NASCAR News Feb. 21 - March 1, 2006

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Mar. 1, 2006:

• REPORT: Charlotte to land NASCAR HOF announcement Monday: Charlotte has won the year-long race to land NASCAR's Hall of Fame, three sources told the Observer on Tuesday night. Charlotte beat out Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla., to win the $100-million plus shrine to stock car racing, the sources said. An official announcement is expected Monday afternoon in Charlotte. "It's coming to Charlotte," said one source, who like the others asked not to be identified because of the confidentiality of the process. The source said final logistics must still be worked out, but "it's going to happen." "Monday will be a great day for the city," said another source. A NASCAR spokesman, reached late Tuesday, would only confirm that NASCAR would announce the project site this month. Sources said NASCAR Chairman Brian France is expected in Charlotte on Monday for the announcement. (Charlotte Observer)

• More trouble for GA. NASCAR HOF money: Georgia lawmakers hoping to snare millions of dollars in public money to attract the NASCAR Hall of Fame to Atlanta have hit another roadblock. Legislators had two plans to increase Georgia's existing $92 million bid this week. One plan would offer $20 million from state sales taxes if the Hall of Fame is built in Atlanta. The other would divert about $22 million in surplus money from Atlanta's rental car tax to the NASCAR project. It's the second proposal that has caused problems. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Wednesday that officials already have committed the $22 million to help the city's homeless. Lawmakers contend Atlanta did not have the authority to spend the rental car taxes, but city officials committed the money in January to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's campaign to end homelessness. (WISTV.com)

• Roush among Texas Motor Sports hall Honorees:  Drag racing legend Kenny Bernstein and Indy-car designer and team owner Jim Hall are the 2006 inductees into the Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame. Other honorees include NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, winner of the Texas Motor Speedway Racer of the Year Award, and former NHRA racer Raymond Beadle, winner of the Bruton Smith Legends Award. Dallas resident David Starr, one of the top drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, is the recipient of the 2006 TMS Sportsmanship Award. (Dallas Morning News)

• NFL Quarterback Favre takes laps around Homestead with Ford drivers: Today (2/28), No. 4 was in the No. 6 car, and moving quite a bit faster than he does on the field. Shortly after 1 p.m. today, a relaxed, smiling Brett Favre arrived casually-dressed (hat, t-shirt, shorts, sneakers) at Homestead Miami Speedway. Top NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards, Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler were already there, for a Ford promotional event. (Sun-Sentinel Season Ticket Blog)

Feb. 28, 2006:

• 3M to sponsor a sixth Roush Racing car: 3M Company and Roush Racing announced today that 3M will be the primary sponsor for the No. 06 Ford Fusion entry driven by Todd Kluever in six NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races this season. Kluever's NEXTEL Cup races this year are intended to prepare him for the 2007 NEXTEL Cup season, when he will drive the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion currently driven by Mark Martin. Kluever's six-race schedule will consist of Chicagoland Speedway, July 9; Michigan International Speedway, August 20; California Speedway, September 3; Kansas Speedway, October 1; Lowe's Motor Speedway, October 14 and Phoenix International Raceway, November 12. "I am pleased to be able to represent 3M in the NEXTEL Cup Series as well as the Busch Series this year," Kluever said. "I'm really looking forward to running those extra races to get ready for next year. We are going to be racing at tracks that I really like, and I'm especially excited to kick off my NEXTEL Cup debut at Chicagoland since that is so close to home for me -- and it will be my Mom's birthday." "I would like to thank 3M for extending their sponsorship to include six NEXTEL Cup races for Todd," said Jack Roush. "He has exceeded my expectations in the Busch Series so far this year and we are going to do everything we can to make his transition to NEXTEL Cup as smooth as possible. Having him compete in six races later this year will certainly help advance his learning curve." (Roush Racing PR)

• Johnson and Crew wins consecutive Checkers®/Rally’s® Drive-Thru challenge: Checkers®/Rally’s®, the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR®, today announced that Driver Jimmie Johnson™ and the No. 48® Lowe’s Hendrick Motorsports® Team have secured their second consecutive Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge win. “For the second week in a row, the guys in our pit crew have performed like a well oiled machine,” said Jimmie Johnson, whose No. 48 car spent the least amount of time in pit lane at the California Speedway on Sunday. “This team has worked incredibly hard to come in first and second place in the first two races of the season, and I am happy that Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge recognizes our pit crew’s significant accomplishments.” For their win, the No. 48 team will receive an award of $10,500, and they are leading the season-long competition for the grand prize of $105,000. “Once again, we congratulate Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe’s Hendrick Motorsports Team for their successful performance on pit road,” said Richard Turer, Vice President of Marketing, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. “The No. 48’s pit crew has proven that a great finish on the track takes teamwork and commitment. The crews at our restaurants understand that as well, so on behalf of the entire Checkers/Rally’s team, I congratulate Jimmie and his crew for their second successful performance.” The No. 48 Lowe’s Hendrick Motorsports® Team wasn’t the only team to win a second Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge this weekend. (Checkers®/Rally’s® PR)

