NASCAR News Aug. 10 - Aug. 16 2005

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Aug 16, 2005

• Kyle Busch Fined and put on probation: NASCAR announced today that Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, has been fined $10,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for an infraction last week at Watkins Glen International. Busch was fined for hitting another competitor’s car after the completion of the race, a violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rule book. (NASCAR PR)

• N.Y. Senator supports NYC track only if Watkins Glen stay on NEXTEL Cup schedule:  Sen. Charles Schumer may be looking for a little NASCAR quid pro quo. At a forum in upstate Montour Falls, the Democrat talked tough about a proposed NASCAR track on Staten Island, saying he would support a track here only if the racing league promises not to mess with the schedule at the Watkins Glen International Speedway in the Finger Lakes area. "They won't get it, unless they sign in blood that the Watkins Glen track stays open and stays in the Nextel circuit," Schumer said at the Friday forum, as reported by The Corning Leader newspaper.  But Schumer's staff tried to soften that impression yesterday, with his press secretary saying Schumer's comments remained "pretty consistent" with his wait-and-see approach to the Staten Island track. Meanwhile, track supporters here said the senator's Watkins Glen condition is somewhat perplexing. "I'm surprised he would make that statement, because it's unreasonable," said Guy Molinari, the former borough president and a paid lobbyist for track developer International Speedway Corp. "I don't think [NASCAR's] prepared to say which track or tracks would be adversely affected."  (Staten Island Advance)

• NASCAR Executives head to Atlanta for HOF bid: Tourism officials revved up their engines here today, hoping to blow past the competition and land a NASCAR hall of fame that could mean millions to the area's economy. About 15 NASCAR executives were expected to meet with Atlanta leaders and hear their $92 million pitch to become the home of the stock car racing group's planned hall. Atlanta is competing with Charlotte, N.C., Kansas City, Kan., Richmond, Va., and Daytona Beach. Shortly after 9 a.m., a helicopter made several passes over the downtown site Atlanta leaders are offering for the museum. Downtown "ambassadors," in their trademark blue shorts and white pith helmets, held a giant NASCAR banner on the proposed site, owned by Ted Turner. It would neighbor Centennial Olympic Park and sit near Atlanta's new, world-class aquarium and a planned new location for the World of Coke. (Daytona News-Journal)

• Hall of Fame Racing and TI go NEXTEL Cup Racing in '06: Texas Instruments Inc. is revving up its advertising, sponsoring a NASCAR team to promote its TV technology. The company plans to announce today that it will sponsor the Hall of Fame Racing team, hoping to raise the profile of its Digital Light Processor chip among sports fans. The DLP chip produces crisp images for high-definition TV. TI hopes sports fans will start asking for TVs that contain DLP chips when they go to electronics stores.   Dallas-based TI chose a NASCAR team with big sports cachet. Hall of Fame Racing was formed by Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach and veteran racer Bill Saunders. "We have to connect to that audience that spends Saturday and Sunday with their TV on a football game or on a NASCAR race," said Doug Darrow, brand and marketing manager for DLP. "The audience for high-definition televisions tends to be people who are into sports, and the two biggest sports out there from a fan base standpoint are NASCAR and football." With the TI sponsorship, the Hall of Fame Racing team will debut in February at the Daytona 500, the first race of NASCAR's 2006 Nextel Cup Series. TI is also planning an advertising campaign for next year, and some of it will probably incorporate the racing team, Mr. Darrow said. "NASCAR is a great way for them to promote this new technology," said Mr. Aikman, who, like Mr. Staubach, is a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback turned businessman. (Dallas Morning News)

• Parade for hometown hero and champion Stewart: Usually behind the wheel, Indiana native and NASCAR star Tony Stewart was ushered through Columbus atop an antique fire truck Monday in a parade attended by thousands of adoring fans. "This just isn't a parade for me," said Stewart, addressing the crowd from the steps of City Hall. "This town has backed me and supported me. This parade is for the city of Columbus." The parade offered local residents a chance to thank the man who moved back to Columbus, one of two Indiana towns that claim him as a native, after years of living closer to his racing headquarters in North Carolina. (Indy Star)

• Julie Roberts to serve as Grand Marshall: Julie Roberts, Mercury Nashville recording artist, will sing the National Anthem prior to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series GFS Marketplace 400 on Sunday, August 21 at Michigan International Speedway. It will be the third time Roberts has visited MIS in the past year. She sang the National Anthem for the GFS Marketplace 400 in August of 2004 and performed a concert in the MIS Pit Zone during pre-race activities for the Batman Begins 400 in June. (ThatsRacin)

