NASCAR News Aug. 29 - Sept. 4 2005

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Sep. 4, 2005

• Yeley and FedEx raise money for Boys and Girls Club: FedEx Corporation hosted a special "racing camp" at the Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles Harbor on Thursday to share the NASCAR racing experience with area youth. While there, FedEx presented the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Clubs with a $25,000 contribution to advance the non-profit organization's on-going mission to inspire and empower young people in the Los Angeles area.  "FedEx actively supports the fabric of the local community where we live and work," said Tom Suchevits, vice president of Human Resources at FedEx Freight in Los Angeles. "We're committed to Los Angeles and hope that our support for the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Clubs will provide more opportunities for the city's young people." At the event, more than 100 young fans saw the FedEx No. 11 Chevrolet up close and met NASCAR driver, J. J. Yeley. In addition, the children were able to challenge Yeley to radio-controlled car races. FedEx and its nearly 5,300 Los Angeles employees, contractors and team members have a long heritage of support for charitable causes in the local community. Last December, FedEx teamed up with the California Highway Patrol to collect and deliver toys for disadvantaged Los Angeles youth during the annual holiday CHiPS for KIDS toy drive. (JGR PR)

• Rudd to race today: Jon Wood, the son of Wood Brothers co-owner Eddie Wood, qualified 39th while filling in for Ricky Rudd, whose father died Tuesday. Rudd was expected to arrive in California later Saturday and will race today, starting from the rear of the 43-car field because of the driver change. (News Observer)

• Marlin close to signing with MB2: Sterling Marlin is close to signing with MB2 Motorsports for next year, a team source confirmed. He would drive what is currently the No. 10 car (the number will change) as a teammate of Lakeland's Joe Nemechek. Marlin, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, is down to his final 12 races in Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 40 Dodge, which will be driven by David Stremme next year. (Tampa Bay Tribune)

• Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Up: Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure  announced today that the company sold more adventure packages this last month than in any other month of their history, excluding the holidays. "We realized almost a 50% increase in August gross revenue over the same period last year. That is the fifth month in a row that sales have increased and a great indicator of our continued growth," said company President Tim Shannon. In the last month and a half the school has completed successful programs at the Milwaukee Mile, the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Kansas Speedway, the Texas Motor Speedway and the Kentucky Speedway. The complete 2006 schedule will be released within the next couple of months and should include California, Phoenix, Kansas and Chicagoland as well as the tracks mentioned above. The Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure features the opportunity to race actual NASCAR Nextel Cup racecars. The company books various dates during the year at NASCAR tracks and customers purchase laps ranging from a 3-lap ride to an 80-lap drive. Students can achieve speeds of up to 165 mph at the Superspeedways and are allowed to pass and draft with other students. An instructional session is used to acquaint the student with the racecar, safety precautions and the proper groove of the racetrack. DJRT was started in 1998 and is backed by the Jarrett brothers (Dale and Glenn) as well as their Father, Ned, Dale's son, Jason and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. More information is available on the Racing Adventure by visiting www.racingadventure.com. (DJRA PR)

Sep. 3, 2005

• Edwards wins the pole: Carl Edwards led a Roush Racing sweep of the top four spots in Saturday's qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at California Speedway. It was the first career pole for Edwards, one of six drivers competing for the final three spots in the Chase for the championship."I'm not the greatest qualifier and I'm learning a lot," said Edwards, who has won two races in his first full season in Cup racing. "I'm really excited to get to start up front in a race that we really need to run well in." The 26-year-old Edwards, driving in only his 38th race in NASCAR's top series, turned a lap of 185.061 mph Saturday to beat out Mark Martin's 184.833 for the top spot in Sunday's Sony HD 500. They were followed by the Roush Fords of Kurt Busch at 184.403 and Greg Biffle at 184.370. The fifth Roush entry, Matt Kenseth, coming off his first win of the year last week in Bristol, qualified 23rd. (USA Today)

• Illegal parts at California: Parts confiscated this weekend by NASCAR inspectors were an unapproved rear gear ratio and side window from the No. 37 Dodge driven by Tony Raines; and unapproved side windows from the No. 22 Dodge of Scott Wimmer and No. 32 Chevrolet of Hamilton Jr.