• Reiser wins WYPALL® Crew Chief of the race award: Matt Kenseth set a new precedent this weekend at California Speedway. Along with crew chief Robbie Reiser, the driver of the No. 20 DeWalt Ford came from farther back than anyone in track history to take the checkered flag in this weekend’s Auto Club 500. Reiser’s come from behind performance earned him the WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award. Three judges; Tony Eury Sr., a WYPALL®  Wipers representative and Jerry Bonkowski of Yahoo Sports; agreed that Reiser deserved top honors for his winning game plan. “No one had their eye on Kenseth early in the race, but he was slowly working his way up front,” said Eury Sr. “He just kept chipping away at the leaders and before you know it, he was knocking on the door. Robbie (Reiser) did an awesome job making adjustments on the car and getting it better and better during the race. “ “We knew it was going to be tough to make up all that ground,” said Reiser following the race. “Track position was so important, so we made a two-tire stop early on to get up front. The pit crew never missed a beat and kept Matt (Kenseth) at the top of the board all day. It was just a great team performance.” Reiser earned $1000 for winning the WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award. He is now tied with Darian Grubb in the Crew Chief of the Year standings for the Nextel Cup series. The challenge returns to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 12th. At the end of the season, the crew chief who possesses the most weekly titles will take home $20,000 and the privilege of being dubbed the WYPALL®  Wipers Crew Chief of the Year for the Nextel Cup Series. (SMC 500)

• Joe Gibbs Racing signs Husqvarna to sponsor #18: Husqvarna, a global manufacturer of forest, lawn and garden power equipment for all applications, has reached a sponsorship agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2006 season. The multi-car sponsorship further solidifies Husqvarna’s commitment to racing: The company already serves as the Forest, Lawn & Garden Equipment of NASCAR, and it features a NASCAR branded chainsaw in its product catalog. The contract includes primary sponsorship of Gibbs’ number #18 Chevy for three NASCAR Nextel Cup races. The blue, orange and white car will feature the Husqvarna logo on the hood, quarter panels and back sections. Husqvarna will also be listed on the car’s decklid as well as the transporter and pit box throughout the 2006 season, and the uniform of driver J.J. Yeley will include the Husqvarna name. Husqvarna’s agreement extends into the Joe Gibbs Racing Busch Series team as well. Husqvarna will be the primary sponsor of the number #19 Chevy for four races. Aric Almirola takes the wheel for three of those races. Husqvarna will utilize the Joe Gibbs Racing facility in Huntersville, NC throughout 2006 for dealer events, and will invite select dealers to Washington Redskins football games and pre-season training camp sessions, which are included as part of the sponsorship agreement. (husqvarna.com)

• NASCAR spokesman: No decision yet on HOF city: When asked about a report in yesterday's editions of The Charlotte Observer that NASCAR was nearly certain to place the hall in Charlotte, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp insisted no decision has been reached and that both Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla., remain in the running. "The process is still ongoing. We're still looking at information from all three cities," Tharp said. "The decision-making process is very much ongoing." The Observer report cited four unnamed sources, identified as two high-ranking NASCAR officials and two Nextel Cup team owners. Final details remain to be worked out before the announcement of the site selection can be made, the sources told The Observer. NASCAR hopes to make a decision by the end of March, Tharp said. (Times-Dispacth)

• Earnhardt and McFarland take a flight: Mark McFarland, driver of the #88 Navy Chevy in the Busch Series and his team owner, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have a new perspective on the word. On Monday the two flew with the Navy's Flight Demonstration Crew, the famous Blue Angels [F/A 18 Hornet], in El Centro, Cal. There they were introduced to speeds in excess of mach 1.2, or 890 mph, and G-forces seven times that of their body weight. "That is the roller coaster that they can't build," sounded Earnhardt, Jr. "I thought we pulled a lot of G's at places like Bristol and Atlanta, but riding with these guys gives you a new perspective. This is a testament to the condition they are in." Lt. Kevin Davis, Blue Angel No. 7, put the two through roughly an hour each of twists, turns and rolls over the mountains that border NAF El Centro, which is the winter home of the Blue Angels. Pensacola, Fla., The Cradle of Naval Aviation, is their home during the "flight season." A "season" can be made up of 35 locations, the same as a NASCAR Busch season The Blue Angels are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.. (image and more at Jr. Motorsports )

• Edwards to sign driver for USAC team:  #99-Carl Edwards is close to signing Canadian Pete Shepherd III to drive his Sprint car in the USAC Silver Crown Series  this season. The deal comes after Shepherd completed a battery of tests in the car at Homestead-Miami Speedway earlier this month. Shepherd also has signed a development deal at Roush Racing -- Edwards' Cup team -- where he will drive in a number of Auto Racing Club of America races this season. And he is coming off a successful showing in the Discovery Channel's Driver X program where he made it to the final cut of 1,400 young drivers who were competing for a ride in Roush's Craftsman Truck Series Ford F-150. (Toronto Sun)

Feb. 27, 2006:

