racing, car owner Jack Roush said Friday. Earlier this week, Busch signed a deal to drive for Roger Penske in 2007 and asked Roush that he be released from his current contract after this season. "He said, 'I don't want to negotiate with you for 2007,'" Roush said Friday at Watkins Glen International. "I said, 'OK,' and he said, 'I want to be released for 2006.' I said 'not OK.'" Busch, who arrived late at the track, said he would speak later in the day. (USA Today)

Roush and Brown will have team on track in 2006: Tim Brown, who starred as a wide receiver first at Notre Dame and then with the Oakland Raiders, will have a NASCAR team next year, featuring a technical alliance with Roush Racing. Still to be decided are a driver, crew chief, sponsor and even which series to run in, but Brown aims to have Tim Brown Racing on track in 2006 as the only African-American majority-owned race team in one of NASCAR’s top series. “It is our intention to run the Cup series. We have a very short time to get that done,” Brown said Sunday morning. “If that’s going to happen, it’s going to happen in the next 45 to 60 days. So we’re going to pushing very hard to get that done. If we end up in the Truck series or the Busch Series, that would be good, too.” (SPEED) Also, Brown at the Brickyard: ...ran into former NFL player Tim Brown while walking the grid before the race. Brown, who retired this year, is planning a joint team venture with Roush Racing beginning next year. When we asked the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner how standing on the grid at Indy before the race compared to standing on the 50-yard line before the start of the Super Bowl, he said, "No question. This is bigger and better!" (Yahoo! Sports)

Roush Racing cuts Gong Show contestants to 12: After two days of testing at Martinsville Speedway this past week, Roush Racing on Thursday narrowed the field of 25 contestants to 12 drivers who remain in the running for a spot on Jack Roush's race team and a fully sponsored ride in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The 12 advance to the next round of competition Aug. 15-17 at Darlington Raceway. The candidates, whittled from 1,700 applicants, are testing their skills behind the wheel as well as their marketability and fan appeal. The Discovery Channel cable network is filming the competition for a 13-part series called "Driver X: Race for the Ride," to be shown starting Oct. 31. "We had a tough decision narrowing the field down to 12 drivers, but I think the 12 we have selected will be very strong candidates," Jack Roush said. "We are going to put the 12 drivers through some various marketing activities next week in Charlotte before we take them to Darlington." The 12 drivers are Tim Andrews, 22, of Concord, from the Legends Pro division and NASCAR Busch North Series; Chuck Barnes, 23, Louisville, Ky., Sunoco Super Series Late Model division; Jason Boyd, 24, Orlando, Fla., Fascar Sun Belt series; Jeffrey Choquette, 19, Loxahatchee, Fla., Late Models; Erik Darnell, 22, Beach Park, Ill., ARCA; Autozone Elite; Jason Hogan, 22, Cleveland, Ga., Autozone Elite SE series; Travis Kittleson, 26, Mooresville, Sunbelt Series; Matt McCall, 24, Denver, N.C., UARA Late Models; Danny O'Quinn, 20, Coeburn, Va., ARCA and USAR Hooter's Pro Cup; David Ragan, 20, Kannapolis, ARCA; Peter Shepherd, 19, Norval, Ontario, CASCAR; and Auggie Vidovich, 24, Lakeside, Calif., Autozone Elite Southwest. (Roush Racing PR)

Roush Racing Gong Show fillers Driver Roster: Twenty-five men and women are one step closer to realizing their dream of becoming a NASCAR superstar as Roush Racing and Discovery Channel today announce the list of drivers who will compete in this year's Roush Racing gong show. Jack Roush and his team of judges poured over 1,700 applications and narrowed it down to a list of 25 drivers from across the United States, Canada and New Zealand in search of the best drivers to take part in this exclusive competition. The winner will be awarded a fully sponsored ride in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Roush Racing is teaming up with Discovery Channel to capture all of the excitement and drama of the competition on film with unprecedented access to the gong show. Candidates will compete on and off the track, testing their skills behind the wheel as well as their marketability and fan appeal. This high-energy 13-part series will debut on Discovery Channel this fall. Following is a list of the drivers selected to compete in the first round at Martinsville Speedway, August 2-4 (Roush Racing PR)

Earnhardt, Wheeler and Roush among hall finalist: Seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR car owner Jack Roush and Lowe's Motor Speedway president H.A. (Humpy) Wheeler are among 22 finalists in the voting for the 2006 class of inductees to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Five inductees will be selected for the hall, located in Talladega, Ala., in voting that will begin next week by a media panel. This year's inductees will be announced in November and will go into the hall in April 2006. This is the first year of eligibility for Earnhardt, who was killed in a crash at Daytona in February 2001. Wheeler also was among the finalists last year. (ThatsRacin)

Oakland Raider Brown to team up with Roush: Tim Brown signed a one-day contract and retired with the Oakland Raiders on Monday, gracefully ending his 17-year career as one of the NFL's most prolific receivers. Brown, the Heisman Trophy winner at Notre Dame in 1987, spent his first 16 seasons with the Raiders in Los Angeles and Oakland. He spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after refusing to accept a smaller role with Oakland. Brown, a Dallas native with no background in auto racing, used his retirement to announce plans to partner with Roush Racing on a NASCAR team based in Charlotte, N.C., and to begin competition next year. If the venture gets off the ground, Brown would become the first black majority owner of a NASCAR team. "It's going to be a big deal to try and get accomplished, but I think it's going to be great to try," said Brown, who said he was approached by Roush Racing for the job. (Indy Star)

Craven will not replace Martin Roush says: Newburgh's Ricky Craven won't replace Mark Martin in the No. 6 Viagra Ford for Roush Racing next year. Team owner Jack Roush indicated Friday that Craven will be back in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series next season and that he is hopeful he can convince Martin to return for one more season in the No. 6 car before Jamie McMurray assumes the ride for 2007. Craven is in the first year of a two-year deal. The 46-year-old Martin had announced his intention to retire from the Nextel Cup series to run in the truck series next year. "Ricky's future is and really has been in the truck series in my world," said Roush. "Mark has agreed to come back in 2006 if I need him for the 6 car. Ricky was on the short list but he wasn't the only choice I had for the 6 car for 2006. I had to look at Ricky's progress and had to look at a number of things to make that final decision. (Bangor News)

