Feb. 3, 2005:

Driver For Diversity Forum Today: The Drive for Diversity program, recognized as NASCAR's leading on-track diversity initiative, will present "The Drive for Diversity Motorsports Forum," in conjunction with North Carolina A&T State University, on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at the university's New Classroom Building Auditorium. "The Drive for Diversity Motorsports Forum" is a symposium that will acquaint students with career paths in motorsports and bring them up to speed with many diversity efforts within motorsports, and more specifically, NASCAR. Representatives from the racing industry, including NASCAR, will be on hand to discuss both on-track and off-track initiatives. The first session, "Off-Track Initiatives: NASCAR's Driving Force," will discuss opportunities that include roles in event management, licensing, marketing, sponsorship, public relations, business, law, sales and related fields. The second session, "On-Track Initiatives: The Drive for Diversity," will include discussions about how aspiring drivers and crew members get involved in the sport. Additionally, information will be provided to those seeking opportunities in engineering, manufacturing systems, technology, team management/ownership, and related fields. Students from North Carolina A&T State University, along with other regional universities, have been invited to build awareness about the motorsports industry and to provide a setting for future motorsports professionals to network and practically apply their classroom curriculum toward a successful career.  For more information about North Carolina A&T State University, please visit www.ncat.edu.(Drive for Diversity PR)

Kahne Unhurt in Crash: Wednesday marked the first day of testing at California Speedway for Nextel Cup Series drivers in the 2005 season. The day was highlighted by press conferences held for Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Elliott Sadler and Jeremy Mayfield, all former winners at the superspeedway.  High winds were the topic of conversation for Wednesday's testing session as speeds neared 35 mph. Jimmie Johnson said, "It just moves your car that much. If anyone has ever driven anything that big in windy conditions, it's amazing to feel the car buffering around that much."  In testing action, Kasey Kahne's tire ruptured, sending him into the wall. After being reviewed by the doctors, the 2004 Auto Club 500 pole sitter was released in good health, with the only damage coming to the backside of his car.  (NASCAR)

NASCAR Fans Flock to NASCAR Cali Testing:  Unpainted stock cars were a big draw Wednesday as more than 7,000 fans made their way to California Speedway for the first of two NASCAR Nextel Cup test sessions.  It mattered little to those pressed against fences, many wearing the colors of their favorite drivers, that the Chevrolets, Fords and Dodges on the track failed to resemble the usual grid. It was more an opportunity to get ready for the 2005 season.  Following the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, the Nextel Cup teams will head West once again for the Auto Club 500 on Feb. 27 at the Fontana track.  (SBSun)

Ethics Commission Cracks Down on Daytona: The free ride is over.  City officials will only attend races at Daytona International Speedway by paying admission.  But money for the tickets for elected officials will come from sponsorship income the city gets for Bike Week, not taxes. Or they'll pay their own way.  Tax income might be used to send other city officials, such as the city manager, to the races.  Wednesday's unanimous City Commission vote follows a state Ethics Commission ruling in December that free tickets might be an illegal gift for public officials because the value exceeds $100. (News-Journal Online)

NASCAR in Montreal? NASCAR and IRL Events together? Jim France on NASCAR on Montreal "I think our Grand America series would fit well up there," France said. "We'll see how things go. We'll crawl a bit first, then get up and walk, and pretty soon we'll be running down the road. It's step-by-step. I love Montreal."  But what about the IRL? Could the IRL work as a companion event to NASCAR's Cup series on some weekends?  France demurs.  "I just enjoy good racing, and watching good drivers and teams compete," he said. "And the IRL certainly has some of the most exciting open-wheel shows I've seen in a long, long time." (JournalNow)

Stewart Wins Celebrity Poker: Tony Stewart doesn't know if he has a winning car for the upcoming NASCAR season, but he had plenty of winning hands this week in Las Vegas.  Stewart, NASCAR's 2002 champion, won a celebrity poker tournament for charity Tuesday night involving past and current Nextel Cup drivers.  Stewart beat fellow Indiana driver Ryan Newman in the final round of the two-night event at The Palms Casino Resort. Stewart eliminated Jeff Gordon in the final hand of Monday's preliminaries.  The other participants included Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Elliott Sadler, Brian Vickers, Kyle Petty, Casey Mears and 1973 NASCAR champion Benny Parsons.   (IndyStar)