• Report: Charlotte Certain to get NASCAR HOF: As the race for NASCAR's Hall of Fame heads into the home stretch, Charlotte is the leading candidate to land the $100 million-plus shrine to stock car racing, several sources told the Observer on Sunday. Two high-ranking NASCAR officials and two Nextel Cup team owners, all speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Charlotte's selection was nearly certain. Final details must be worked out before any announcement, the sources said. Charlotte has been competing with four other cities since last year to host the project, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. In January, NASCAR eliminated Kansas City and Richmond, Va. as candidates, leaving Charlotte, Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla. A NASCAR spokesman maintained Sunday the selection process was not complete. "The process is still evolving. We continue to receive additional information regarding each of the three cities' proposals and the decision-making process is still active," said NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp. Tharp reiterated that NASCAR plans to decide by the end of March. (Miami-Herald)

• California Speedway to make changes? The race was largely a parade in front of what appeared to be many empty seats, and track President Gillian Zucker said afterward that changes could be made to the speedway, including progressive banking, if it is necessary to improve the on-track product. "Today, with limited cautions, I imagine we may hear more about it and if we do, we'll take a look at the track surface. In Miami, it has completely changed the show." (L.A. Times)

Feb. 26, 2006:

• Kenseth wins the Auto Club 500: Greg Biffle was the class of the field, and Tony Stewart had a car capable of winning. Matt Kenseth still found himself in Victory Lane at California Speedway. Biffle and Stewart both wound up watching the end of Sunday's Auto Club 500 from the garage, victims of late-race engine failures that allowed Kenseth to race away with his 11th NASCAR Nextel Cup victory. His second win in 72 starts definitely came as something of a surprise to Kenseth, especially considering how strong Roush Racing teammate Biffle was Sunday. Even when Kenseth took the lead late in the race, he didn't expect to win. "I was sort of planning on running second,'' Kenseth said, grinning. In the end, though, Kenseth fought off a late challenge from Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson to earn the victory. (SI.com - Results - Points)

• Martin to open dealership and museum Monday: Roush Racing’s Mark Martin will open his all new Ford dealership, Mark Martin Ford-Mercury, and museum on Monday, Feb. 27th in Batesville, Arkansas. Martin started construction on the state of the art facility over a year ago and is pleased with the fruition of his work. “It’s just an awesome thing to be able to bring back all of these cars and trophies to the place where it all started and the place that I consider ‘home,’ said Martin. “We have a lot of stuff on display at the museum and I hope that all of the fans will get a chance to come out and share in all of the memories with us. “Growing up I couldn’t wait to get out of Batesville and go out and see what I could do,” added Martin. “I went off seeking my fame and fortune and I was fortunate to work with a lot of great people and have a lot of success. Now it’s time to bring all of that back home where it belongs to Batesville.” The state-of-the art museum features several of Martin’s past cars, including the No. 6 Viagra Coca-Cola 600 win car, the ’90 Folgers Thunderbird, the No. 60 Win Dixie Busch car, Martin’s 2005 IROC car that he used to win his record fifth championship, and the ’89 Strohs Thunderbird. Each car is a part of a display that includes hi-tech mantrons that tell the story of each piece of history. The museum also has on display a variety of other memorabilia, including several of Martin’s past race helmets and historic firesuits. There are also several personal photo books on display that chronicle Martin’s early success, as well as thousands of pictures and newspaper articles that show Martin shows Martins climb from local dirt track sensation to NASCAR legend. “We really wanted to do something that we could share with the fans and the people of Batesville,” said Martin. “It’s been a long road and it’s been a lot of fun and we really wanted to put all of that on display. “We could have put the dealership anywhere,” added Martin. “But I wanted to bring all of it home. It means a lot to me and I’m excited to share what I’ve been lucky enough to experience with everyone.” (Roush Racing PR)

• Dale Jr. "Back in the Day" gets 8 more episodes: Speed Channel has picked up an option for eight additional episodes of "Back in the Day" with Dale Earnhardt Jr. The 30-minute program, which airs Mondays at 9:00pm/et on the Charlotte-based network, is a journey through the history of NASCAR with an emphasis on the 1970s. "This is the right show on the right network at the right time," Speed vice president of programming Robert Ecker said in an e-mail. "The decision to place the full-season order was a virtual no-brainer. Dale Jr.'s obvious affection for the material and his clever approach to presenting it instantly and understandably struck a responsive chord with the audience. We are eager to respond to the demand for additional episodes as quickly as we can." (AJC)

Feb. 25, 2006:

• California Speedway 2 Cup weekends economic impact near quarter billion, Fontana wants more:  Hotel rooms are booked from Anaheim to the Coachella Valley. Crowds wait outside restaurants. Registers ring up souvenir sales. Cars stack up at gas stations. All because an estimated 250,000 race fans are traveling to Fontana for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series this weekend at California Speedway. When the races come to the Speedway in February and again in September, they bring not only traffic, but money -- lots of it.   The economic impact of the track to the Inland Empire is $220 million a year with the two races, according to a 2003 report by Redlands-based economist John Husing. "We wipe out virtually every hotel room in the Inland Empire with that Speedway,'' he said. However, the lion's share of money from sales taxes and transient occupancy taxes does not go to Fontana, but to Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga instead because those cities have more hotels and sit-down restaurants, Husing said. Now Fontana wants a bigger piece of the pie and is hungry for developments that can feed off the success of the track. Suggestions include building more hotels, a restaurant row, and even an auto-oriented entertainment complex. "It is a major economic generator when one of those races goes on,'' Husing said. "The question is how do you lure people from the track into the restaurants and hotels and gas stations and into the city's boundaries.'' Even though the Speedway has been open since 1997, the window of opportunity for Fontana to recapture some tax dollars has not closed, Husing, city officials and planners agree. (Daily Bulletin)