Roush doesn't like "Car of the Future": Roush Racing team owner Jack Roush had some harsh comments for NASCAR's planned "car of the future" on Thursday. The car design, which is supposed to incorporate new safety innovations and have a bigger driver cockpit area, is still not likely to see track action anytime soon, Roush said. "NASCAR wants to trash everything we got, start with an all-new chassis, with all new construction techniques and every component being new ... I think that's wrong and very much resistant to that," he said. (ThatsRacin)

Martinsville and Darlington to host Roush Reality show: Roush Racing announced that Martinsville Speedway and Darlington Raceway will host the two rounds of competition which will determine the next driver to join the Roush stable for 2006. The first round of testing with 25 drivers will take place at Martinsville Speedway on August 2-4. The field will be narrowed down to 12 drivers before the second and final rounds at Darlington Raceway on August 15-17. Roush Racing is teaming up with Discovery Channel to capture all of the excitement and drama of the competition on film, with unprecedented access to the gong show. Candidates will compete on and off the track, testing their skills behind the wheel as well as their marketability and fan appeal. This high-energy 13-part series will debut on the Discovery Channel this fall. "We're honored that Martinsville Speedway was picked to be part of this project," said Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway. "We think it's fitting because so many drivers who went on to become NASCAR stars enjoyed their first success here at Martinsville. It should also be a thrill for these youngsters to try and make their mark at a track where so many of the sport's legends have competed." "Darlington Raceway has been a proving ground for drivers since the day the gates opened in 1950. Every superstar in our sport has raced here," said Chris Browning, president of Darlington Raceway. "We are thrilled at the prospect of having Roush Racing and the Discovery Channel come to Darlington, and delighted to have the opportunity to combine our long racing tradition with this exciting new driving competition. I can't imagine a more fitting, and more potentially exciting, combination than Roush's talent search and the track 'Too Tough To Tame.'" "I can't think of two more challenging tracks on the NASCAR circuit than Martinsville and Darlington," said Jack Roush. "They are both very unique and even seasoned veterans can run into trouble at both tracks. Any driver who is able to conquer both of these tracks deserves a ride with the Roush organization." "The show really will take the best elements from all of the current reality shows and adapt them into a racing theme," said Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing. "The format will be a cross between 'Survivor,' 'American Idol' and 'The Apprentice' --- but packed with action and intensity coming at you at 180 mph." (Roush Racing PR)

Martin back in Cup in 2006? Geoff Smith, the head of Jack Roush's massive racing operation, launched another bombshell yesterday: that Mark Martin might abort his long-planned retirement at the end of this season. At Roush's urging, Martin is "considering" extending his NASCAR Cup career one more season, through 2006, Smith said. It seems a long shot that Martin, who will be 47 when next season opens, would race another year. But Smith said he and Roush were asking Martin "to take one for the team," to fill the ride until Jamie McMurray, signed away from Chip Ganassi Thursday for 2007, becomes available to drive. (Salem-Journal)

Kenseth no plans to move: With Silly Season in full swing, it figures that ever-steady Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champ, has no plans to move. Expect him to get his next contract with Roush Racing locked down early. Kenseth, who finished second Sunday (his best finish of the season), reportedly is signed through the 2006 season and has no plans to change teams. "We've never had any problems," Kenseth said. "Roush has always been fair to me, and I feel like I've done the same thing. They've done great things for my career, and I can't imagine racing anywhere else." (Sporting News Lee Spencer)

More on Roush, McMurray and Gannasi: Jamie McMurray wasn't talking about his decision to sign with Roush Racing for the 2007 season yesterday, but his future car owner was. Jack Roush said McMurray was motivated to leave Chip Ganassi Racing because he didn't want to end up in a situation similar to last year when Ganassi didn't renew his contract in person. "It was important to Jamie to know where he was going," Roush said. "It's my understanding there wasn't much discussion between he and the management of that team before the option was picked up last year. A UPS driver brought him an envelope and he opened it up and found he'd been renewed. "So there's been no discussion, and he was expecting the same kind of drama in getting to September this year, and I think he was anxious to have it put it to bed. We were in position to say we wanted to build the future of our No. 6 program around him." Roush said McMurray was always on his list as a possibility to replace Mark Martin, who is retiring from the No. 6 Ford after this season. Ganassi has said McMurray will remain in the No. 42 Dodge through the end of next year, but Roush won't make a decision on a one-year stopgap in Martin's ride until September - the deadline for Ganassi to renew the last year of McMurray's contract. Garage insiders say Ganassi could change his mind and let McMurray go, but Roush said he would make no attempt to buy out the final year of the deal with Ganassi. (Times-Dispatch)

Pennzoil and Edwards at Daytona: Carl Edwards will sports a Pennzoil Platinum paint schemes on the #99 Roush Racing Ford for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 2nd. Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil is the most advanced product that Pennzoil has ever produced and is the latest product from the category leader. Pennzoil Platinum's ultimate-protection formulation is designed to stand up to today's most demanding engines. This new full synthetic motor oil combines a highly-refined base oil with a proprietary additive package to create a ground-breaking formulation to keep engines running at their full potential. (Coyne PR)

Penske #2 and Roush #6 rides: Two of the sport's top car owners, Roger Penske and Jack Roush, are trying to find new drivers to replace retiring Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. Penske says he probably won't make a decision until September. (Salem-Journal)

Kenseth heads to Canada: Matt Kenseth will head to Toronto, Canada on Monday following the Batman Begins 400, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Kenseth is scheduled to make an appearance for GE, one of his associate sponsors. (Insider Racing News)

Biffle Returns to Victory Lane at Michigan: Greg Biffle is making winning look easy. Biffle won for the fifth time in 15 Nextel Cup starts this season, outdueling Tony Stewart on Sunday to take the Batman Begins 400 at Michigan International Speedway. The powerful Roush Racing team, winner of the last two season championships, won its eighth race of the season. It was another strong showing for the entire team, with three of Biffle's four teammates finishing in the top five and the fifth driver, defending series champ Kurt Busch, fading to 12th after running in the top 10 throughout most of the 200-lap event. Stewart led a race-high 97 laps but lost a strategy battle at the end. Roush drivers Mark Martin, Kenseth and Carl Edwards finished third through fifth, followed by Joe Nemechek, Michael Waltrip, Elliott Sadler and rookie Kyle Busch. (ABC News - Points -Results)