• Parsons to be inducted into Motorsports Racing Hall of Fame of America: Benny Parsons, an analyst for TNT and NBC, will be inducted into the Motorsports Racing Hall of Fame of America on Thursday August 18, at the State Theatre in Detroit, just five miles from where his racing career started on Six Mile and Woodward in 1960. Joining Parsons among the nine inductees are Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva, and LeMans 24-hour king Hurley Haywood. The weekend will be a busy one for Parsons, the 1973 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion and 1975 Daytona 500 winner, who will call two races on TNT; the NASCAR Busch Series Domino’s Pizza 250 on Saturday at 3 pm ET, and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series from Michigan presented by Transporter 2 on Sunday at 2:00 pm ET. (Turner Sports. PR)

• Blaney gets new Crew Chief, Scott Miler: Scott Miller will assume the crew chief duties for Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet and driver Dave Blaney effective immediately. Miller moves over to the No. 07 camp after being team manager/engineer for RCR’s No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevy and driver Kevin Harvick. He boasts two career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series wins as a crew chief, most recently in April at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway where he led Harvick to Victory Lane in Todd Berrier’s absence. The Bardstown, Ky., native also won in March of 2003 at the famed Darlington (S.C.) Raceway while calling the shots for Ricky Craven. "The performance of the Jack Daniel's team was not where we expected it to be so we decided to make this change and bring Scott Miller over from the Goodwrench team to be the crew chief for the (No.) 07 team," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "Scott brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to the Jack Daniel's team. He called the GM Goodwrench team's victory this year at Bristol when Todd was out so he knows how to win races as a crew chief at the NEXTEL Cup level. We want to give Dave Blaney the best opportunity we can and I think moving Scott in as crew chief for him is a step in the right direction." Former crew chief Philippe Lopez has been offered a position in RCR’s research and development department. Andy Street will fill Miller’s former role with the GM Goodwrench Team. (Richard Childress Racing PR)

• Souvenirs part of Busch's reasoning, and Roush might consider release: Among the reasons for Busch to leave Roush was the opportunity to earn more money from souvenir sales for the No. 2 Miller Lite car at Penske than he could at Roush, where his sponsorship is divided between Sharpie and Crown Royal. Roush said Busch told him he had a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity when he asked to be released from his contract. “And we will consider releasing him, but it’s not presumed that we will,” Roush said. “We’ve got to consider the interest of our sponsors and commitments we’ve made to our sponsors and our people within the organization to see how it all fits together. “If we decide to have Kurt drive that No. 97 car in 2006, in order to make all of our commitments, to make us have the best prospect of being successful and viable from a business point of view, then we’ll ask him to keep his commitment. Roush said it is possible the sponsors for the No. 97 could ask him to release Busch so their money doesn’t support a lame-duck driver next season “There’s a lot of things that might happen,” he said. “Right now, the presumption is (Kurt will) be in that car in 2006. That is the commitment he’s made to me and I’ve made commitments to others around that.” (The State)

Aug 15, 2005

• Erwin Wins WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award: Robby Gordon and the # 7 Jim Beam team scored one of the season's best comebacks this weekend at Watkins Glen International. After starting in 39th place, Gordon, with guidance from crew chief Greg Erwin, hustled through the glen's twists and turns to score a runner-up finish. His second-place run in the Sirius Satellite at the Glen marked his fifth top-10 in seven races at the 2.45 mile road course and his first top-10 of the 2005 season. For bringing Gordon through the pack, Erwin was voted the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. "It took everybody at Robby Gordon Motorsports working to give Robby the best car on the track this weekend to bring him from the back to the front," said Erwin after the race. "Robby showed what a great race car driver he really is coming from the back today. We had a plan we stuck to it and didn't panic. Thankfully for us, things worked out the way they did. We were able to run right there with (Tony Stewart) at the end of the race, two great road course drivers in two pretty cool road course cars." "We didn't know what kind of fuel mileage we were going to get, so our first pit stop we stayed out longer than we should have to calculate our mileage and see if we could make it to the end on one more stop. That bit us a little bit. We basically had to restart in 30th again. Robby drove through field and our fuel mileage was good enough to get us on cycle and allow us to pit with the leaders. Robby took it from there."
  The panel of voters, including a Wypall Wipers representative and Robbie Reiser, gave their vote to Erwin as the Crew Chief of the Race for his tactful comeback. Doug Richert leads the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. Alan Gustafson, Bob Osborne, Greg Zipadelli and Robbie Loomis are tied for second place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Fatback McSwain, Steve Hmiel, Jimmy Fennig, Greg Erwin and Pete Rondeau are in a tie for third place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. Fans can also vote for their choice at wypall.com. (SMC 500)

• Lazzaro not happy with Kyle Busch: Anthony Lazzaro, who like Johnny Miller was expected to do little at the Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen, completed the full 92 laps and finished 28th in the No. 37 Tequila Patron Dodge. But a post-race incident with Nextel Cup rookie Kyle Busch spoiled what had been a successful day. "The punk crashed me on the cooldown lap. It just shows me this guy never built or worked on a car," Lazzaro said of Kurt Busch's younger brother. "We don't go out and try to wreck other people's equipment." Lazzaro said the trouble may have resulted when the two made contact late in the race. Lazzaro admitted he made some mistakes, the result of not having enough spotters. He said he got into Scott Pruett and drove underneath Ken Schrader at different points of the race. (Star Gazette)