• Earnhardt on Car of tomorrow and Charlotte getting NASCAR HOF: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Charlotte will almost certainly get NASCAR's new Hall of Fame - for a very simple reason: "I'm sure NASCAR is going to ask the drivers to make a few appearances over there, and it would be right in my backyard and I wouldn't have to go too far." Earnhardt on NASCAR's proposed car of tomorrow - "I don't ever want to see it. I don't ever want to race it. I think it's a big mistake. "Given the state of the sport and how expensive it is, the timing is not right. "Obviously it's a great idea, and there's nothing wrong with the car in particular. But the timing of the whole deal is going to be hard on a lot of these teams." (Salem-Journal)

• Shane Hmiel fails third drug test; banned for life: Driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended from competition for life by NASCAR after failing a third substance abuse test. “Shane failed to fulfill the prescribed rehabilitation program scheduled by NASCAR,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Friday. “As a result, Shane has forfeited his opportunity to compete in any NASCAR-sanctioned events.” Asked if there is any possibility of Hmiel racing in NASCAR sometime in the future, he said, “No, it is a lifetime ban.” Hmiel, the 26-year-old son of longtime crew chief and team official Steve Hmiel, was first suspended in September 2003 after failing a test. He completed a required rehabilitation program and was reinstated for NASCAR competition in February 2004. But he was suspended again last June after failing a second substance abuse test. (MSNBC.com)

• Jackson-Hewitt announces #16 National Guard promotion: Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, proud sponsor of the No. 16 National Guard Ford Fusion and "The Tax Service of NASCAR," joins with members of the National Guard and champion NASCAR driver Greg Biffle at a trackside press conference to launch the Jackson Hewitt National Guard "Heroes of the Year" award, a one-of-a-kind contest for people to nominate a National Guard loved one, friend or neighbor. Through the campaign, one National Guard soldier will be selected for the chance of a lifetime - the opportunity to have his or her image featured on the car that NASCAR driver Greg Biffle will drive at a 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Race, and attend the race with their family to watch the momentous occasion in person. This is the first time that a non-celebrity's image will be featured on a NASCAR race car! In addition to spotlighting soldiers, the campaign also recognizes families and employers who have shown exceptional support for, and service to, the core mission and values of the Guard. The car that Greg Biffle will race in this weekend's Auto Club 500 race will feature a silhouette paint-scheme of the Jackson Hewitt National Guard "Heroes of the Year" award!  (CooperKatz & Co. PR)

• Penske plans to use Intrepid at all mile 1/2 and two mile tracks: Penske Racing South General Manager Don Miller said on Friday that the team plans on racing 2004 Dodge Intrepids at all 1.5.- and 2.0-mile tracks for the foreseeable future. Penske drivers #2-Kurt Busch and #12-Ryan Newman both brought Intrepids for Sunday's Auto Club 500, as did Petty Enterprises for #43-Bobby Labonte. All the other Dodge teams brought the aerodynamically troublesome Dodge Charger, which was introduced last year. Asked how long Penske would campaign the two-year-old Dodges, Miller was blunt. "As long as Dodge will let us," he said. (SPEED)

• Biography channel highlights young NASCAR drivers: Some of NASCAR's newest stars will be highlighted in a new series on The Biography Channel, beginning March 8. "NASCAR, Driven to Win" debuts with 30-minute features on Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch, the two most-recent rookies of the year in Nextel Cup. The series, with 13 half-hour episodes, will focus predominantly on younger Cup drivers. Among other subjects the show will explore are Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, Steven Wallace, the son of longtime NASCAR star Rusty Wallace, and the Richard Childress Racing team. (AP/Miami Herald)

Feb. 24, 2006:

• Busch wins pole for Auto Club 500: Kurt Busch pulled further away from the controversies that dogged him all winter by easily winning the pole position Friday for the NASCAR Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. The 27-year-old Las Vegas native turned a lap at 187.086 mph in his Penske Racing Dodge on the two-mile, D-shaped track in Fontana, nearly a mile an hour faster than runner-up Greg Biffle, who will sit beside him on the starting grid Sunday. (L.A. Times) (Starting Grid)

• Tharp named NASCAR public relations manager:  NASCAR announced that Kerry Tharp will manage public relations for NASCAR's three national racing series and the weekly and touring series. In his new role, Tharp will be responsible for all at-track media procedures, public relations for the Research and Development Center and NASCAR media events in Charlotte, N.C. "Kerry will further reinforce our at-track public relations efforts to ensure that we continue to be responsive to media requests and vigorously promote the sport," said NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter. "Kerry's ability to develop personal relationships and work with others will be a benefit to all." Tharp joined NASCAR's PR team in April 2005 as director for NASCAR's licensing office in Charlotte and worked with NASCAR's licensees to provide public relations support and strategy. He will transfer from his role in NASCAR's Charlotte licensing office to NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. and will report to Ramsey Poston, NASCAR's managing director of corporate communications. Prior to joining NASCAR, Tharp spent 26 years in college sports public relations, 20 of which he was the Associate Athletics Director/Sports Information Director at the University of South Carolina. He has a Bachelor�s Degree in PR from Western Kentucky University and a Masters Degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee. (NASCAR PR)