Edwards Wins Again Busch Series Kentucky: Carl Edwards raced to his third NASCAR Busch Series victory of the year Saturday night, passing Martin Truex Jr. with a little more than lap to go in the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Edwards, who won the Nextel Cup event last Sunday at Pocono after missing the rain-delayed Busch Series race in Tennessee, worked his way back to the front of the field after dropping to ninth following a four-tire pit stop with 31 laps left. Edwards led 150 of 200 laps in his Roush Racing Ford on the 1.50-mile oval, finishing 0.69 seconds ahead of Truex's Chevrolet. The Nextel Cup driver took a chance with 31 laps left when he made the four-tire stop under a green flag. After dropping to ninth, he worked his way to fourth, and got a break with 15 laps left when a collision between Greg Biffle and Tyler Walker brought out a caution. (USA Today)

Darlington and Roush's Gong Show? (Darlington) Track president Chris Browning said he is working on details of a deal to play host to the speed test for Roush Racing’s “Gong Show,” a driver discovery program that is being turned into reality television show for the Discovery Channel this fall. “It looks very positive,” he said. Geoff Smith, the president of Roush Racing, said Darlington’s unique egg shape would make it “fabulous place” to test a driver’s speed because few if any of the 25 finalists will have experience on the track. “We don’t want to give anybody an edge for experience,” he said, noting Greenville-Pickens Speedway is a candidate for the short track test. (The State)

Mark Martin Day Celebrated: Mark Martin was all smiles Wednesday as he accepted official proclamations from local political leaders and accolades from about 300 race fans. The city of Daytona Beach and Volusia County celebrated "Mark Martin Day" and toasted the veteran stock car driver in a short ceremony at FanZone inside Daytona International Speedway. "This is a day to honor one of Volusia County's most notable citizens and one of NASCAR's most notable competitors," Mayor Yvonne Scarlett-Golden said before handing Martin the city's proclamation. "He is a wonderful representative of our community." Frank Bruno, chairman of the county council, was toting a decree from DeLand and kind words for Martin, citing the 46-year-old driver's "outstanding NASCAR career." (The News-Journal)

Roush Plane Ride Scary: Roush flew Saturday to Nashville, Tenn., for the Busch Series race on a plane that included Edwards, his girlfriend, Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard, and Sterling Marlin. The plane returned to Pennsylvania on Saturday night after the race was postponed because of rain. Cloud cover forced Roush to land near Wilkes-Barre instead of at Mount Pocono, and Edwards said it was an experience. "I stayed up until 4 in the morning doing missed approaches with Jack Roush, which, by the way, are way scarier than the tunnel turn over there," Edwards said. "My heart was pounding." (Times-Dispatch)

Edwards Wins at Pocono: Carl Edwards raced to his second Nextel Cup victory of the year Sunday, easily adjusting to a new gearing rule and avoiding the tire woes that plagued other drivers Sunday at Pocono Raceway. The Missouri driver, who celebrated his first NASCAR Nextel Cup victory three months ago in Atlanta with a backflip from the window of his car, did it again Sunday then credited the makers of a video game among other things for his win at a track he'd never seen before. His Ford led 45 of 200 laps and beat the Chevrolet of Brian Vickers in a race that ended under caution on the 2.5-mile triangle. Edwards took the lead for the fourth and final time on lap 187. Vickers led six times for 121 laps, both race highs. (ABC News - Results - Points)

Martin Says 15yr. ready for NASCAR now: The driver who would be Mark Martin's first choice to replace him as driver of the No. 6 Ford will not be in the car after Martin retires from full-time competition at the end of this season. "I'll tell you exactly who I would put in the No. 6 car in a heartbeat," Martin said. "Joe Logano turned 15 a few days ago, and if NASCAR would let me I would make Jack Roush let us put him in the 6 car. He's already ready. He's the man." Martin has been singing Logano's praises since early this year. Logano can't race in the Nextel Cup, Busch or Truck series until he's 18, but he has already made his debut in the Hooters Pro Cup series. "I am absolutely 100 percent positive, without a doubt, that he can be one of the greatest who ever raced in NASCAR," Martin said. (Charlotte Observer)

Wood in the 6 Roush? It has been almost a given that Busch Series driver Jon Wood will end up behind the wheel of his family's No.21 Ford on the Nextel Cup circuit. That day could come sooner than expected if Ricky Rudd decides not to return next year. But Wood's name also has surfaced as a potential replacement for the retiring Mark Martin in the No.6 Ford at Roush Racing and for other cars that will need drivers. Wood, 23, drives the No.47 Ford for Tad Geschickter and remains under contract with the Roush Racing team he drove for in the Craftsman Truck Series. He said he has heard the talk about possible Cup rides but hasn't been contacted by owners. "I'm always the last to know, but that's probably a good thing," Wood said. "The only thing I know for sure is that I'll be driving the 47 next year." (St. Petersburg's Times)

Wallace and Martin Spilt NEXTEL Cup ride in 06? Could Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace — both of whom are in their last full seasons in Nextel Cup — share time together next season behind the wheel of one of Jack Roush’s Ford Nextel Cup cars? It’s a long shot, the principals involved said Thursday, but not impossible. Martin said Thursday he’s contemplating doing a split Cup season next year in a Roush Ford. “If you could share a full schedule with the No. 6 car with another top driver, that’s never been done before,” said Martin. “Selling that to a sponsor, it would take the right sponsor and it would take a lot of things.” (SPEEDTV)

Craven Says He's Unlikely Martin Replacement: Craftsman Truck Series racer Ricky Craven was at Texas Motor Speedeay Tuesday, testing for the Chex 400 race on June 10. Tuesday also was his 39th birthday. The former Nextel Cup driver joined Roush Racing this year with hopes of getting back to Cup racing. But he doesn't think he will be selected to replace the retiring Mark Martin next season in the #6 Viagra Ford. "I think that's very remote," he said. "At 39, I'm sort of the end of the scale for what teams are looking for. I totally focused on this truck team and winning the championship this season." Martin is ending his Cup career but not his racing career. Craven expects Martin to join him in the truck series as a teammate next year. (Dallas Morning News)