• Teams donating to Hurricane victims: Several of NASCAR's drivers and teams have set up programs and funds for contributions to the relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Jimmie Johnson and sponsor Lowe's will donate $480 dollars to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts for each of the 250 laps Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet completes on Sunday at California Speedway. In addition, Lowe's will donate $4,800 and Johnson and his wife Chandra will donate $48,000, regardless of the race outcome. Robby Gordon Motorsports will donate $7 for each lap his No. 7 Chevrolet completes for the remainder of the 2005 Cup season to the Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund, which sponsor Harrah's Entertainment established to assist its employees experiencing the after-affects of the tragedy. If Gordon completes all of the remaining 3,877 laps in the final 12 races, the team will donate more than $25,000 to the fund. Additionally, the team will donate 10 percent to the fund from its merchandise sales for the rest of the season. Penske Racing South also has started a hurricane relief fund within its headquarters in Mooresville, N.C. The team will gather monetary donations throughout the next two weeks with all proceeds being sent to the American Red Cross. (Detroit News)

• J. Gordon holds 5th annual go-kart challenge: The Hendrick Marrow Program of The Marrow Foundation is proud to partner with The Jeff Gordon Foundation to host the Fifth Annual Time Warner Cable Jeff Gordon Go-Kart Challenge and "An Evening with Jeff Gordon" Dinner. These benefit events will be held on Wednesday, October 12, in Charlotte, N.C. "Special events are an important part of raising funds for the Foundation," said Gordon. "I wanted to do an event that was different than the usual golf tournament or gala. The go-kart challenge is the perfect format as it allows me to have fun doing what I love and raise money for important cause." At the Time Warner Cable Jeff Gordon Go-Kart Challenge, corporate sponsors will have the opportunity to race alongside Gordon on a 1/3 mile road course at Victory Lane Indoor Karting located in Charlotte. Following the Go-Kart Challenge, Gordon will host an intimate dinner event at The Westin in uptown Charlotte, also sponsored by Time Warner Cable. "An Evening with Jeff Gordon" will feature the first-time meeting of a marrow donor and his transplant recipient. To learn more about how you can be involved in the Jeff Gordon Go-Kart Challenge or "An Evening with Jeff Gordon" please log on to www.jeffgordonfoundation.org or call (704) 455-7424. (JG Foundation PR)

• Marlin to MB2 Motorsports? Sterling Marlin appears headed to MB2 Motorsports next season as a teammate of Joe Nemechek, although the veteran racer from Columbia said yesterday the deal is not finalized. "It's a good team with a good engine program," Marlin said. "Joe has won with it." Marlin is expected to take over the team's No. 10 Chevrolet currently driven by Scott Riggs. Riggs will move to Evernham Motorsports next year. "We're still talking," Marlin said of MB2. "We should know something soon." MB2 Motorsports is based in Concord, N.C., and is co-owned by Chattanooga resident Nelson Bowers. In a unique arrangement, Valvoline not only sponsors the car but also is a co-owner. (The Tennessean)

• Richmond announces 2006 dates:  Richmond International Raceway President Doug Fritz today announced today the track’s exciting race lineup for 2006. The season begins with a doubleheader that includes a NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday, May 5 and a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday, May 6. The IRL IndyCar Series returns for its sixth annual visit for the SunTrust Indy Challenge on Saturday, June 24. Also part of that all open-wheel weekend will be a USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series race on Friday, June 23 and a USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Series race on Saturday prior to the SunTrust Indy Challenge. The season concludes with a new look for the track’s September weekend. The schedule will mirror the track’s May schedule of events, as the NASCAR Busch Series will race on Friday, September 8 and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will conclude the season schedule on Saturday, September 9. The track will not host a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 2006, as the traditional Thursday night event will move to Saturday, October 7 at Talladega Superspeedway-also part of International Speedway Corporation’s portfolio of tracks. The inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway will be part of tripleheader weekend at that track, including NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and ARCA races. (RIR PR)

• New Charger nose: Dodge teams have struggled with downforce-to-drag balance on the new Charger all year, but a new nose for 2006 could correct the problem. The design for the new nose has been submitted to NASCAR, and approval could come within the next couple of weeks, Dodge director of motorsports John Fernandez said Friday. Dodge has three drivers ranked in the top 10 (Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield and Ryan Newman) but has won only two of 24 races this year. Teams have complained that the current nose isn't very good aerodynamically and that the cross-haired grille collects debris and causes engine overheating. Fernandez said the Dodge nose is actually no worse at collecting debris than the Ford or Chevy nose, but that the aero issue is legitimate and has been addressed in the redesign. (Tampa Bay Tribune)

Sep. 2, 2005

• Wood to qualify #21:  Jon Wood has always dreamed of driving the No. 21 Wood Brothers' Ford, but not under these conditions. With last Tuesday's passing of Ricky Rudd's father, Al, Wood is standing by to practice and perhaps qualify the No. 21 Ford at California Speedway this weekend if Rudd is delayed. "It's been my ultimate goal to drive the 21 and I think my family feels the same," says Wood, 23, who currently drives the No. 47 ST Motorsports Ford in the Busch Series. "But I would prefer every other circumstance and situation that I can think of for that to happen under other than the way it's happening now. "I don't look at it as an opportunity, I look at it as a substitution. It's very unfortunate to have a death in anyone's family and for it to be the driver is a bad thing altogether. It's an honor that my family would ask me to do this, but it doesn't feel great at all." (SportingNews)