• Six NASCAR legends to serve as Grand Marshall at Atlanta Busch race: Six of the greatest drivers and legends of NASCAR - Richard Petty, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker, and Donnie Allison - will serve as Grand Marshals for the NicoretteÒ 300, the NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday, March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The six legends were selected by Nicorette® nicotine gum to serve as Grand Marshals as a tribute to their racing careers and for their personal support of smoking cessation.   The NicoretteÒ 300 marks the first NASCAR race to ever be sponsored by a smoking cessation product and is just one activity in a season-long sponsorship designed to eradicate smoking from the sport of NASCAR. “We are thrilled to be able to have these six NASCAR legends serve as Grand Marshals for the NicoretteÒ 300,” said Steve Kapur, Senior Brand Manager, Promotional Marketing at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. “Through the support of Richard, David, Ned, Buddy, Benny and Donnie, we hope to inspire NASCAR fans to quit smoking and improve their health. We thank these NASCAR legends for their support in this important cause.” The six NASCAR legends will jointly give the command “Gentlemen, Start your Engines” to start the NicoretteÒ 300 while making appearances throughout the day. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the six legends the morning of March 18 (time to be announced) at a question-and-answer session held at GSK’s Winner’s Circle Exhibit in the fan walk area. Tickets to the NicoretteÒ 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway are available. To order tickets, call (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or order on-line at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. (AMS PR)

• NASCAR addresses NYC Staten Island traffic concerns:  International Speedway has been addressing fears of residents who see the track as an unwelcome burden to their already traffic-laden roadways. Project manager Michael Printup, who bought a house in the island's Tottenville neighborhood when he took over the job, gives as many as three presentations a day to local groups. `Mistruths' ``There are a lot of mistruths out there, like eight race weekends a year or 80,000 people driving their cars,'' says Printup. ``We're not doing that.'' The proposed plan would allow 8,400 cars to park at the site. The bulk of fans would arrive via 643 buses or 83 ferries, all rented from private companies for use on race weekends, from remote park-and-ride and park-and-sail sites. Some officials say such plans don't go far enough. ``There's no thought or concern about how Staten Islanders will get around,'' says Michael McMahon, one of three members of the New York City Council from the borough who have expressed skepticism about the plan. Council approval is needed for zoning changes required to build the speedway. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said last month it was ``too early at this point to say whether the project will or won't happen,'' the Staten Island Advance reported. ``Obviously, in the council we are very respectful of the local members' feelings on issues,'' she was quoted as saying. ``That said, it's not a litmus test.''  (Bloomberg)

• Younger Dallanbach: Jake Dallenbach, the 15-year-old son of former driver and current NBC NASCAR analyst Wally Dallenbach, is racing a Legends car at Lil' Texas Motor Speedway. Jake earned a victory in his fourth start, taking the checkered flag in a Legends Semi-Pro feature event. (Dallas Morning News)

Feb. 23, 2006:

• Knuas on penalty "blown way out of proportion": Johnson says Knaus believes there's been too much of that already. "From a media standpoint it's been blown way out of proportion," Knaus said. "I got in trouble for something during qualifying. ...This should have no bearing on what this team has accomplished. Jimmie shouldn't have to deal with it a damn bit. He's won the Daytona 500 man, and he should be held up by his shoulders right now." Knaus clung to phrases like "We pushed it a little bit too far," and, "We got caught with something that NASCAR didn't like." In that, he's like virtually everybody else in the sport. Cheating is something that other guys do, and that provides all of the rationalization needed to join the fun. "It is up to us to put a product out there that will win races," Knaus said. (More of story at ThatsRacin with David Poole)

• Waltrip extends contract with FOX Sports: FOX Sports and Darrell Waltrip have agreed upon a multi-year contract extension that expands the top-rated NASCAR network's relationship with the sport's premier analyst into the new television rights contract that commences with the 2007 season. The announcement was made today by FOX Sports Chairman David Hill and FOX Sports President Ed Goren. "I love FOX Sports," said Waltrip. "I love being part of a big sports family. David Hill and Ed Goren have embraced me. I have said it before, it's like being part of a championship race team. They have surrounded me with the best of the best - Jeff, Larry, Mike, Steve and all the others. Plus, FOX also has the best folks that work behind the scenes. I love my job and now I get to do it for a long, long time!" Prior to joining FOX Sports in 2001, legendary stock car driver Darrell Waltrip compiled 84 wins and three Cup series championships in an outstanding NASCAR career. He was voted the Most Popular Driver twice (1989-90) and was the proud recipient of the prestigious Bill France Award of Excellence in 2000, honoring his lifetime of achievements. In 2003, Waltrip was elected into the National Motorsports Hall of Fame, an honor followed by an induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2004, Waltrip's autobiography, DW: A lifetime Going Around in Circles, debuted on the New York Times Bestseller list. FOX Sports drops the green flag on its 2006 NASCAR on FOX season this Sunday, Feb. 26 (3:30pm/et) in Fontana, CA, with a live presentation of the Auto Club 500. Over 60 cameras and 100 microphones will be strategically placed in and around California Speedway as NASCAR on FOX presents the first of 14 Nextel Cup races in high definition and Dolby 5.1 audio. In 12 years of existence, FOX Sports has earned 63 Emmy Awards, including six in five years of NASCAR coverage, more than any other network during the same stretch of time. David Hill and Ed Goren are the Executive Producers of FOX Sports. Bill Brown is Senior Producer. Scott Ackerson is the Coordinating Producer of the NASCAR on FOX Prerace show. (FOX Sports PR)