Biffle Signs Extension With Roush: ASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Greg Biffle has renewed a multi-year agreement with Roush Racing to continue to drive the No. 16 Ford Taurus. In the midst of his eighth year with Roush Racing, a tenure that has included a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship and a NASCAR Busch Series Championship, Greg Biffle is considered a top contender for the Nextel Cup title. Now, 12 races into the 2005 season, Biffle and the National Guard team have three wins, four top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes. Needless to say, Biffle has been quite busy. However, in the last week he has made time to finalize his contract with Roush. (Roush Racing)

Martin Inducted: Roush Racing driver and 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge winner Mark Martin will be inducted into Lowe's Motor Speedway's prestigious Court of Legends prior to CTC Pole Night qualifying. Martin is also featured and honored on the ticket for CTC Pole Night. "It's a great honor," said Martin. "In my opinion Lowe's Motor Speedway is the greatest place on earth to race and I think a lot of the speedway and the people who have made it what it is. It's a great compliment to know that they think enough of me to do this and I'm honored by the recognition. "We've had some great runs and great wins at Lowe's and hopefully we aren't done just yet." Martin will join NASCAR legends such as Richard Petty, Junior Johnson and Darrell Waltrip as his handprints and racing shoe print are cemented in the Court of Legends walkway leading to Lowe's Motor Speedway's main entrance. Speedway officials will also present Martin with a special framed edition of the CTC Pole Night collectible ticket featuring his likeness and detailing his accomplishments at the track. (Roush Racing)

Edwards Gets Sponsorship: Roush Racing announced today that Stonebridge Life Insurance Company will be the primary sponsor on the No. 99 Ford, driven by Carl Edwards, at the Pocono 500 on June 12. This will be the first time Stonebridge Life Insurance Company has sponsored a NEXTEL Cup car. "It's really neat to have Stonebridge Life Insurance Company as the primary sponsor on the No. 99 Ford for Pocono," said Edwards. "This is their first race as a sponsor and it will be my first race at Pocono but I think we'll have a good weekend together. I've watched a lot of tape and have been talking to my teammates about the track so I'm really excited to go there and have a good run for Stonebridge. I'm proud to represent them and I'm glad they are a part of the No. 99 team." (Roush Racing)

#88 and #99 Crew Chiefs? This is the second significant crew chief change in a week among the tour's top teams. Mike Ford, chief for Dale Jarrett's No. 88 at Robert Yates Racing, stood down a week ago. He was replaced on a temporary basis by veteran Bill Wilburn. One man currently on everyone's want list is Bob Osborne, crew chief for Roush Racing's No. 99, with driver Carl Edwards. Having two plum positions open should open up the market considerably. Why, Larry McReynolds might even consider coming back. (SPEED)

Edwards Testing at NSS: NASCAR’s latest sensation, Carl Edwards, was in town Tuesday to take in a few practice laps at Nashville Superspeedway. Edwards, ranked 13th in the Nextel Cup point standings, has been pulling double duty in the Busch Series as well, and will compete in the Federated Auto Parts 300 here on Sat., June 11. (Nashville City Paper)

Martin Not Enough Energy in 2006: Sure, he'll use this year to take one last shot at winning the series championship that has painfully eluded him during his 22 seasons. And if he should fail yet again, Martin is certain he doesn't have the energy to try again. "I've already said I can't sign up for another one of these (full seasons)," Martin said. "This business is not easy, and I have had to reach. Last year I had to reach deeper than I've ever reached in my life to contend for that championship. "I thought there was no way to find any more, and I've had to reach even deeper this year to find some more. And that's the real reason why I can't do it again next year. There's no possible way I could step it up another notch from 2005." (News-Journal)

Mark Martin Wins the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge: In a throwback paint scheme that honored his glory years, Mark Martin raced as if he was in the prime of his career. Martin won the Nextel All-Star Challenge and its $1 million paycheck on Saturday night by piloting a car painted like the one he drove to four consecutive victories in 1993. This win didn't convince Martin to call off plans to retire at the end of the season, but it was enough for him to agree to defend his title in 2006. "This is how I want to do it,'' Martin said. "And we did this by racing smart with a great race car. I am excited about what is coming up ahead of us.'' This was supposed to be the final All-Star race for the 46-year-old Martin, who has not wavered in his decision to walk away. (ABC News)

Driver Convicted in Fatal NASCAR Limo Wreck: A man whose truck rammed a limousine, sparking a fire that killed the wife of a former NASCAR crew chief and two others, was convicted Friday of three counts of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to five to six years in prison. Jeffrey Niles McFayden also was convicted in Guilford County Superior Court of one count of driving while impaired. Evidence showed the limousine, bringing the women back from a concert, was stopped in traffic on Interstate 40 Greensboro on Sept. 10, 2003 when it was struck from behind by McFayden. The limousine exploded almost immediately and trapped the victims. (Yahoo!)

Office Depot Extends Edwards Sponsorship: Office Depot announced Thursday that it is expanding its NASCAR sponsorship commitment to include eight additional races for a total of 17 races for the remainder of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Office Depot is already the Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR. The expanded commitment is an opportunity to "tap into our core small-business customers on a local level," said Tony Ueber, VP-marketing strategy for Office Depot. The $14 billion office products giant said it will also become track sponsor for races at seven International Speedway Corp. tracks. (Office Depot PR)

Trial Beings on Drunk Driver that killed NASCAR Crew Chief Wife: A man involved in a 2003 wreck on Interstate 40 that left three Davie County sisters dead appeared to have been under the influence of alcohol, witnesses testified during the first day of testimony in the man's trial yesterday. Jeffrey Niles McFayden is charged with driving while impaired and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Tara Howell Parker, 29; Mysti Howell Poplin, 24; and their half sister, Megan Elizabeth Howell, 16. Parker was married to Shawn Parker, who was a NASCAR crew chief. (Salem-Journal)