• California Speedway to collect donations:   California Speedway and San Bernardino County Fire are teaming up to raise money during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at the speedway this weekend to benefit the American Red Cross relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This "Race for Relief" effort will replace the "Fill the Boot" drive which was originally scheduled for this weekend to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. California Speedway and San Bernardino County Fire have agreed to move the "Fill the Boot" drive to the February NASCAR race weekend at California Speedway in 2006. Donations of cash or check can be made at the following Gate Entrances at California Speedway: Gates 10, 12, 14 and 16. Firefighters from throughout San Bernardino County, along with the Inland Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross volunteers, will be collecting at the gates. For additional information, please contact the Inland Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross at 909-986-6651. (California Speedway PR)

• Talladega leads effort at ISC tracks for Hurricane Katrina: Led by a call to action to all International Speedway Corporation sister tracks by Talladega Superspeedway, millions of residents affected by the rampage of Hurricane Katrina in its home state of Alabama, as well nearby Mississippi and Louisiana will benefit from a company-wide hurricane relief program announced today by TSS President Grant Lynch. "Many of our race fans in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were affected by the horrible devastation of Hurricane Katrina," said Lynch, who also serves as a Vice President at ISC. "Talladega Superspeedway, as well as other International Speedway Corporation facilities across the nation are committed to helping get residents affected by the storm back on their feet." Beginning at Richmond International Raceway and its Chevy Rock & Roll 400 weekend (Sept. 8-10), ISC-owned tracks will begin facilitating the collection of monetary donations from race fans to the Red Cross in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Other ISC event weekends where fans can donate to the relief fund include:
  • Talladedga Superspeedway: Oct. 1st weekend
  • Kansas Speedway: Oct. 7th weekend
  • Martinsville Speedway: Oct. 21st weekend
  • Phoenix: Nov. 11th weekend
  • Homestead-Miami: Nov. 18th weekend
  
  Race fans not attending any of these events may still support Talladega Superspeedway's call to action by contacting your local Red Cross office and designating donations "Talladega Superspeedway" in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. ISC's corporate office located in Daytona Beach, Fla., has committed $1 million in funding and services to jump start the initiative. Funding and services include monetary donations and clothing from ISC's merchandising subsidiary Americrown. In addition to supporting Talladega's call for contributions, ISC facilities are working with local Red Cross officials to identify other means of support for Katrina Hurricane relief efforts. Michigan International Speedway President Brett Shelton, who has lived in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, has been tapped to lead the company-wide effort. (ISC PR)

• Biffle is happy at Roush:  Greg Biffle, Jack Roush's big winner this season, is happy to have a new contract signed and his future set. "I like job security, and if we don't run well next year, I know I'm not going to be looking for a job," Biffle said. "They've compensated me at a fair amount, what I felt was fair. It's not the best I could have got, for sure, but they were reasonable and that's what I asked them to be." While driver contracts are top-secret and compensation is frequently complicated, Biffle is believed to have signed for $3.5 million a year. Teammate Kurt Busch is believed to have signed with Roger Penske for between $4 million and $6 million a year, depending on bonuses and souvenir sales. (Salem-Journal)

• Bourdais hasn't ruled out NASCAR: Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais, on his way to a second consecutive Champ Car title, doesn't rule out a move to NASCAR in the future. "Before I say it is my dream to race in NASCAR, I need to see if I am good first," Bourdais said on a conference call Tuesday. "I'm not closing the door on it. I have a good time in the [IROC] stock cars. Maybe somebody will give me a chance to test and see if I'm good." Bourdais, 26, won the IROC event at Texas Motor Speedway in April, proving his skills against top NASCAR drivers on an oval track. He gets a short-track test Thursday night in the IROC race at Richmond. (Dallas Morning News)

Sep. 1, 2005

• NASCAR announces alliance with Red Cross: NASCAR announced today it has aligned its industry with the American Red Cross to support in every way possible charitable efforts in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. “One of the special qualities of the NASCAR industry is helping others in times of need,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “NASCAR is working to rally our drivers, teams, tracks, partners, and most importantly, our fans to this common cause. “This tragedy has impacted millions of Americans, many of whom are NASCAR fans themselves, and we have reached out to the American Red Cross to do everything we can to provide relief. “Like all Americans, our hearts ache as we realize the devastating impact this storm has had. We know NASCAR fans are anxious to help. “Our alliance with the American Red Cross gives those fans, and our entire industry, an opportunity to band together in this common cause.” NASCAR, with the cooperation of its partner, Turner Sports Interactive, will establish a designated web page at www.NASCAR.com to coordinate NASCAR fan support of the relief efforts. Additional information and details will be forthcoming. (NASCAR PR)

• Ricky Rudd's father passes away: Al Rudd Sr., father of Wood Brothers Racing driver Ricky Rudd, passed away late Tuesday following a lengthy illness, the team confirmed. Al Rudd, a former racer, was instrumental in Ricky's career, fielding early entries in NASCAR competition with a family-sponsored team under the Al Rudd Auto Parts banner. Al Rudd also supported Ricky's kart and enduro racing. There will be a private funeral service. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice. (Motorcraft Racing PR/Campbell & Co.)