• Sopranos to sponsor#07 Bowyer at Las Vegas: NASCAR history includes a tradition of great racing families; names like Earnhardt, Petty, Waltrip and Labonte have dominated the sport for decades. On March 12th, a new family will be added to that list: Soprano. That’s right—America’s favorite mob family will join the NASCAR ranks by sponsoring Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) No. 07 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS and driver Clint Bowyer in the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The one-race sponsorship is part of HBO’s marketing campaign to promote the hit drama’s season premiere, which will air Sunday, March 12 at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The Sopranos logo will be showcased on the hood and on the quarter panels of Bowyer’s No. 07. Some of the show’s other businesses are also getting into the act, as the Bada Bing logo will be on the car’s rear quarter panel. The 07 team’s crew uniforms will also include a patch advertising Satriale’s Pork Store. Bowyer, who will be making just his fourth career Nextel Cup start, is excited about the opportunity but understandably nervous at the same time. “My job has a lot of pressure even without having Tony Soprano as my boss,” joked Bowyer. “Now I’ve got to worry about if I don’t win I might end up sleeping with the fishes.” Team owner Richard Childress is excited to have the Sopranos on one of his cars, saying, “HBO and Tony Soprano made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. We’ve built them a great car and hopefully we can get them into victory lane their first time out.” Grand Central Marketing, an event marketing and promotions agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles, brokered the sponsorship and handles the promotion on behalf of HBO. (RCR PR)

• Speed Channel record Speedweeks Ratings: NASCAR RaceDay, the revamped high-energy NASCAR pre-race show on SPEED, opened the season with strong numbers from Daytona, scoring an average Nielsen Rating of 1.72 (1,118,000 households) and peaking at 2.34 (1.5 million households) for the live, 2.5-hour program. In 2005, the SPEED pre-race show NASCAR This Morning averaged a Nielsen Rating of .68. Overall, SPEED delivered a 12 percent increase in Daytona Speedweeks ratings over a year ago, with nine shows scoring above a full 1.0 Nielsen mark and several peaking above a 2.0. On the track, coverage of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, the Crown Royal IROC Series event and the ARCA Re/MAX Series were among the highest rated SPEED programs over the network's 10 days of Speedweeks coverage. Top 10 SPEED Shows from Daytona Speedweeks by Nielsen Rating average (households in parenthesis):
  1. NASCAR Live! (Feb. 12, afternoon) -- 2.00 (1,300,000 HH)
  2. NASCAR RaceDay (Feb. 19) - 1.72 (1,118,000 HH)
  3. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race (Feb. 17) - 1.69 (1,101,000 HH)
  4. NASCAR Live! (Feb. 12, evening) - 1.36 (885,000 HH)
  5. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series practice (Feb. 11) - 1.16 (755,000 HH)
  6. NASCAR Live! (Feb. 11, evening) - 1.12 (731,000 HH)
  7. Crown Royal IROC Series race (Feb. 17) - 1.09 (708,000 HH)
  8. NASCAR Live! (Feb. 11, afternoon) - 1.05 (686,000 HH)
  9. NASCAR Live! (Feb. 18) - 1.02 (664,000 HH)
  10. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series final practice (Feb. 18) -- .99 (647,000 HH) (Speed Channel)

• Don't look for California Speedway sell-out: Don't be surprised if there are empty seats Sunday at California Speedway during the Auto Club 500, the first of two stops this year for the Nextel Cup Series in Fontana. This race probably won't sell out again no matter what the speedway's marketing team does if NASCAR officials continue to hold it the week after the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR officials dealt California Speedway a difficult hand when they moved this race from late April or early May to February, holding it only two weeks before a wildly successful event in Las Vegas. That means the Nextel Cup Series is racing twice in basically the same market in less than a month. Las Vegas is only 224 miles away from Fontana, a four-hour drive up Interstate 15 (or an even shorter airplane ride). Brian France, the CEO of NASCAR, said he is expecting a large turnout for Sunday's race in Fontana, but even he told the media at the Daytona 500 he wasn't anticipating a sellout. California Speedway's second Cup date seems to be safe for the time being, however. NASCAR officials want to ride the wave of excitement created by the Daytona 500 into their biggest market. There probably will be about 80,000 screaming NASCAR fans in the grandstands. (Orange County Register)

• #61 Peak Performance signs muti-race sponsor: Peak Performance Motorsports today announced that its #61 entry will be sponsored by RoadLoans in a multi-race Primary and Associate Sponsorship deal for 2006. The Internet-based auto finance company teams with Peak Performance as it puts NASCAR veteran Kevin Lepage behind the wheel of the #61 RoadLoans.com Ford when it rolls into California for the Auto Club 500. The RoadLoans.com #61 Ford will first hit the track at the California Speedway on Feb. 24, 2006 as it gears up for the NASCAR season. (Peak Racing)