Crew Chief Changes: Charles "Cully" Barraclough, who had been the crew chief on Kenseth's part-time Busch Series team, has joined Joe Gibbs Racing to guide the full-time effort for rookie Denny Hamlin. Robbie Reiser, who leads Kenseth's Cup team, is pulling double duty this weekend and expects to do so for the rest of the season. Chad Norris, former car chief for Ryan Newman's Penske South Nextel Cup team, has joined Roush Racing and is the heir apparent, Reiser said Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Craven in the #6? There indeed will be opportunities with Roush at the Cup level, as Mark Martin is retiring at the end of this season. Craven delicately sidesteps rumors that he may replace Martin in the Roush-owned No. 6 Ford or take over for Carl Edwards in the No. 99 if Edwards is tabbed to replace Martin next year. "Jack and I have had conversations, but our primary conversation and objective is to battle for the championship in the 99 truck," Craven said. "I still think there's an opportunity for me [to go back to Cup], but that's all predicated on us meeting our goals this year. ... If [that] happens, then I'll have made a pretty good argument for a year in a Roush Cup car. That's really only as far as it goes." Thus far, Craven is ahead of schedule on meeting those goals. But he doesn't want to get too far ahead of himself. (Yahoo! Sports)

Biffle Tax Paint Scheme: With the end of tax season quickly approaching, this weekend Biffle's No. 16 National Guard Ford will feature a special Jackson Hewitt Tax Service paint scheme. (Roush PR)

Edwards Kickoff Garden Month all Green: The No. 99 Scotts team will kick off National Garden Month this week when the green and white Scotts/Miracle Gro paint scheme returns to the Ford of Carl Edwards. In honor of National Garden Month, the No. 99 Scotts/Miracle Gro Ford will carry a special decal on the TV panel with the "Give a Garden™ - Add Beauty to Life" logo throughout the month of April. "Give a Garden™ - Add Beauty to Life" is this year's theme and has one simple premise - someone in your community can benefit by receiving a "garden". "This is a great opportunity for people to give back to their community while at the same time having fun," said Edwards. "To celebrate, people can do anything from giving a pot of flowers to their neighbors to planting a garden at a local school or community garden. I hope all our NASCAR fans will find the time to plant something before they tune in to watch the Scotts team race on Sundays in April." (Roush Racing)

Newman to #6 Roush? Two major rides will open next season when Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace retire. Jack Roush will be looking for a driver to take Martin's Ford seat, and Roger Penske will be looking for someone to take Wallace's Dodge seat. There have been reports that Penske would be interested in Chevy's Kevin Harvick, although Harvick is apparently under contract with Richard Childress for one more season. Now there are reports that Roush may be interested in Penske's Ryan Newman, or perhaps even Newman and his crew chief Matt Borland, too. (Winston-Salem)

Martin Eyeing Young: Remember the name Joey Logano. No less an authority than Mark Martin says he is going to be a big star in NASCAR. What makes that forecast remarkable is that Logano is 14 years old. ''All I can tell you is that I could put him in my (Nextel Cup) car right now and he could win races,'' said Martin, the longtime Roush Racing star. ''He's got amazing talent.'' Martin first saw Logano race as a 12-year-old against his son, Matt. The elder Martin has since become the youngster's mentor, put him in a Cup car for a test earlier this year at Atlanta Motor Speedway and hooked Logano up with team owner Jack Roush. Logano drove one of Martin's 2004 Fords around the 1 -mile Atlanta oval at speeds above 190 mph. (Jackson Sun)

Travel Lodge reups Biffle and NASCAR: Travelodge Hotels today announced the renewal of its associate sponsorship of the No. 16 National Guard Ford Taurus, driven by Greg Biffle, in the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The agreement continues the Travelodge(R) brand's two-year relationship with Roush Racing of Concord, N.C. As part of the agreement, Travelodge Hotels will appear as the team's primary sponsor at Darlington Raceway's Carolina Dodge Dealers 500 on May 7. "The Travelodge brand is proud to continue its relationship with the National Guard team and is excited to sponsor the No. 16 National Guard Ford Taurus and Greg Biffle," said Travelodge President Ken Greene. "Our relationship with the National Guard team continues to provide excellent exposure for the Travelodge brand among a wide audience. Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said the Travelodge brand has been a "tremendous sponsor," adding "we are proud of the success we have achieved together, both on and off the track." Driver Greg Biffle earned two Nextel Cup wins in 2004. Biffle was first to the checkered flag at Michigan International Speedway's GFS Marketplace 400 on August 22, and capped his year with another win on November 21 at the Ford 400 Nextel Cup season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Travel Lodge PR)

Carl Edwards staying in 99: Sponsorship no longer seems to be an issue. Smith says they've sold sponsorships to several companies that should cover the rest of the season, and they're actually "oversubscribed" for 2006. Smith says he is hoping "the days of the 99 sponsorship problems are behind me." Edwards, meanwhile, is no longer is slated to replace Martin in the No. 6 after this season. "It's pretty obvious he's found a home in the 99," Smith says. "We're going to have to fill the 6 with someone else, and we don't know who that someone else might be." Smith says they will look at current Roush truck series driver Ricky Craven, a former Cup veteran, for the ride. But he expects other drivers in the garage to be interested: "That's a fantastic ride that's going to be available." (USA Today)

Roush "Too Many Restrictions on Too Many Things": Team owner Jack Roush's plea to NASCAR officials is the same as that of many basketball coaches to referees in the NCAA Tournament: Let 'em play. Don't bog down the game by calling a foul for every little thing. "That's exactly right," Roush said of the analogy, going into today's Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "The fact is, we've got too many rules, too many templates, too many restrictions on too many things." Roush truly has room to talk: He could be considered the biggest victim of last Sunday's cheating controversy at Las Vegas. One of his drivers, reigning Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch, finished third, behind Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, both of whom were docked 25 championship points and their crew chiefs suspended because of to technical violations found on their cars during post-race inspection. (Sun-Sentinel)

Kenseth Atlanta Car: The No. 17 Trex Decking & Railing Ford Taurus will make its debut this weekend in Atlanta. Usually seen in the yellow and black DEWALT colors, Matt Kenseth will be driving the black and gray entry for the Cup race on Sunday. (Roush PR)