• Harvick waiting to reup with Childress: Childress could be worried that Kevin Harvick, one of his three drivers, might be next on the hit list of a rival car owner. Harvick, the winner at Bristol, is one of the biggest-name drivers who is not signed up for 2007. Harvick says his contract with Childress is up at the end of the 2006 season - the same as Busch and Jamie McMurray. Harvick says he wants to see some improvements in the Childress camp before he resumes contract renegotiations with Childress. Harvick has General Motors ties through Childress and through his own Busch and Truck programs, and those GM sponsorships are also at stake. "Richard and I have a deal and I will fulfill that, and hopefully into the future, so there's no point in talking about doing anything different, because this is what I'm doing," Harvick said. (Salem-Journal)

• Evernham would like to see "league control":  Ray Evernham doesn't like the contract talk that has been the buzz of the NASCAR Nextel Cup world the past week, with stars such as Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray committing to lucrative deals with other teams more than a year before they're finished with their current contracts. Evernham, who owns three teams, said Sunday at Watkins Glen International that the big contracts are necessitating "some kind of league control" in Nextel Cup. "I think there needs to be some kind of league control the same as there is in other sports," said Evernham. "The sport's grown, it's evolved and it's going to get out of control if you don't do something, and until that happens it's kind of dog eat dog. (Buffalo News)

Aug 14, 2005

• Tony Stewart wins at Watkins Glen: Tony Stewart won the Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen Nextel Cup race for the second consecutive year. The No.20 Home Depot Chevrolet crossed the finish line 1.927 seconds ahead of runner-up Robby Gordon. The victory was Stewart's fifth of the season, second in a row and 24th of his Cup career. Stewart becomes just the second driver (Jeff Gordon 1998, 2001) to win at the Brickyard and again the following week at Watkins Glen. Stewart led the drivers to the green flag, not only because he was the points leader after a washed out qualifying session, but because he was the fastest driver all weekend. He quickly jumped to more than a two-second lead after just two laps were completed. (Sports Network - Points - Results)

• NASCAR to mandated 8 degree camber rule: NASCAR has decided to do what many of its Nextel Cup series crew chiefs would not – alter race set-ups to reduce the chance of blown tires. Beginning next weekend at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR will mandate a maximum front-wheel camber angle of eight degrees. Camber is the degree tires are tilted in order to maximize its performance through the turns. NASCAR issued a technical bulletin to teams this weekend notifying them of the change. Aggressive chassis set-ups – including high degrees of camber and low air pressures – have been blamed for several tire problems this season, most notably at Pocono and Michigan. (ThatsRacin)

• Coo-Coo Marlin passes away at 73: Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin, one of NASCAR's early stars and father of current Nextel Cup driver Sterling Marlin, died early Sunday after a battle with lung cancer. He was 73. Marlin died in his hometown of Columbia, Tenn., said officials from Chip Ganassi Racing, which fields cars for Sterling Marlin. "Members of Chip Ganassi Racing will begin racing festivities this morning at Watkins Glen International with heavy hearts as Sterling mourns the passing of his father," the team said in a statement. NASCAR president Mike Helton informed the Cup drivers of Marlin's death at their pre-race meeting at the track. "Our hearts and prayers go out to Sterling and his family," Helton said. "It wasn't just Sterling's father. He was a pioneer (in the sport)." (USA Today)

• No interest yet in Craftsman Truck driver Reutimann: David Reutimann is one of the hottest drivers in the Craftsman Truck Series, and if he stays hot, he could soon attract attention from the Nextel Cup garage area. That hadn't happened as of last week, though. "I haven't heard from one team," the Zephyrhills native said. But Reutimann picked up his first career victory Saturday at Nashville. And in his past five races, he has a win, a second, two thirds and an 11th. He's up to fifth in the points after taking Rookie of the Year honors last year. (Tampa Tribune)

Aug 12, 2005

• 19 yr. old Reed Sorensen to NEXTEL Cup, and more:  Reed Sorenson, a 19-year-old NASCAR Busch Series driver, will run a full Nextel Cup schedule next season in a fourth team for Chip Ganassi Racing, two people with the team told The Associated Press on Thursday. A formal announcement was scheduled for today at Watkins Glen International, and the two sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Sorenson would be introduced as driver of the No. 41 Dodge. They did not want to be identified before Sorenson's official introduction. Sorenson has two Busch victories and is third in the standings, 104 points behind leader and defending series champion Martin Truex Jr. Casey Mears, meanwhile, will remain with Ganassi in a different car, the sources said. The car number has not yet been determined, but the sponsor will be mortgage lender Home123. Mears had an option in his contract for 2006 that the team picked up, removing him from the free-agent market. Ganassi's planned 2006 lineup -- Jamie McMurray, Mears, Sorenson and David Stremme -- will have two rookies, and all four drivers are under 30 years old with just one Nextel Cup win among them (McMurray in 2002).   McMurray has signed to drive the No. 6 Ford for Roush Racing in 2007 and, by announcing it so early, had hoped to get Ganassi to let him leave early. The car owner has been heavily scrutinized for refusing to do so. (Review Journal)