Feb. 22, 2006:

• Petty teams up with VA: The Department of Veterans Affairs and Richard Petty are revving up to recruit volunteers at VA hospitals. VA recently named Petty, one of NASCAR’s top drivers, chairman of the 2006 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. Petty will make public service announcements encouraging the general public to volunteer at VA facilities and will serve as the national spokesman for the more than 140,000 volunteers who serve veterans at 154 VA hospitals, more than 850 outpatient clinics and 143 nursing homes throughout the country. “It’s an honor to have such a champion join VA in saluting the men and women who have worn our country’s uniform,” said VA Secretary R. James Nicholson. “Richard has shown that he shares our commitment to veterans through his efforts to raise awareness of VA and the veterans we serve.” Petty is also excited about his role as chairman. “I am very proud of the titles I have earned. However, the honorary title I have been given this year as chairman of the VA National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Program is one I accept with great humility and pride,” said Petty. For more information about volunteering at VA facilities go to http://www1.va.gov/volunteer.

• Johnson crew wins Pit Crew award: Jimmie Johnson and Darian Grubb would not have won the Daytona 500 without the efficient work of the entire No. 48 team. In addition to bringing home the checkered flag, the team also earned the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge Award for least amount of time spent on pit road. Gas Man Rich Gutierrez is one of several NASCAR crew members who hail from California. He grew up in Yorba Linda, less than 45 miles from California Speedway. (NASCAR/Checker/Rally's PR)

• Waltrip and Edwards to race at Nashville during Easter off-weekend: Michael Waltrip and Carl Edwards are two of four Nextel Cup drivers who have committed to racing in the sixth annual Pepsi 300 April 15 at Nashville Superspeedway. Joining Waltrip and Edwards at the NASCAR Busch Series race will be Nextel contenders Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle. The weekend of Easter is typically an off-week on the Nextel Cup circuit. Tickets are on sale now at nashvillesuperspeedway.com or by calling (866) RACE-TIX. (Nashville City Paper)

• Official release on Nelson leaving NASCAR: Gary Nelson, NASCAR vice-president of research and development, announced today he is leaving the sanctioning organization to form his own company. "It has been a lifelong dream of mine to have my own company that specializes in safety, performance and other technology-driven aspects of motorsports," said Nelson. "I've been thinking about it for a long time and now is a good time to do it. 'Nelson & Associates’ will be open for business right away and I’m delighted that NASCAR will be my first client.” With NASCAR as a client, Nelson will continue his efforts on the Car of Tomorrow and other safety initiatives for the racing industry. “Gary has been a great contributor to NASCAR’s success,” said NASCAR President Mike Helton, “beginning as a crew member, then as a championship crew chief and, most recently, as a leader in NASCAR’s commitment to safety. “This is something he has always wanted to do and it will be a great opportunity for Gary to take advantage of his racing knowledge and make it available to the entire motorsports industry. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Gary in this new role,” Helton said. Nelson will use his quarter-century of experience in NASCAR racing and make it available to other forms of racing. The 52-year-old native of California won the 1982 Daytona 500 and the 1983 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship with driver Bobby Allison. It was Allison’s only Championship. Three years later, Nelson again won the Daytona 500 this time with driver Geoff Bodine. Nelson became NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Director in 1992 and was named Vice President of NASCAR’s newly formed Research and Development facility in 2002. (NASCAR PR)

Feb. 21, 2006:

• Daytona penalties announced, including Knaus: NASCAR announced today that four penalties have been issued to two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams, as a result of rule violations this past weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 48 Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson, has been fined $25,000 and suspended from all NASCAR events until March 22, 2006. Knaus has also been placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2006. The penalties come because of an unapproved template modification to the rear window area, violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-3.12.1 (A) (unapproved template modification.) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule book. The violation was discovered during Feb. 12 post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500. On Feb. 13, NASCAR ejected Knaus from further participation in Daytona 500 activities as a result of the violation. Three penalties were assessed to the No. 96 Chevrolet team, due to the use of an unapproved carburetor, a violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book. Crew chief Philippe Lopez was fined $25,000; driver Terry Labonte was penalized with the loss of 25 driver championship points; and car owner William Saunders was penalized 25 owner championship points. This rule violation was also discovered during post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500. (NASCAR PR)

• Nelson leaves NASCAR post to start new company: Gary Nelson is leaving his job as vice president of research and development for NASCAR to form his own company. "This is something I have wanted to do my whole life," Nelson said Tuesday. "I am really excited about it." Nelson said his new company, Nelson & Associates, will consult with NASCAR and other racing operations on safety, performance and other motorsports technology issues. His first client is NASCAR. Nelson, 52, will continue to work on the "car of tomorrow" project that he has been part of at the NASCAR research and development center in Concord. He has been heading up that facility since 2002 after joining NASCAR as Winston Cup Series director. Nelson said he's wanted to start his own company from as far back as when he was a crew chief in NASCAR's top series. (Miami Herald)