Roush and Next Generation Drivers: Among the four are two 14-year-olds who are not eligible to get a drivers license in most U.S. states. But in the highly competitive world of NASCAR racing, identifying upcoming talent early is key to staying on top. Among the four candidates is Joey Logano, who comes highly recommended by current Roush racer Mark Martin, who spotted the 14 year old a year ago in a series where his own son was racing. The other candidates are 23 year old Erik Darnell, 19 year old Danny O'Quinn and another 14 year old, Marc Davis. Darnell and O'Quinn just missed out on a Truck ride with Roush, which went to Todd Kluever. They'll begin their apprenticeship with Roush by running a limited number of ARCA races this season. Logano is scheduled to compete in several Hooters Pro Cup Series races once he turns 15 in May. (TSN)

Innovator suing Roush and Wood Brothers: An inventor is suing two NASCAR teams claiming he was not paid for a part that improves cornering speeds. Weston Griffith claims in his lawsuit that a chassis piece he designed has helped the teams that back star drivers including Kurt Busch and Ricky Rudd rack up Nextel Cup Series points since last season. Griffith says he developed a chassis piece -- which he describes as "Part X" in the lawsuit -- and the race teams stole his idea, according to the complaint. "I think they should pay for it," Griffith said. Griffith is suing Wood Brothers Racing, Roush Racing and Pat Tryson, crew chief for Roush driver Mark Martin, in North Carolina Superior Court, Cabarrus County, for compensation in excess of $10,000. Griffith said he made his technology available on a trial basis to Wood Brothers Racing in 2003. (NewsJournal)

Mark Martin Site Up: Mark Martin’s“Salute to You” Tour, which roared to life on the track with back-to-back top-10 finishes in the first two races of the season, has come to life on the Internet. The official Web site of Mark Martin’s “Salute to You” Tour is now online at www.markmartinsalute.com. Featuring race news, vintage photos, a career timeline, exclusive merchandise and more, the site celebrates the career of one of NASCAR’s most beloved drivers, who retires from full-time Nextel Cup competition this year. Martin himself delivers a special video message to visitors when they arrive at the site. The site will serve as the new home of the official Mark Martin fan club. Current fan club members can use their existing fan club log in name and password to access the “Salute to You” site. Fan club membership is free by registering at www.roushracing.com.(Roush Racing PR)

Burton wants better car; Roush engineer joins RCR: Burton wants better cars: The work of Jeff Burton's pit crew helped his No. 31 gain 18 positions over seven stops at California, but going into Las Vegas, he doesn't believe his Monte Carlos are up to speed. "Pit crews can't be winning races," Burton says. "We've got to get better cars." The cars are sure to improve after Burton is reunited with former Roush senior engineer Nick Ollila, who joined Richard Childress Racing last week. Off the track, despite having a week away from racing, Burton was anything but idle. In a little more than a week, he shot a commercial for Cingular, made appearances for Chevrolet and Coke and had a cameo role on the WB's One Tree Hill.(FoxSports)

Mark Martin's Deal for you: The NASCAR racing star is offering a ride in the racer’s No. 6 car to anyone who buys a new or used vehicle from his Ford dealership in Little Rock, Ark. Martin, who finished sixth in Sunday’s Daytona 500, opened the business in his hometown last spring, and construction started this week on a new building that will include a museum to house his trophies and racing cars. The complex is to open in spring 2006. The museum and the experience of racing Martin’s car are his ways to let local folks touch the racer’s success, said Vic Davidson, in charge of new car sales. Buyers will go to the Memphis Motor Speedway, where they will take a short driver’s course before driving around the track 10 times wearing a helmet and firesuit. They will be able to reach speeds of up to 130 mph. Afterward they will get to meet Martin, who has 34 victories, making him 17th on NASCAR’s career list. (Mercury News)

Roush Racing testing at Kentucky: Kentucky Speedway's weekly calendar shows that Roush Racing has scheduled a Nextel Cup test for Tuesday. The track says the team is scheduled to test a research-and-development car with a driver to be named. Spectators are permitted to watch from the track's Fan Center, but the track cautions that schedules are subject to change. (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

Biffle Close to Signing with Roush: Roush Racing officials said they are close to signing Greg Biffle to a contract extension. Biffle's deal is up at the end of this season, and his public criticism of the company last year gave strong indications that he was considering leaving. ... Kevin Harvick has denied he is under consideration to replace Rusty Wallace at Penske Motorsports when Wallace retires at the end of the season. (JacksonSun)

Red Sox and Roush to team up? Baseball's champion could be teaming up with NASCAR's. Looking to tap into the popularity of the World Series-winning Boston Red Sox, Roush Racing has had preliminary talks with Boston owner John Henry about forming a possible partnership. Rumors circulating around Daytona International Speedway on Thursday had Henry possibly buying a stake in the lucrative Roush organization. But Roush general manager Geoff Smith said any talks with the baseball owner concerned cross-promotion with the Red Sox. "Jack Roush as long as he lives is going to want to control and operate these race teams," Smith said. "Not to rule out that there isn't a proposition that could be advanced for some sort of affiliation at some time, but right now we like the prospect of an affiliation from a marketing standpoint. Henry did not immediately return an e-mail request for comment. Garage insiders have described Henry as a "racing junkie" who competes in a high-tech computerized NASCAR league on his own personal simulator. He attended last year's NASCAR race in New Hampshire, and was a guest of NASCAR at their December awards banquet in New York City. (NASCAR)

Mark Martin to Fix Primary Car: Mark Martin thought he had a good chance to win his final Daytona 500. Then he was caught up in an accident in one of Thursday’s qualifying races that damaged his No. 6 Ford. “I believe I could win the Daytona 500 with that car, but I don’t know if they can fix that,” Martin said. Hands on his hips and a look of a disgust on his face, Martin watched helplessly as his Roush Racing team tried to repair the damage. Martin is retiring from full-time competition at the end of the season and wants badly to add a Daytona 500 win to his resume. Crew chief Pat Tryson said the team would do everything possible to fix the damage because the car was far superior to the backup. (MSNBC/AP)