• Kenseth to lose spotter: As Matt Kenseth's spotter for the last six years, Mike Calinoff has experienced the highs and lows of NASCAR's top series. Certainly, Saturday night was the latest of milestones since he guided Matt to rookie-of-the-year honors in 2000. He was the "eyes in the sky" for the No. 17 Dewalt Ford when Matt delivered Jack Roush's long-awaited first title. But he's also witnessed the frustrations of maintaining a championship caliber team over the long haul. Still, Calinoff is blessed. Kenseth is a pure racer. He understands cars inside and out, unlike some of the latest hotshoes who wouldn't know the difference between camber and caster. Kenseth's relationship with crew chief Robbie Reiser is one of the strongest in the garage. And Reiser has become a good friend to Calinoff, as well. So why would Calinoff ever considering abandoning a team that has enjoyed such success? The answer is simple: the challenge of working with another rookie and the cha-ching that will accompany the venture. (SportingNews)

• Penske Racing South to honor Hurricane victims: Penske Racing South, including drivers Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman, and Travis Kvapil, will display its support for those affected by Hurricane Katrina this weekend at California Speedway. The team's three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series entries will each carry a decal on the driver's side B-post in support of those in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida who are suffering from the damage of the Category 4 hurricane that hit the Gulf region earlier this week. The decal will be on the three cars for this weekend's SONY HD 500 at California Speedway, as well as next Saturday's NNCS race at Richmond International Raceway. The team's ARCA entry also will display the decal next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. "We, as a team, have decided that it's time to give back some of the support that's been given to us," Penske Racing South President Don Miller said. "We know we have fans down there who are hurting right now. Anything we can do to help, we need to do." Several members of the Penske Racing South family have been directly affected by the hurricane's wrath. Family members have been displaced with no immediate hope of recovery or closure. (Penske Racing South)

• LVMS collecting money for hurricane victims: Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be collecting money throughout the month of September to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina, speedway officials announced Wednesday. Speedway personnel and competitors will collect funds at every LVMS event. The money will be turned over to the Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross. The money then will be sent to Red Cross chapters in the Gulf Coast region. "Our hearts go out to all of those people who have been affected by the storm," said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. "It seems that with every news report that comes in there is another heartbreaking story. We want to do our part to assist in the relief efforts, and we hope that we are just one of thousands of organizations that will help in the relief effort." The Red Cross has asked for monetary donations instead of clothing or canned goods due to the cost of transporting the material cross country. Over the next three weeks, collections will be taken at the gates at both the Bullring and the Strip. In addition, racers will come through the stands at each event and take collections prior to the start of racing action. Plans still are being finalized between the speedway and the Red Cross to arrange for the collection of donations during the Las Vegas Double Down featuring the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Champ Car World Series on Sept. 24. (LVMS PR)

• NASCAR 2006 hits store shelves: Electronic Arts announced today that the latest version of its EA SPORTS(TM) branded NASCAR(R) videogame, NASCAR(R) 06: Total Team Control, has shipped and is available at retail stores. With new squad-based racing controls, players can communicate with teammates through the crew chief and spotter, working together to bring home top 5 finishes for the whole team. NASCAR 06: Total Team Control challenges gamers to build a multi-year dynasty with the first-ever Squad-Based Racing experience. Players are able to radio to teammates for assistance, while managing on-track partnerships, or take the wheel of a teammate's car in the middle of a race to fend off rivals by utilizing the new car swap feature. With all-new game controls, and using real-time voice commands, players can communicate with the crew chief, spotters, and on-track allies to help punch through the pack. When racing without a headset, enjoy easy to use controls and communication by selecting commands with the controller's right analog stick. Players are able to upgrade pit-crews, vehicle attributes, and overall team management and attempt to outperform real-world NASCAR teams or even buy a top NASCAR team like Hendrick Motorsports. Earn the title of Teammate, Champion, and Hero in NASCAR 06: Total Team Control. NASCAR 06: Total Team Control is produced by EA Tiburon for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft. The game has an MSRP of $49.99 and is rated "E" for (Everyone) by the ESRB. The game's official website is www.totalteamcontrol.com. (EA Sports PR)