Feb. 2, 2005:

NASCAR Set to Celebrate Black History Month: NASCAR has announced a month-long series of events to celebrate Black History Month.  "The events surrounding Black History Month are a part of our ongoing attempt to raise awareness in all communities about NASCAR's on-track and off-track opportunities throughout the sport," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. "We are committed to making our sport -- on and off the race track -- look more like America."   The month kicks off with a Drive for Diversity forum to include students in the North Carolina A&T State University Motorsports program. The seminar will feature representatives from NASCAR, Drive for Diversity, the Joe Gibbs/Reggie White Driver Development Program and other industry experts answering questions from students about the opportunities in the motorsports industry.  (NASCAR)

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

Richmond NASCAR Hall of Fame: The Richmond area has entered the race to become the site of a NASCAR Hall of Fame that could generate an unprecedented amount of fan foot traffic for an athletic shrine.  Joining Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Daytona Beach, Fla.; and Kansas City, Kan., in the bidding, the Henrico County Economic Development Authority is spearheading a proposal to be submitted by May 31. The organization will have support from the state, the Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond, Greater Richmond Partnership and Richmond International Raceway, which will hold a news conference this afternoon to discuss the project.  NASCAR, which announced intentions last month to start its first sanctioned Hall of Fame, could choose a location by the end of the year. (TimeDispatch)

NASCAR Preseason Testing California: NASCAR's Preseason Thunder, several NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series teams will participate in a test session at California Speedway from January 31 - February 3, 2005. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series test dates, February 2 - 3.  Drivers Include, #01-Joe Nemechek, #07-Dave Blaney, #0-Mike Bliss, #2-Rusty Wallace, #4-Mike Wallace, #5-Kyle Busch, #6-Mark Martin, #7-Robby Gordon, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr, #9-Kasey Kahne, #10-Scott Riggs, #11-Jason Leffler, #12-Ryan Newman, #14-John Andretti, #15-Michael Waltrip, #16-Greg Biffle, #17-Matt Kenseth, #18-Bobby Labonte, #19-Jeremy Mayfield, #20-Tony Stewart, #21-Ricky Rudd, #22-Scott Wimmer, #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Brian Vickers, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton, #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr., #38-Elliott Sadler, #40-Sterling Marlin, #41-Casey Mears, #42-Jamie McMurray, #43-Jeff Green, #44-Terry Labonte, #45-Kyle Petty, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #49-Ken Schrader, #50-Jeff Fuller, #66-Hermie Sadler, #73-Eric McClure, #77-Travis Kvapil, #88-Dale Jarrett #91-Bill Elliott, #97-Kurt Busch and #99-Carl Edwards. Today join a Q&A session: A question and answer session featuring Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Scott Riggs and Joe Nemechek will be conducted in the Speedway's "Party Zone" tent in Suite Lot C. Race fans can submit questions prior to the forum for the drivers upon entering the tent. Gates open to the public on Wednesday at 10:00am and guests are invited to watch the cars on-track from above the Terrace Suites along Pit Road. After the cars have finished testing for the day, guests are invited to attend the fan forum, which will be limited to the first 1,500 guests in the standing-room-only tent (guests will be admitted in the tent beginning at 4:30 p.m.). Guests can also attend the test on Thursday, February 3rd from 10:00am - 4:00pm.