Kenseth and Green Suffer Blown Engines: Jeff Green and Biffle's teammate, Matt Kenseth, didn't get what they were looking form either. Green's engine blew up on his first lap, while Kenseth's let go on his second. Kenseth said he burned a piston, but Green wasn't sure what happened. "Something happened and the motor started tightening up," Green said. "I thought we hit a big gust of wind, but something must have broke. I thought we had a shot at the pole or at least a top five. We've got enough points for a provisional, so we don't have to work about Thursday anyway. (NASCAR)

Biffle Fire on Pit Road: Sitting in his motorhome watching qualifying on television, Greg Biffle learned his shot at winning the pole had gone up in flames — literally. Biffle’s No. 16 Ford caught fire while sitting on pit road because of a short circuit in an oil tank line. The fire was put out, but much of the cockpit was charred in a car Biffle considered strong. He still made his qualifying lap, ending up 14th, and a little nauseous from the experience. “I knew that there was going to be some of the fire extinguisher chemical inside the car and it was the worst taste ever in my mouth,” Biffle said. “That was the most thing I was worried about making my qualifying laps was that it smelled so bad inside the car with all that chemical in there — under the seat and everywhere. That was probably the worst time I’ve ever been in a race car.” (AP)

Martin Best Man: Mark Martin spent his morning serving as the honorary best man in the wedding of "Survivor: Vanuatu" winner Chris Daugherty and Lorie Groves. Daugherty is a self-professed Martin fan and wanted to be married in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway. "You don't pass up an opportunity to get married at Daytona, especially in Victory Lane," said Daugherty. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience." Martin found the ceremony amusing, but said he doubted his own wife, Arlene, would have gone for it. "It would be fun for me, but I am not sure Arlene would have gone for it," Martin said. "It shows you the commitment that the fans have to the sport and the love they have for racing." (FoxSports)

New Craven Congrats! Ricky Craven couldn't make his way to Daytona before taking care of a little family business: The birth of his third child. Lydia Cathleen Craven was born at 8:47 p.m. on Thursday night -- early enough for Craven to stay home with the family before traveling to Daytona to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series race next Friday. "She is absolutely beautiful,'' Craven said. "Everybody should get to come home from the hospital on Friday so I can spend a few days with her before I leave for Daytona next week. This is the best start to SpeedWeeks I've ever had.'' Lydia weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was just under 20 inches long. (Roush Racing PR)

Edwards Okay after Busch Crash: Carl Edwards stayed in Las Vegas on Wednesday instead of heading to Fontana to run test his Nextel Cup car. He probably wishes he had just gone ahead with everyone else. Edwards crashed in the opening minutes of Busch Series testing, which opened Wednesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. David Reutimann, testing Joe Nemechek's Busch car, lost an engine heading into Turn 4, and Edwards ran right through his oil. Johnny Sauter spun and didn't hit anything, but Edwards smacked the wall. Scott Wimmer was the only other Nextel Cup driver around to test at LVMS's 1.5-mile track. The other regulars are at Fontana for the start of a two-day test at California Speedway. "I should have been paying more attention," Edwards said. "I was driving down in the corner and I could see the oil on the track. I almost saved it, but ended up tagging the wall." (NASCAR)

Fenning retirement two years: A trio of over-40 drivers have set their retirement dates, and one top crew chief said on Tuesday that he is looking to do the same. Jimmy Fennig, 51, says that he is looking to retire as a crew chief after 2006. The longtime Roush employee has enjoyed a brilliant career, including a Daytona 500 win in 1988 and the title with Kurt Busch in 2004. "Probably a couple more years and that will be it for me," Fennig said. Fennig, 51, cited the exhausting 36-race schedule -- plus testing and non-official events -- as the reason for wanting to slow down. "I would like to be home once in awhile," Fennig said. "Being away from home all these years, you got to sit back and say, 'Time to cut back.'" (NASCAR)

Martin Open to Truck Team? Mark Martin hinted on Monday that he is leaning towards fielding his own trucks in the Craftsman Truck Series, a decision that would keep him closer to home in 2006. Martin has long said that he plans on making the Craftsman Truck Series a part of his post-Nextel Cup life. His current employer, Roush Racing, fields two full-time trucks and could easily make room for whatever schedule Martin plans to run in 2006. "I am looking very hard at the Craftsman Truck Series next year," Martin said. "Initially, the talks were to be a part of Roush." But Martin spent last weekend racing with his 13-year-old son Matt, and Martin said that he hopes he can remain close to his Daytona Beach home after his retirement from a full Nextel Cup schedule. (NASCAR)

Kenseth Associate Sponsor USG: USG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of building materials, including the renowned SHEETROCK® Brand, announced that its 2005 NASCAR program will include a new partnership with DeWalt Racing, Roush Racing and champion driver Matt Kenseth. USG SHEETROCK Brand will be a primary sponsor on Kenseth's No. 17 DeWalt Ford Taurus at three Nextel Cup races -- Feb. 27 at Fontana, Calif., Aug. 7 at Indianapolis and Oct. 30 at Atlanta. At all of the other 2005 Cup races, USG SHEETROCK will assume a major associate sponsorship role on the DeWalt Ford, owned by Roush Racing. "USG's new NASCAR team program is an alliance of champions," said Julian Francis, vice president, marketing, USG Building Systems. "We're affiliated with a championship driver in Matt Kenseth, a championship team in DeWalt Racing, a championship organization in Roush Racing and a championship motorsports sanctioning body in NASCAR. "It is only fitting that USG SHEETROCK, a championship brand in the building industry, has positioned itself with a strategic alliance to target our customers. This is an exciting time for USG Racing and we're looking forward to a thrilling 2005 season." Since joining the Cup series full-time in 2000, Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Champion, has accumulated nine wins, 39 top fives and 82 top 10s. The 32-year-old Cambridge, Wis. native put together top-10 championship point finishes the past three years - eighth (2002), first (2003) and eighth (2004). He was NASCAR's Rookie of the Year in 2000 and has earned more than $25 million in career prize money. USG will continue as a NASCAR promotional partner in 2005 with the "USG Improving The Finish" contingency award at each of the 36 Nextel Cup point races and as a sponsor of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. The USG Improving The Finish award will pay $5,000 at each race to the driver who gains the most places from the opening green flag to the closing checkered flag. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, the driver who earns the most USG Improving The Finish points will be awarded a $100,000 bonus. (Roush Racing PR)