• Kyle Petty On CNN's "Larry King Live" Monday Night: Kyle Petty, driver of the #45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge will be a live guest on Larry King Live on CNN Monday night, August 15. Petty will be joined by Jeff Gordon and host Larry King on CNN’s most watched program at 9:00 p.m. (EDT), and will discuss NASCAR racing, as well as his work with the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride. Those were featured in Newsweek magazine a few weeks ago, as well as in national media across the country. Petty Enterprises is no stranger to national media such as Larry King Live and CNN. Kyle and his father, Richard Petty, have been interviewed numerous times by the national cable network, as well as on every national broadcast network. (The Williams Co., Of America, Inc.)

• Earnhardt, Jr. visits Redskins camp, talks about driving for Gibbs: Talk about distracted driving: Dale Earnhardt Jr. loves the Washington Redskins so much that he has the scores relayed to him during his NASCAR races. Earnhardt got a chance to see his favorite team up close Thursday, watching training camp practice as a guest of owner Dan Snyder and coach Joe Gibbs. "During the race season, I'm under caution, I'm getting stats and numbers told to me over the radio during the race," Earnhardt said. "I've got to know. I can't concentrate on what I'm doing if I don't know what the Redskins are doing. My fans tell me if I lose, it ruins their week. But if the Redskins lose, it ruins my week." On the NASCAR circuit, Gibbs and Earnhardt are rivals - Joe Gibbs Racing vs. Dale Earnhardt Inc. - but Earnhardt's worship of the Redskins is such that he's always been shy around the coach who's won three Super Bowls. "As a kid, I remember seeing a glimpse of him walking through the garage, and it was like seeing Elvis," Earnhardt said. "I didn't even have the guts to go up and speak to him. Up until 15 minutes ago, I might have said 10 words to him my whole life, so this is really a treat." Earnhardt signed autographs after practice and was invited to eat dinner with the team. He said if he ever got a chance to drive for Gibbs, he'd have to "seriously consider it."  "That'd be awesome," he said. Gibbs, though, didn't see that happening. "If I had about $100 million, I could do that - that's what he left out," Gibbs said, laughing. "He makes about $50 million a year, so if I could pop that, he might have a chance. You know you're in the wrong sport when both your drivers have Lear jets and helicopters, and I don't." (ABC 7)

• Aikman's HOF racing close to sponsorship:  Hall of Fame Racing, the new NASCAR team owned by former Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, is close to reaching a sponsorship agreement to compete in Nextel Cup next season. Bill Saunders, general manager of the team, would not reveal any details but said things are close to being finalized. "Let me put it in a football analogy," Saunders said. "We're on the one-inch line and it's first-[and]-goal, so we're feeling fairly good about this. We hope to announce something next week." (Dallas Morning News)

• Crocker to run races in Evernham #91 in '06? Evernham also would not rule out Crocker as someone to one day drive the No.91 car that will be the third Nextel Cup team in the Evernham Dodge stable in 2006. If anything, having Crocker around the shop is helping her boss be more politically correct. "I don't want to put a date in the sand and say we've got to have a driver (for the 91 car)," Evernham said. "You notice I didn't say 'guy', because with Erin now I've got to make sure I say 'driver' or she gets mad." As for which Busch races Crocker will drive toward the end of this season, an announcement is still forthcoming. The original plan was to have Crocker debut last Saturday at Indianapolis Raceway Park, but Evernham held off on that. (The Republican)

Aug 11, 2005

• Jimmie Johnson and Levi Strauss Ads:  Nextel Cup driver Jimmie Johnson will be seen in more places than atop of the leader board starting this month. The Levi Strauss Signature brand continues its national advertising campaign featuring the series' top driver. The Johnson executions are part of the brands national "From Our Family to Yours" campaign and showcase Johnson and his extended family, crew chief Chad Knaus and NASCAR journalist Marty Smith, during their off time. The executions speak to male consumers and depict the men spending time in the race shop in a candid and relaxed setting, much like NASCAR families do every day.  The ads are scheduled to begin appearing in men's general interest magazines and sports-related publications from August through October. Some publications include: Popular Science, Field & Stream, Family Handyman, The Sporting News, NASCAR Scene and NASCAR Illustrated, among others. "Since becoming partners with NASCAR and Jimmie Johnson, we have seen remarkable success and growth in awareness of the Levi Strauss Signature brand among NASCAR fans," said Scott LaPorta, president, Levi Strauss Signature brand. "This campaign shows Jimmie's personality away from the track and speaks to NASCAR fans in candid settings, reminding them of the moments they spend with their friends and family." Since 2004, the Levi Strauss Signature brand has been an official partner of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) and the exclusive apparel sponsor of Johnson. (Levi Strauss PR)