• NASCAR makes former NYC 2012 hire: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today the hiring of Lazaro “Laz” Benitez Manager of East Regional Media Outreach. Benitez will be based in NASCAR’s New York City office and will be responsible for communications planning and managing all media outreach efforts to raise awareness about NASCAR in the Northeast. “Laz is another strong addition to our team,” said NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter. “He gives NASCAR a fulltime presence in the nation’s largest media market who will work closely with sports media, the tracks, sponsors and partners across the Northeast.” Prior to his position with NASCAR, Benitez was a manager in the communications and marketing department at NYC2012, the committee that led New York City’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. A lifelong New Yorker, Lazaro received a B.A. from Bernard M. Baruch College in Manhattan and is a volunteer with the Inner-City Scholarship Fund, where he speaks to area high school students about career-related issues, ranging from resumé guidance to overall interview presentation. (NASCAR PR)

• Yeley visits boys and girls club: J.J. Yeley and Fed Ex Racing will visit Los Angeles Boy and Girls Club on Thursday, Sept, 1. FedEx is hosting a special “racing camp” at the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Clubs to share the NASCAR racing experience with area youth. While there, FedEx will present the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Clubs (LABGC) with a $25,000 contribution to advance the non-profit organization’s on-going mission to inspire and empower young people in the Los Angeles area.  During the event, more than 100 participating youth will have the opportunity to meet NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley, see the FedEx # 11 Chevrolet up-close and race radio-controlled cars against Yeley. (JGR PR)

• Earnhardt Jr. in a chase with local Texas PD:  NASCAR NEXTEL Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr. was chased by two police cars Wednesday - and when the chase ended he got a pack on the back and a handshake from the officers instead of a ticket. Earnhardt Jr. participated in a pursuit training exercise with the Roanoke Police Department on the Texas Motor Speedway infield road course. Earnhardt Jr., wheeling a silver 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, was the chase subject as Roanoke's finest were in hot pursuit in fully loaded squad cars with the sirens blaring and lights flashing. Roanoke Lt. Robert Crawford, Officer James Johnson and Traffic Officer Gary Stroud joined Earnhardt Jr. during the simulation with Lt. Crawford and Officer Johnson driving the squad cars. Traffic Officer Stroud helped end the pursuit by pulling his vehicle across the road course to block Earnhardt Jr.'s path as well as throw down a "spike" strip to simulate an actual highway situation. Earnhardt Jr. admitted that this was the first time he has been involved in a police "chase." "I have had them pull some lights on me, but I always pull over and the cut the job short for them," Earnhardt Jr. joked. "This was a lot of fun. The officers were really excited about it and I had a lot of fun with it. I think they learned some things they can use on the streets every day. It was an experience for them. I had a lot more power, but those guys definitely cornered with me. I am sure if we were on a highway or interstate, they would have been more crafty cutting corners and keeping me in sight." (TMS)

Aug 31, 2005

• Business leaders are waiting on more NASCAR track details: Despite limited details, at least one Kitsap County businessman already is sold on International Speedway Corp.'s proposal to locate an 80,000-seat speedway near Bremerton National Airport. "This is damn good for Kitsap County, and we need to make this happen," said Rick Flaherty, president of Leader International, who hosted a luncheon Tuesday at the Red Lion Hotel Silverdale focusing on possible economic impacts of a NASCAR racetrack.  Flaherty touted the new business growth and development the proposed $250 million project could attract locally. However, many of the 200 business leaders in attendance weren't as enthusiastic. Most said they came to learn more about what the specific economic impacts might be. They'll have to wait a little while longer — specifically, about a month. ISC Vice President Grant Lynch said an economic impact study expected to be available in mid-August was delayed because more work was needed. Now, the study is expected to be released by the end of September. (Kitsap Sun)

• NASCAR teams feeling the affects of high prices: Those prices will be felt strongly this week as NASCAR's Nextel Cup and Busch Series teams make the long trek from their home bases in North Carolina to Fontana, Calif., for this weekend's races. "The gas hike has affected us for sure, and not in just the ways you might think," said Jerry Freeze, general manager of Petty Enterprises. "It has really been a big deal across the board. Of course, moving the race cars with our transporters has seen the most direct hit. We are spending a lot more than what we had to at the beginning of the year, or even last season. "We also are seeing it in our aircraft. Our charter company, because we charter our team planes, has given us an extra charge directly due to the raise in fuel costs. That has been a big deal. We still need to fly our guys to the tracks. We then have to fly our over-the-wall guys on race day, too."  And that's not all. "We are in a competitive business," Freeze said. "We go up to Michigan for wind tunnel time, and we are doing a lot of hauling going to and from test sessions. There are a lot of logistics that go into having a competitive race team, and the use of fuel becomes a big factor. (Union Tribune)