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

Ashton Kutcher Daytona 500 Starter: Ashton Kutcher, the popular star of FOX's "That '70s Show" and the star of the upcoming feature film "Guess Who" will serve as Honorary Starter for the 47th annual Daytona 500 (February 20, Fox, 1 p.m.), NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race. As Honorary Starter, Kutcher will wave the green flag to start the 43 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers in the 200-lap, 500-mile race. "We're excited to have Ashton Kutcher here to start the Daytona 500 and the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "Attracting a star of Ashton's caliber proves once again the Daytona 500 is one of the premier sports events in the world."  Kutcher will co-star with actor/comedian Bernie Mac in Columbia Pictures and Regency Enterprises' "Guess Who," which will be released March 25 of this year. In the movie, in an effort to impress his prospective father-in-law Percy Jones (Mac), Simon Green (Kutcher), who has already secretly proposed to Jones' daughter, boasts of his (nonexistent) past as a NASCAR driver. Simon's repeated attempts to make a good impression are futile as Percy rebuffs him at every turn and makes it his mission to undermine his daughter's new relationship. The film also stars Zoë Saldaña and Judith Scott.  President George W. Bush and Academy Award-winning actor Ben Affleck served as the Co-Grand Marshals and the President gave the starting command, "Drivers, start your engines," for the 2004 Daytona 500.  Tickets for Speedweeks 2005 and the 47th annual Daytona 500, which will be televised live by FOX Sports, are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. (Daytona International Speedway PR)

Craven Charity Ride: The eighth annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity raised $185,225 last weekend which put the overall, eight-year total over the $1 million mark. As an added highlight, Maine’s Gov. John E. Baldacci joined the group of over 400 riders on the 60-mile course through the Moosehead Lake region of Greenville, Maine.  “When I think of how we started and where we are today, I’m totally amazed,” said Craven, driver of the No. 99 Superchips Ford F-150. “Our goal for this event was to break the $1 million mark and we accomplished that. We had good weather, great trails, many generous contributors and over 400 riders which made this event a huge success.”  Checks for $35,000 each were presented to representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Give Kids the World, the Marrow Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network and the Travis Roy Foundation. In addition, Craven presented checks for $2,500 each to the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club and the town of Greenville’s groomer fund, and $5,000 to the Greenville school system.  “I have to thank everyone who worked so hard on this event,” Craven said. “My Mom (Nancy Craven) heads up this event and there are so many volunteers who make it all happen. We could never achieve the success we have without their dedication.” (Roush Racing PR)

Gaughen and Wallace Busch Series? Rusty Wallace said on Tuesday that he has some unresolved slots on his Busch Series roster this year, and he hopes Brendan Gaughan can fill the gaps.  Gaughan was Wallace's teammate at Penske Racing last year.  Wallace, who fielded Busch cars under the Rusty Wallace Inc. banner in 2004, says he is trying to add Gaughan to a long list of drivers of the No. 64, including Jamie McMurray, Jeremy Mayfield and himself.  (NASCAR)

Andretti Spins in Final Mins. of testing: John Andretti brought about an early end to Monday's test session when he spun and hit the wall in Turn 3 with approximately 10 minutes remaining. Andretti, who is driving the No. 14 Ford for ppc Racing, was not injured in the incident.   NASCAR did not bring its timing equipment to Las Vegas, so no official times or speeds were available Monday. (Las Vegas Sun)

Darlington's Dodge Charger 500: The all-new Dodge Charger is expected to be in showrooms in June. To build awareness for the Charger, the Carolina Dodge Dealers and Darlington Raceway have agreed to name the May 7th Nextel Cup Series race the "Dodge Charger 500". A new race logo, designed with the Charger Hemi orange color, fuels the passion of the earlier era and bridges it to today. On Saturday, May 7, Darlington will host springtime Cup Series racing for the 49th consecutive year. The 2005 Dodge Charger 500 will be run under the lights in its entirety, opening a new chapter in Darlington's long and storied history. Jimmie Johnson won both NEXTEL Cup Series events at Darlington Raceway in 2004. Tickets for all events are on sale now. For more information, log onto to www.darlingtonraceway.com.(Darlington Raceway PR)

Feb. 1, 2005:

Daytona Countdown 19 Days

DW At the Super Bowl, Charity Golf Tourney: Along with the typical profiles, features and breakdowns, will be a golf tournament. That's right _a golf tournament. Fox baseball analyst Tim McCarver and NASCAR analyst Darrell Waltrip will host a hole-in-one contest at the PGA Tour's nearby TPC at Sawgrass. The contest will consist of three four-member teams, representing the NFL, Major League Baseball and NASCAR. Each team will be captained by a current PGA Tour member, and they will shoot to win cash for various charities.