• NBC NASCAR continues on to Watkins Glen: The NASCAR Nextel Cup "Race for the Chase" continues Sunday on NBC with NASCAR Nextel Cup Racing from Watkins Glen, N.Y. The "Bank of America Countdown to Green" pre-race show begins at 1 p.m. ET, with race coverage at 1:30 p.m. ET. NASCAR on NBC coverage kicks off this weekend on Saturday with NASCAR Busch Series Racing from Watkins Glen, where NBC & TNT analyst Wally Dallenbach will get behind the wheel for the first time this season, and will talk live with play-by-play announcer Bill Weber and analyst Benny Parsons during the race. Kevin Harvick, who is currently 13th in the NASCAR Nextel Cup points standings heading into "The Glen," will serve as guest analyst on Saturday afternoon while Dallenbach hits the road.  On "Wally's World" this week, Dallenbach hosts U.S. Olympic silver medalist Todd Shays, who took home the silver in Salt Lake as part of the U.S. bobsled team. 54 Cameras & "Squash-Cam" Returns: NBC's production arsenal includes 54 cameras, including nine "In-Car Cams" to cover the road course at Watkins Glen. "Squash-Cam," used last week at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, will be taken to Watkins Glen for this Sunday's race. "Squash-Cam" is a lipstick-size camera that will be buried in the grass in the inner-loop (chicane) at Watkins Glen. The camera often shows a car moving over or extremely close to the camera lens to give the audience the feeling of being "squashed." (NBC Universal PR)

• GA. State Attorney General orders HOF plans to be open:  A week before NASCAR executives' Aug. 16 visit to inspect Atlanta as the proposed site for a Hall of Fame to honor stock car racing, Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District released the long-awaited -- and protected -- plans for the downtown attraction. The bid committee also revealed Bill Elliott, a Dawsonville, Ga., native and multiple national winner of the most popular driver award, has agreed to lead the committee in its efforts to outbid its five rival cities. Elliott will be honorary chairman of the bid team. Renderings of the proposed $100 million NASCAR Hall of Fame for downtown, including the exterior and main lobby and a high-tech video computer animated flyover of the plans, are on the official Web site, www.halloffameatlanta.com.  Atlanta boosters believe the hall would be a huge asset to downtown, adding another tourist destination to the area around Centennial Olympic Park, which will soon boast the new Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coke. "This is a high stakes venture with formidable competition. We're excited about our prospects for winning the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but we don't want to take anything for granted," said Scott Wilfong, president of SunTrust Bank Atlanta, a NASCAR sponsor, and co-chair of the bid committee, in a statement. (Much more at Atlanta Business Chronicle)

• Charlotte plans Rally for NASCAR officials visit on HOF: The NASCAR site visit task force will come to Charlotte on Wednesday, August 17 to review Charlotte’s proposal to land the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The visit is centered at the Convention Center and will include an intense proposal review with the NASCAR team and the Charlotte Hall of Fame Committee leaders, a business leadership lunch, a tour of the Center City and a press conference before the NASCAR team leaves. As part of the tour, Charlotte’s television and radio stations are providing everyone in the area a tangible way to “welcome” and show support to the visiting NASCAR officials. Ten radio and 4 TV stations will host mini-rallies at key points in the city along the route for the bus tour. Anyone wanting to show support is invited to attend one of the lunchtime rallies, wear your NASCAR Hall of Fame T-shirt (or something yellow), make a sign and line the streets to show our community’s support for the Hall of Fame. (Rally locations and more at WSCOTV)

• DEI's Menard to field car at Watkins Glen:  Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has entered Paul Menard in this weekend’s Nextel Cup Series race; the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen road course event. Menard will pilot the No. 1 Kraft/Ritz Chevrolet at Watkins Glen International. Since coming to DEI in July of 2004, the 24-year old native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin has won two Busch Pole Awards. In the last eight Busch races, he’s earned three top-fives, seven top-10s and moved from 18th to 10th in points in the No. 11 Menards Chevrolet for DEI. This will be his first Nextel Cup Series race for DEI, but not his first Cup start. “I made my first Cup start in 2003 at Watkins Glen,” said Menard, who started 43rd and finished 29th in that race. “This is every young racer’s dream to make a Cup start with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. I’m looking forward to this very much. “The No. 1 Chevrolet is where it all started on the Cup side for DEI. There have been some pretty good drivers who have been associated with this car through the years. It’s quite an honor to drive the car and have Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Michael Waltrip as teammates. “Kraft has been a big supporter of DEI through the years and I’ll proudly be wearing their logos. I can’t thank them enough for being a part of this coming weekend.” In preparation for the race, Menard went to The Glen with Tony Eury, Sr, Director of Competition for DEI, car chief B. Hoover and his Busch crew chief, Dan Stillman, to test. (DEI INC PR)