• RCR cars to test at Milwaukee: Dave Blaney and the #07 Team and Jeff Burton and #31 team are scheduled to test at The Milwaukee Mile on Wednesday, August 31 in preparation for the upcoming Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. (RCR PR) Harvick tested Monday at Milwaukee: Harvick and the No. 29 team tested at The Milwaukee Mile on Monday. While missing the Chase might have been a good reason to cancel the test, GM Goodwrench crew chief Todd Berrier continues to work to improve the team’s program for the final races and get a head start on next years season.  (RCR PR)

• Magic Johnson to host NASCAR experience for inner city youth

• Talladega Survives Hurricanes Damage: Talladega Superspeedway successfully weathered the high winds and torrential rain spinning out from Hurricane Katrina as outer bands of the storm made their way through Central Alabama Monday afternoon and Tuesday, track officials announced today. "We are very saddened to hear the continued reports of devastation across the Gulf Coast and throughout the Southeastern states that has been caused by this storm," said Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey. "We've received numerous calls inquiring about our personal welfare and the status of the facility, and we are relieved to report that all of our employees and the facility itself are okay. Our neighbors in surrounding areas who were not as fortunate certainly are in our thoughts right now." The track's staff continues to make preparations for the UAW-Ford 500 Event Weekend Sept. 29 - Oct. 2, which is now less than five weeks away. Tickets are available by calling 1-877- Go2-DEGA, Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CDT, or by visiting us online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday. (Talladega Superspeedway PR)

• Harvick to switch manufacturers, maybe 42 Toyota in '07? It wasn't that long ago that Harvick was rumored to be the leading candidate to replace Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 car. At the time, he said he was committed to the No. 29 team and was expected to sign a lifetime agreement with Childress. But as the Chase loomed closer and Harvick appeared destined to miss the playoffs -- again -- the climate changed. Last Friday, when reporters asked about his status for next season, Harvick replied, "I'm checking things out and really just trying to see how it all goes. We'll race to the end of the year and see what happens." The recent infantile behavior by Harvick is not unlike Owens' posturing while waiting for the Eagles to renegotiate his contract that calls for a $3.25 million salary for this season. After GM Goodwrench opted not to renew its sponsorship of the truck team Harvick owns, the door was open for him to pursue options with other manufacturers. Don't be surprised to see Harvick driving the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Toyota in 2007. (Yahoo!/Lee Spencer)

• Gordon to appear on Ellen DeGeneres: On Monday, September 5, Jeff Gordon makes an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated, check local listings). The four-time NASCAR Cup champion and driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet is the first NASCAR driver to appear on the popular daytime talk show. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has won two consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show and this year won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host, and has now earned nine Daytime Emmy Awards in its first two seasons. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” premiered on September 8, 2003. Originating from NBC Studios in Los Angeles, Calif., “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is produced by A Very Good Production and WAD Productions, Inc. in association with Telepictures. (Hendrick Motorsports PR)

• Stones and NASCAR promo coming to cinema near you: The Rolling Stones and NASCAR have partnered for a promotional video that rolls into cinemas nationwide September 2. At nearly 2 1/2 minutes, the NASCAR spot features "Driving Too Fast," a track from the Stones' new album, "A Bigger Bang," due out in the United States on September 6 through Virgin. Running through September 29, the ad will run on more than 5,800 movie screens, including those owned by leading theater chains, Regal and United Artists. Akin to a music video, the spot sheds light on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races on TNT. For the Stones, the exposure also coincides with their new world tour, which reaches Detroit Wednesday. (Billboard @ Yahoo!)

• NHIS testing: With track drying completed after morning showers, the NASCAR Test Session for the SYLVANIA 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway began today at 1:08 p.m. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers testing include Mark Martin (No. 6 Viagra Ford), Scott Riggs (No. 10 Valvoline Chevrolet), and J.J. Yeley (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet). Martin and Riggs will also be testing at NHIS on Wednesday, August 31. Ronnie Hornaday, III is testing today for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SYLVANIA 200 presented by Lowe's in the No. 7 Ultra Motorsports Dodge. (NHIS PR)