• Gibbs statement on Hall of Fame Racing violation:  The following is a statement from Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs regarding the $25,000 fine and the deduction of 25 owner and 25 driver points NASCAR levied against the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Team for having an unapproved carburetor during time trials for the Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Hall of Fame Racing has an engine lease program with Joe Gibbs Racing, and the unapproved carburetor came with the engine supplied to Hall of Fame Racing. "Joe Gibbs Racing provides all of the engines and carburetors for Hall of Fame Racing," said Gibbs. "We are responsible for any issues having arisen from the unapproved carburetor that was taken by NASCAR in Daytona. It is never our intention to put any unapproved parts on any of our race cars or those of our partners. We will join Hall of Fame Racing in appealing the severity of the penalty." (Joe Gibbs Racing PR)

• Jewel leads California's pre-race show: As drivers get ready to start their engines for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on Sunday, February 26, multi-talented Grammy nominated artist Jewel will get the NASCAR fans warmed up for the big race as she headlines the nationally televised Pre-Race show on FOX at 12:30 p.m. PST. This will be the first ever-televised pre-race show in California Speedway history. The Auto Club 500 will kick-off the 2006 NASCAR on FOX coverage as this year’s West Coast Premiere of NASCAR and the second race of the season for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series — one week following the Daytona 500. Widely celebrated as an internationally known vocalist and songwriter, Jewel is among the most successful female performers on the music scene today. Her last five albums have sold more the 25 million copies worldwide. Jewel’s new album, “Goodbye Alice In Wonderland” arrives on May 02. Her new single, “Again And Again” has gotten overwhelming reaction at radio. For more information on the new album, single and video, visit www.jeweljk.com. Her musical and songwriting talents have received multiple awards – Jewel is a three-time Grammy Award nominee and the recipient of an American Music Award and a MTV Music Award. In 1999, Jewel was presented with the prestigious Governor’s Award from the Los Angeles chapter of The Recording Academy (NARAS) for her creative talents and accomplishments in the music community. (California Speedway PR)

• Bank of America revs up NASCAR sponsorship: Bank of America today will announce a deal to become the official bank of four NASCAR tracks, its latest step in a broadening campaign to woo stock car fans. The Charlotte company said it signed a five-year deal with International Speedway Corp. to sponsor tracks at Los Angeles, Kansas City, Phoenix and Watkins Glen, N.Y. Terms were not disclosed. After ignoring the sport for decades, banks have lately started showing love for NASCAR. Bank of America now lists the sport as one of its primary sponsorship commitments, alongside the Olympic Games and Major League Baseball. The company is now the official bank of nine NASCAR tracks, include Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, where it also sponsors the fall race. At each track, the bank gets prominent locations for ads and ATMs, room to entertain clients, and the right to run promotions. "Joining the ISC family enables us to expand the ways in which we can reach a significant base of racing fans among our customers," Rick Parsons, the bank's executive vice president for brand marketing, said in a statement. (Charlotte Observer)

• Daytona 500 most watched NASCAR race ever: NBC's coverage of the 2006 Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb 19th attracted 37 million total, unduplicated viewers and drew a record 11.3 household rating and 23 share, the highest NASCAR rating in history and the most viewed Daytona 500 ever, according to fast national data from Nielsen Media Research. The 11.3/23 makes NBC's only three Daytona 500 broadcasts three of the top four highest rated and most viewed Daytona 500s ever (NBC 2002 and Fox 2005, 10.9; NBC 2004, 10.6). Last year's coverage of the Daytona 500 on Fox drew a 10.9/23. Yesterday's rating peaked with a 13.6 between 6-6:30 p.m. "I am thrilled that we were able to give NASCAR this record-breaking rating for the exciting sport of stock car racing," said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. The top ten metered markets for yesterday's broadcast of the Daytona 500 on NBC were: 1. Greenville, S.C. 24.7/39 2. Greensboro, N.C. 23.0/37 3. Orlando, Fla. 22.7/39 4. Indianapolis, Ind. 21.2/34 5. Charlotte, N.C. 21.0/36 6. Knoxville, Tenn. 19.2/31 7. Jacksonville, Fla. 18.7/29 8. Nashville, Tenn. 17.8/30 9. Dayton, Ohio 17.7/30 10. Louisville, Ky. 17.3/28. (NBC Universal PR)

• Jeff Gordon Foundation host charity poker tourney: March 8, 2006 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., The Jeff Gordon Foundation will present The Jeff Gordon Foundation Poker Classic. This most unique style ever formatted will allow celebrities, sports personalities and poker pros -- playing on behalf of the foundation -- to join the final 25 tables of play, guaranteeing any regular buy-in player the opportunity to gear up against some of their favorite stars. Jeff Gordon, Chris Moneymaker, Tony Stewart, Robert Williamson III, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson and many other celebrities will walk the red carpet starting at 10:15 a.m. and will begin poker play at 11:00 a.m. in the Caesars Palace Poker Room. Media will have access to the poker room at the beginning and at the end of play. (Jeff Gordon Foundation PR)

• California Speedway Day: Representatives from the City of Los Angeles will declare February 22, 2006 as "California Speedway Day in L.A." They will be joined at City Hall by the winner of the 2006 Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson, who will be in town in preparation for the February 26, 2006, Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Johnson will drive to the south steps of City Hall in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race car for the ceremony proclaiming February 22, 2006 as "California Speedway Day in L.A." (California Speedway))

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