Roush Looking for Driver and Sponsor after '05: Since Mark Martin's sponsorship contract with Pfizer's Viagra is up at the end of this season, Roush and team president Geoff Smith are looking for both a new driver and a new sponsor. Carl Edwards was slated for that ride, but Edwards wound up in another Roush car when Jeff Burton quit last summer to join Richard Childress. "We're hoping to get some of our associate sponsors to step up to a full car sponsorship," Smith said. (Winston Salem Journal)

Edwards at NASCAR hockey night: Roush Racing star Carl Edwards, one of the hottest up and comers on the NASCAR circuit, will make a special appearance at the Mechanics game on January 30th. Edwards, who spent the previous two seasons racking up wins in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, made his Nextel Cup debut in 2004, starting 12 races and earning one top-five finish and five top-ten finishes. Edwards will be available for autographs on the concourse beginning at 4:00 pm and will drop the ceremonial first puck prior to the game. (Team PR)

AAA Official signs with Roush Racing: The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest AAA affiliate in the Midwest, has signed a contract with Roush Racing to sponsor the No. 99 AAA Ford Taurus, driven by Carl Edwards, at NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races in 2005. "Sponsorship of a car and driver on the hugely popular NASCAR racing circuit will help raise AAA's profile with the many fans of this major spectator sport. The sponsorship ties very nicely into AAA's century-long commitment to supporting continued improvement in vehicle safety," said Jeff Ogden, president, AAA Minnesota/Iowa. "Many of the safety features we take for granted on today's passenger vehicles, such as lap-and-shoulder safety belts and hydraulic brakes, were introduced and perfected in racecars," Ogden added. "NASCAR races will continue to be the proving ground for new safety equipment, and the AAA clubs that comprise The Auto Club Group are pleased and proud to help support that progress." (PRNewswire)

Roush Racing Sponsors Edwards: Office Depot, one of the world's leading resellers of office products and services, and Roush Racing announced today that Office Depot will sponsor Roush Racing's #99 Office Depot Ford Taurus driven by Carl Edwards in the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race season. The sponsorship comes on the heels of Office Depot's new multi-year agreement with NASCAR to become the sport's first-ever Official Office Products Partner. Beginning with the Daytona 500 in February, Office Depot will be the primary sponsor of Roush Racing's #99 Office Depot Ford Taurus for a minimum of eight races in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and an associate sponsor for the remaining races in the season. The Office Depot paint scheme, unveiled today during the first day of testing at Daytona International Speedway, will be featured on the #99 Office Depot Ford Taurus for the Daytona, Darlington, Chicago, California, Atlanta, Homestead, Texas and Bristol races. Just last week, Office Depot introduced its new multi-year agreement with NASCAR as the company's primary national sponsorship platform. The relationship with NASCAR is also a central component of Office Depot's new Taking Care of Business brand positioning and advertising campaign. Office Depot will link its entry into the 2005 NEXTEL series and its alliance with NASCAR through aggressive marketing efforts on the local and national level, leveraging the association with NASCAR to reach out to its core audience of business customers. Office Depot's NASCAR agreement includes category exclusivity in NASCAR's Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck series. Activation plans include a large-scale national promotion, advertising campaign, merchandising, signage and sales events. Further, Office Depot will utilize the proprietary tagline "Where NASCAR Stops for Office Products" in the company's more than 900 retail stores and online. In addition, Office Depot plans to launch a national advertising campaign featuring Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Office Depot Ford Taurus. The company will also support an upcoming NASCAR diversity initiative, as NASCAR is the fastest-growing sport among African-Americans and Hispanics, according to independent research. (Roush Racing PR)

DEI and Roush loses are Hendrick Gains: Walters, who worked with former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Gary DeHart on Terry Labonte's No. 5, will bring his expertise back to Hendrick and the No. 5, which will be driven by Kyle Busch. ... Ed Young, who was the shop foreman for Matt Kenseth's No. 17 team, has left Roush Racing for Joe Gibbs Racing. Justin Nottestad, who also is Kenseth's front tire changer, will take over Young's duties. ... Teams aren't thrilled with the new 4-and-10 rule for testing. The four refers to the driver, crew chief, car chief and owner, and 10 is the number of additional workers allowed to attend a test. In the past, teams took a variety of specialists, such as the lead engineer, engine builder or technical director, to gather data at tests. NASCAR has told teams that the change will allow them to save money, but there are other considerations. Some organizations had used tests to reward sponsors and court potential sponsors, but that won't be possible now. (FoxSports)

Charter to be a sponsor on the #16: Charter Communications announced an expansion of its NASCAR profile for the 2005 season with sponsorships in both the Nextel Cup Series and the Busch Series. Charter will once again sponsor a full Busch Series slate with the #60 Charter Ford Taurus. The Company will also serve as an associate sponsor for the #16 National Guard car in Nextel Cup Series races. Both sponsorships are in affiliation with Roush Racing, the team that's been home to the Nextel Cup Series Champion for the last two seasons. As an associate sponsor for the #16 National Guard Ford, to be driven again by Greg Biffle, Charter will have its logo prominently featured on the car and on driver and crew uniforms throughout the season. For a handful of races in key Charter markets, the #16 will feature a dedicated Charter paint scheme as Biffle looks to build on a successful 2004 campaign, in which he won two Nextel Cup Series races and became the first NASCAR driver to ever race full seasons in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series in the same year. With Biffle cutting back on his Busch Series schedule in 2005, relative newcomer Carl Edwards will drive the #60 Charter Ford Taurus. (Roush Racing PR)

Edwards to run full Cup, Busch Schedule: Roush Racing driver Carl Edwards will compete for championships in two of NASCAR's national touring series this season. In addition to a full, 36-race Nextel Cup season in owner Jack Roush's No. 99 Ford Taurus, Edwards will also run the 35-race Busch Series schedule in Roush's No. 60 Charter Communications Ford. Roush plans to announce a sponsorship program for Edwards' Cup program next week, a team spokesman said. "It means the world to me," Edwards said of the opportunity. "I remember reading about Kevin Harvick when he first moved to Cup (in 2001) and ran all the Busch races and all but one of the Cup races. (NASCAR)

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