• The Sporting News and NASCAR Release 2005 Edition of The Chase Preview:  The thrill of The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup is back and The Chase Preview magazine, published by The Sporting News, has hit newsstands and is available nationwide. The Chase Preview is the ultimate fan guide to tracking drivers race by race and getting expert predictions from The Sporting News to prepare for another exciting Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. The 136-page 2005 edition features four regional covers, with Greg Biffle (No. 16 National Guard Ford) on the cover in the Northwest, Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) in the West, Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet) in the Midwest, and Rusty Wallace (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) in the East. ”The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup has generated an abundance of excitement among NASCAR fans and what better way to engage in all of the action than to pick up a copy of The Chase Preview by The Sporting News,” said Mark Dyer, NASCAR’s Vice President of Licensing and Consumer Products. “This is a publication that all NASCAR fans will want to get and use as a guide as they follow the crowning of another champion in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.” The full-color magazine features expert analysis from NBC commentators Wally Dallenbach and Bill Weber, who provide in-depth scouting reports on every driver and race, while Lee Spencer and Matt Crossman from The Sporting News provide expert predictions. A “Scouting the Chase” section identifies and highlights what the fan should watch for in The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and reviews the trends and personalities that have marked the season thus far. Driver profiles that focus on career highlights and tendencies, including an in-depth analysis of their last 10 race performances, are also included. Drivers are identified by four categories; Lee Spencer’s “Top Five Pick,” “Top Contender,” “Battling for Position” and “Season on the Brink.” (The Sporting News PR)

• Jarrett's response to Bristol wreck: The first issue for the #88 UPS Team occurred on lap 210 when Jarrett was hit by Rusty Wallace, causing slight damage to the UPS Ford. The UPS Ford required minimal repairs and Jarrett continued in the event in 25th position. Jarrett took advantage of some pit strategy by staying out during the ninth caution and restarted the event in third place with only 12 laps of green flag racing on his tires. Jarrett was spun out for the second time of the night on lap 301 when Ryan Newman hit Jarrett from behind. Sixteen laps later, while racing with the lap down cars, Jarrett's car broke loose going into turn one and got into Newman. The UPS Team lost several laps during the caution period while making repairs and then Jarrett was slapped with a two-lap penalty for what NASCAR considered rough driving. "It wasn't our night," said a dejected Jarrett. "We had some handling issues early and then we kept getting hit. The handling on the car just wasn't right after Ryan got into me and I couldn't keep the car down in the corners." "This pretty much seals our fate in regards to making the Chase," he added. "We went for so long this season without having issues like this. I guess we're due." (UPS RACING)

• Pearson and Yates to be honored at NC Auto Racing HOF: David Pearson and Robert Yates, two of racing's elite competitors, will be honored by the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame at its annual induction ceremonies on Oct. 12 at Mooresville's Charles Mack Citizens Center. Pearson, a three-time NASCAR champion and one of stock car racing's most celebrated drivers, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Yates, a championship team owner and engine builder, will receive the coveted Snap-On Golden Wrench Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport. "Both of these men brought something different to the sport," said Don Miller, co-founder and chairman of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame. "David was an extremely talented driver and Robert was an equally talented engine builder before becoming a team owner. Both men set a competitive standard for the sport that continues to be the yardstick by which success is measured today." For more information about the museum and the ninth annual induction ceremony, log on to www.ncarhof.com

Aug 30, 2005

• ISC and SMI partner to buy Action Performance:  International Speedway Corporation , Speedway Motorsports Incorporated and Action Performance Companies Inc.  today announced the following: ISC and SMI have partnered in a joint venture, which will conduct business under the name Motorsports Authentics, to create a leader in the production, marketing and sales of motorsports licensed merchandise, including apparel and souvenirs. Motorsports Authentics will operate as an independent company with ISC and SMI as equal owners. . Motorsports Authentics has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Action for $13 per common share, or approximately $245 million, in cash. The acquisition is structured as a merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Motorsports Authentics into Action, and the surviving entity will be operated by Motorsports Authentics. The acquisition is expected to close by calendar year-end, and is subject to several conditions including Action shareholder approval, regulatory approvals required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, consents and certificates from certain counterparties to Action's material contracts as well as the lack of any material adverse event to Action's business. For more information about Action Performance and its many subsidiaries, please visit the Company's corporate Web site at www.action-performance.com. (SMI PR)

• TNT Bristol Ratings up: Bristol ratings rise 15% as TNT sets to roll out exclusive unreleased Rolling Stones single in movie theatre ads nationwide through National CineMedia For the fourth time in as many races this season, Turner Network Television's (TNT) NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series ratings rose, with the Sharpie 500 Bristol night race yielding a 15-percent increase from the previous year. The race, which delivered a 3.9 US rating (4.7 national cable rating), up from a 3.4 in '04 (4.2 cable), also set a new household delivery mark for Bristol for TNT, gaining over half a million homes over last year's 3.72 million to the new high of 4.25 million homes in '05. TNT's three previous NEXTEL Cup Series races in New Hampshire (7/17 - 4.95 million homes), Pocono (7/24 - 5.14 million homes) and Michigan (8/21 - 4.89 million homes) also saw marked increases and delivered record-setting viewership. (Turner Sports PR)