• Parade planned for Brickyard and Hometown winner Stewart:  Columbus, Indiana, plans a parade and ceremony next Monday to honor hometown hero Tony Stewart, the winner of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Stewart was born in Columbus and still has a home in the city about 40 miles south of Indianapolis. He became the first Indiana native to win a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 65 years with his victory. He also moved into the NASCAR Nextel Cup points lead. The parade is to start at seven pm Monday and travel through downtown before ending at City Hall. (WISH-TV)

• Irvan's Michigan Walk: NASCAR legend Ernie Irvan is only days away from the most important victory lap of his life - the inaugural Leadership and Awareness to Promote Safety (LAPS) Walk, set to take place next Wednesday, August 17 from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at Michigan International Speedway. Other former and current NASCAR drivers including Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Bobby Labonte, Jerry Nadeau, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons and Bobby and Donny Allison will join Irvan and the hundreds of supporters who have registered to walk alongside them on the track at MIS. Created as a partnership between the Brain Injury Association of Michigan and Irvan's non-profit organization, Race2Safety, the LAPS Walk aims to raise money for and awareness of brain injury and to bring traumatic brain injury to the forefront of consciousness in the minds of Americans. Irvan suffered two traumatic brain injuries at MIS during his racing career, the second of which prompted his early retirement. "Having this inaugural event at MIS is a testimony to those living with brain injuries," said Irvan. "I am truly appreciative of the support everyone has shown - especially those who have registered to walk and the sponsors who have joined me in this mission." Lifetime Products, Inc. will be the presenting sponsor of the 2005 LAPS Walk, and joins such companies as Nextel Communications, Domino's, Autoliv, Belle Tire, the Automotive Occupant Restraints Council, Holiday Inn of Jackson, Kroger, Wheelchair Getaways, Michigan Transportation Services, Inc., and Better Made Potato Chips in supporting the cause. In a display of additional support, Lifetime Products, will donate $1 dollar to the cause in the name of each individual who visits their website, www.tailgateofalifetime.com, and registers their name. Hundreds of walkers have already registered for this event and early registration is available by calling 1-888-LAP-4-R2S (527-4727) or on line at www.lapswalk.org until 11:00 PM EST Sunday, August 14, 2005. On-site registration will take place at MIS on Wednesday, August 17 from 7:30 am to 10:45 am. (MIS PR)

• Pruett and Stewart doing Triple duty at the Glen:  NASCAR Nextel Cup points leader Tony Stewart and longtime road racing star Scott Pruett are going to have the busiest weekends of anyone at Watkins Glen International. Stewart, coming off an emotional victory in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, and Pruett, second in the Rolex Sports Car Series, planned to race Friday on that circuit, Saturday in the NASCAR Busch Series event and Sunday in the Nextel Cup contest on the road course. Stewart is the defending Cup champion at Watkins Glen and has won two of the last three races there. Pruett won the Rolex race from the pole last year at the Glen. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Jeff Gordon on Larry King Live: Jeff Gordon, four-time NASCAR Series champion and driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, is scheduled to make his fourth appearance on “Larry King Live” on Monday, August 15. “Larry King Live,” CNN’s highest-rated program, airs from 9 - 10 p.m. ET every night and is broadcast in more than 212 countries and territories worldwide.

• Waltrip to Gibbs in #11? Sources close to Michael Waltrip say he is in the running to take a full-time ride with Joe Gibbs, after the departure of Jason Leffler. Gibbs may move the FedEx sponsorship from his new third team to Bobby Labonte's team next season, and that would open up a quarterpanel for NAPA, Waltrip's long-time sponsor at DEI. (Salem-Journal)

• Brian France to Meet with DFW Media: NASCAR chairman/CEO Brian France will attend a "power lunch" with area media at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on Aug. 19. (Star-Telegram)