• Jarrett not talking to reporters: Among the contenders practicing yesterday (at Richmond) was Dale Jarrett, who declined interview requests in the wake of a controversial crash with Ryan Newman at Bristol. Jarrett is scheduled to return today along with Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Elliott Sadler and Matt Kenseth. (Times-Dispatch)

• Latest on television renewal talks:  NBC Universal Sports and Turner Broadcasting have told NASCAR they won't pay the kind of double-digit television rights fee increases the sanctioning body wants, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal reports. In a story attributed to multiple industry sources, the publication also says the two have also rebuffed NASCAR's request to move up the negotiating timetable. The story says the sides held only sporadic meetings this summer that made little progress in lining up a new contract to replace the one that expires after the 2006 season.   NBC and Turner currently share NASCAR rights for the second half of each season, and the story says Turner will likely try to strike its own deal if NBC decides not to renew. Writer Andy Bernstein reports that NASCAR officials believe they can get the sort of 27 percent fee increases that the NFL got for its broadcast packages with Fox and CBS, noting that ABC and ESPN have expressed interest in carrying NASCAR races. (SceneDaily)

Aug 29, 2005

• Reiser wins the Wypall Crew Chief of the Race Award

• Petty and Riggs to run Checker's Seminoles and Gator Schemes: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., Official Burger of NASCAR®, the Florida Gators®, and the Florida State Seminoles®, unveiled its No. 10 Seminole and No. 45 Gator stock cars that will compete at the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season event at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20th. Scott Riggs will drive the No. 10 Checkers® Florida State University Chevrolet, and Kyle Petty will drive the No. 45 Checkers University of Florida Dodge. During the unveiling of the new cars at Bristol Motor Speedway last Friday, Checkers pledged $5,000 to both Riggs' and Petty's charities: Carolina Donor Services and the Victory Junction Gang, respectively. An additional $5,000 will be donated to the race-within-a-race winner's charity on November 20th. (MARC PR)

• Deal near for Molson and NASCAR for Canada? Molson Sports and Entertainment has become the newest Canadian player in the NASCAR-is-coming-to-Canada game. Molson -- which promotes the Molson Indy Toronto and was the primary sponsor of the Molson Indy Montreal yesterday -- has been in talks for some time with NASCAR officials about bringing a Craftsman Truck Series race to Calgary. Molson Entertainment boss Joann McArthur told the Toronto Sun yesterday that it's her business to be involved with entities such as NASCAR in order to explore any future partnerships that might arise. And that a CTS race for Calgary currently is on the table. "Our discussions with NASCAR (about racing in Calgary) are strictly at the preliminary stage," McArthur told the Sun.   "We are talking to them as a leading entertainment promoter in Canada and it's still very preliminary." They have, however, reached the stage where Molson was host this weekend to both NASCAR officials from Daytona Beach and city and provincial politicians from Alberta. (SLAM)

• Penske plans to get Busch in 2006: Hanging over Jack Roush at the moment is the Kurt Busch affair. Busch has signed a contract to drive for Roger Penske beginning in 2007, and he says he'd like to leave Roush at the end of this season. Roush has so far said no. However, Penske officials say they fully expect to get Busch for next season, though it may not be until October that they can get everything sorted out. Roush though shows no signs of yielding. "The structure that surrounds our business, we need rules for the technical aspects of it, and we need rules and guidelines and to make commitments that work for our business ... and I guess we're going to have some trials with those things right now to see if the structure we've got with our business works so we can make guarantees," Roush said of the Busch contracts. (Salem-Journal/Mike Mulhern)

• No decision on 3rd Gibbs driver, FedEx will return to #11: Joe Gibbs Racing Team Manager Jimmy Makar said no decision has been made yet on a driver for the team’s No. 11 FedEx-sponsored Chevrolet for next season. Makar said the team’s Busch drivers, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, will each get seat time in the Cup car before the end of the year and are both in contention for the ride “if they show promise.” Makar also said the team definitely will run three cars in 2006, adding there was no truth to the rumors that FedEx could move to Bobby Labonte’s No. 18. (SPEED)

• Brian France happy in NASCAR, no NFL: Brian France denies rumors he is relinquishing his job as NASCAR chief executive officer to start an NFL franchise in Los Angeles. "I'm having a great time, and I have the support of our board and family, and we're having a great year," France said Saturday at Bristol. "We have the car of tomorrow coming up. I want to expand us internationally over the next five or 10 years, and I still want to stay on course with our diversity efforts." France added he's committed to push NASCAR's "big agenda" and won't rest until he makes "NASCAR the most exciting racing in the world." (Sporting News/Lee Spencer)

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