• NEXTEL Cup drivers raise money:  It's not often that five NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers visit Hartford, Pa., but that's exactly what will happen Saturday as Dave Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Petty and Ken Schrader donate their time to help Sharon Speedway raise money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Sharon Speedway officials are hoping to raise more than last year's $40,000 for the camp founded in Randleman, N.C., by Kyle and Pattie Petty for seriously ill children and their families. This is the third year the Hartford track has joined with its fans in raising money for Victory Junction, which is in its second summer of hosting campers. "Our fans have opened their hearts and demonstrated their generosity time and again," said Blaney, Sharon Speedway co-owner. "We've kept the ticket prices low for this event in hopes of packing the grandstands and showing our support for Kyle and Pattie and the great things they do with the camp. We're looking forward to being able to send them a big check again this year.'' During "For the Love of Victory Junction," NASCAR Night at Sharon Speedway, Blaney, Harvick, Kenseth, Petty and Schrader will sign autographs and participate in a fan interaction session in the infield. The autograph session will begin at 6 and last for two hours. The session will be limited the 500 fans who have purchased an autograph ticket for $10 (all proceeds go to the Victory Junction Gang Camp).  These advance tickets are sold out. An additional 100 tickets will be sold at the gate on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans must have an entrance ticket in hand to purchase an autograph ticket, and only one autograph ticket per seat may be purchased. Fans purchasing an autograph ticket may bring one outside item to have autographed by one of the drivers. Fans also will receive a driver card and autograph from the other four drivers. Fans will be called to the autograph session by the track's announcer according to the number on their autograph ticket. Following the autograph, session all fans will be invited to join the drivers in the infield for a fan interaction session. The drivers will answer questions from the track's announcer as well as some questions from the fans. Ten lucky fans will win the chance to go on stage to receive a special autographed item from one of the drivers and have their picture taken. In addition to the items presented on stage, more than 90 other racing-related items will be raffled off throughout the evening with all proceeds benefiting Victory Junction. Giveaways will include merchandise autographed by Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton and Tony Stewart; sheet metal from the No. 07, No. 31 and No. 29 Richard Childress Racing cars; and tickets to Lowe's Motor Speedway, Eldora's Old Spice Sizzler and Michigan International Speedway. Advance tickets are $14 for adults (14 and older), $8 for kids ages 6-13 and free for kids 5 and under. Advance tickets are available by calling the speedway ticket office at 330-772-1186 or online at www.sharonspeedway.com. Advance tickets must be purchased by 5 on Friday for phone orders and by midnight on Friday for Internet orders.  Tickets purchased at the gate the day of the event are $16 for adults, $8 for kids ages 6-13 and free for children 5 and younger. Pit passes are $22 (must be 14 or older). Gates open at 4 with racing at 6. (Sharon Speedway PR)

Aug 10, 2005

• Ford 400 Season Finale Sold Out! The Ford 400, the season-finale for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series to be held Sunday, November 20, has officially sold out, Homestead-Miami Speedway President Curtis Gray announced today. Great seats remain available for the remainder of Ford Championship Weekend, including the season-finales for the NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series as well as qualifying and practice sessions for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Ford Championship Weekend features the championship-finales for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series to be held in prime-time, under the new lights at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The sold-out Ford 400 on Sunday, November 20 is the season-finale for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup featuring a ten-race, ten-driver shootout for the series championship culminating at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Although the Ford 400 is sold out, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets to the Ford 200 and Ford 300 before it's too late. "Ford Championship Weekend has established itself as the toughest annual sports ticket to obtain in South Florida," said Gray. "While Sunday's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Ford 400 is sold out, fans still have the opportunity to see the stars of the NEXTEL Cup Series and witness NASCAR championship racing for the first time under the lights by purchasing race tickets to the Friday and Saturday events. There's nothing like a NASCAR race under the lights and there's nothing like a major event at night in South Florida. Don't miss your chance to be a part of Ford Championship Weekend and see the debut of prime-time racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway." Fans can still order tickets to the Ford 300 and Ford 200 race days by calling (305) 230-RACE or (866) 409-RACE or on-line at the Speedway's official web site - www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com (Homestead-Miami Speedway PR)

• Kurt Busch Releases Statement: “I met with Jack Roush personally Tuesday morning to let him know that I am committed to Roush Racing and the #97 team as we attempt to defend our Nextel Cup Championship this season and through the remainder of my contract, but that I have signed a multi-year agreement to drive the Penske Racing South #2 car beginning in 2007. We did briefly address, solely as a matter of timing, the possibility of a release from my 2006 contract with Roush Racing, but that is Jack’s decision. There are a lot of factors involved in a release and no immediate decision was made. All of this, however, is in the future. For as long as I am in the #97 car, my total focus and commitment will be to Roush Racing, its sponsors and on our collective goal to win another Nextel Cup Championship. I look forward to success this weekend at Watkins Glen and hopefully solidifying our position in the 2005 Chase for the Cup.” (Kurt Busch Inc.)

• NASCAR NEXTEL Cup testing at Texas: Several NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams are scheduled to test at Texas Motor Speedway in preparation for the inaugural Dickies 500, the eighth race in the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup. Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) will be the first as he is scheduled for a two-day test Monday, Sept. 6 and Tuesday, Sept. 7. Just prior to the Dickies 500, four Nextel Cup Series drivers will look to get an edge on the field for the Dickies 500 and quite possibly those in the Chase. Elliott Sadler (No. 38 M&M’s Ford) and Terry Labonte (No. 44 ditech.com Chevrolet) are scheduled to test Oct. 24-25, and defending series champion Kurt Busch (No. 97 IRWIN/Crown Royal Ford) and Mark Martin (No. 6 Viagra Ford) will test on Oct. 25-26. Johnson (2nd), Busch (5th), and Martin (6th) are among the Chase leaders. (Texas Motor Speedway)

• Gordon, Tracy, and Jarrett among drivers testing at MIS

• Dominos extends NASCAR Sponsorship: Domino's Pizza, the recognized world leader in pizza delivery and the Official Pizza of NASCAR, today announced it will extend its partnership with the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). "We continue to be a proud sponsor of NASCAR, and feel our brand has been enhanced by this partnership," says David A. Brandon, chairman and CEO of Domino's Pizza. "As the number one choice for pizza among NASCAR fans, we feel we have been rewarded for our connection to this exciting sport." By focusing its marketing and advertising efforts on promoting Race Day is Domino's Pizza Day, Domino's has increased sales consistently across the country on race days by promoting the Race Day 555 Deal. When NASCAR fans are preparing to watch a race, ordering pizza from Domino's is becoming part of their race day ritual. "Domino's is a brand category leader and we are always looking for ways to reach our consumers, just as NASCAR is always looking for ways to reach its fans," said Brandon. "Our research tells us that NASCAR fans are 6 times as likely to order Domino's because we are its Official Pizza." (Domino's Pizza PR)

• NBC Brickyard ratings increase over last year, and nearly 70% over 5 yrs.: NBC Sports' coverage of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard earned a 6.2 rating and 15 share on Sunday, matching the second highest rating in the history of the event, with more than 19 million people tuning in to all or part of the broadcast. The 6.2/15 is a 2% increase over the rating for last year's race (6.1/15) and a three% increase over 2003 (6.0/15). NBC's coverage of the race in 2002 set the record high for the event (6.3/16); NBC's 2001 broadcast also earned a 6.2. In the five years that NBC has broadcast the Brickyard, the rating has grown 68% (6.2/15 vs. 3.7/12 on ABC in 2000). The NBC/TNT four-race, season-to-date average national rating, excluding the Pepsi 400, which alternates yearly between NBC and FOX, stands at a 5.3, up 56% over 2000 (3.4), the last year before NBC/TNT began exclusively broadcasting the second half of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season. The 5.3 season-to-date average is up 8% over last year's 4.9 for the same four races, and up 15% over 2003 (4.6) (the comparison to 2000 excludes NBC's coverage of Nextel Cup Racing from Chicagoland Speedway, which began hosting NASCAR events in 2001). Sunday's rating peaked at a 7.9 between 6-6:15pm/et as hometown hero Tony Stewart took the checkered flag for the first time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The top-rated markets for NBC's coverage of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard are as follows: 1) Indianapolis, 19.4; 2) Greensboro, 14.0; 3) Knoxville, 13.6; 4) Greenville, 12.8; 5) Charlotte, 12.0; 6) Jacksonville, 11.9; 7) Nashville, 11.4; 8) Louisville, 10.9; 9) Atlanta, 10.5; 10) Dayton, 9.7.(NBC PR)

• Daytona Unveil HOF plans to NASCAR officials on stop: Business leaders tried to dazzle NASCAR officials Tuesday with a plan to build a hall of fame -- complete with a thrill ride -- to both honor the second-most popular sport in the nation and entertain its fans. Construction of the 80,000-square-foot hall, including a 90-foot tower filled with stock cars would be beside Daytona USA, and include demolition of an existing administration building. Fans could visit both attractions for one ticket -- price yet to be determined. "We wowed them," said Kathy Milthorpe, senior vice president of the Ladies Professional Golf Association and a member of the presentation team. George Pyne, NASCAR chief operating officer, said Daytona Beach has a good chance in the competition with Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Richmond, Va. "These people have a vision for what a hall of fame should be," Pyne said. That vision includes a thrill ride modeled after Daytona International Speedway with six cars to give fans the experience of racing. Pyne said the potential long-term operating success would be an important factor in NASCAR's choice of a site. Local organizers stressed the strong Central Florida tourism market with 50 million visitors a year. (More at Daytona News Journal)

• Busch at Wrigley Field: Reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch is stirring things up, looking to change teams and taking a few shots at rival Jeff Gordon while at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. Penske Racing is planning for Busch to replace the retiring Rusty Wallace next year but doesn't yet have Busch contractually until 2007. Busch sported an equally terse message to Gordon on his shirt Tuesday while at Wrigley to throw out the first pitch and sing during the seventh-inning stretch. Taking a shot at Gordon's butchering of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during his appearance May 24, Busch had a friend make a shirt that read, "REAL CUBS FAN (I know the words)." "I fell off my chair" at hearing Gordon's version, Busch told Cubs broadcasters Bob Brenly and Len Kasper. He said Gordon, who is 14th in the point standings, is still cursed but has offered to loan him a couple of goats from his farm. (Chicago Tribune)

• Penske Racing South Signs Kurt Busch: Penske Racing South announced today that it has signed Kurt Busch, 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion, to a multi-year contract to drive for the team beginning with the 2007 season. (Penske Racing South PR)

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