Gibbs Back Tracks Comments, 5 Years with Skins:  Joe Gibbs emphatically reiterated his commitment to the Redskins on Monday, quashing speculation that began with a misinterpretation of remarks he made at a NASCAR media day last week. "I signed a five-year contract when I came here," Gibbs told a news conference. "Most people sign three-year contracts. My commitment to the Redskins, I want to do every single thing I can to restore the Redskins to winning football games. "I'd say that my commitment is a minimum of five years. I want to get the Redskins back to winning, and that's first." (St. Petersburg Times)

Fox's New Drama about Gear heads: Fox is tapping into NASCAR Nation with one of its latest pilot orders.   “Revved,” a drama about two gearhead brothers, was one of two drama projects the network ordered in its latest round of pickups.   Set in North Carolina — the heart of NASCAR country — “Revved” sounds a bit like a latter-day “Dukes of Hazzard,” with a little bit of “The A-Team” thrown in as well. The story revolves around two brothers who work in a chop shop and also lend a hand when their neighbors are threatened by corrupt government officials or business interests.   Fox has also ordered “Ticket to Ride,” which explores the relationships between 20 people who hold winning tickets to a huge lottery jackpot. (GoTriad)

New NEXTEL Cup rules, have drivers happy:  NASCAR drivers worried about how the new rules package would affect the handling of their Nextel Cup cars felt better after testing Monday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Two of the changes for this year involve the use of softer-compound tires and a reduction of rear spoilers by an inch to 41/2 inches high on all non-restrictor-plate tracks.  "There has been a lot of hysteria around the changes this year," said Mark Martin, preparing for his final full season of in NASCAR's top series. "My car feels just like it did a year ago.  "Some gains are made at the racetrack and some are made at the shop."  Martin's No. 6 Ford team was one of 43 Cup operations taking part in the first of two days of testing on the 11/2-mile oval. Most of the teams also will try out the new rules Wednesday and Thursday at California Speedway.  (Herald Standard)

January 31, 2005:

High Ad Rates, for NASCAR on Fox: Advertisers will be paying 9 to 10 percent more to buy time on the Fox network during its broadcasts of 2005 NASCAR races, according to Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal . Media columnist Andy Bernstein says Fox had sought increases of more than 15 percent but settled for hikes that were similar to those for other top sports events. The story also says Fox has compelled advertisers to buy into additional races to secure choice spots and pricing during its coverage of the season- opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. That sounds like the NASCAR Nextel Cup ticket deals that require fans to buy tickets to the support events. It's all because NASCAR's TV ratings took a jump last year due to The Chase To The Nextel Cup.  (MotorSportsNews)

NEXTEL Benefits Troops:  Nextel Communications collected nearly 80,000 wireless phones and raised nearly $600,000 in 2004 to benefit the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) program through the DONATE A PHONE program, as well as other fundraising efforts. With more than $900,000 raised since the campaign's inception in May 2003, Nextel, along with assistance from Nextel Partners Inc. and the American Red Cross, anticipates reaching the $1 million mark by the program's two-year anniversary this May. (TMC)

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

Vegas Testing Today: NASCAR Nextel drivers will be testing today at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Driver Includes John Andretti, Stanton Barrett, Greg Biffle, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Fuller, Jeff Gordon, Robby Gordon, Jeff Green, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Travis Kvapil, Bobby Labonte, Jason Leffler, Sterling Marlin, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Eric McClure, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Kyle Petty, Scott Riggs, Ricky Rudd, Elliott Sadler, Hermie Sadler, Johnny Sauter, Ken Schrader, Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers, Mike Wallace, Rusty Wallace, Michael Waltrip and Scott Wimmer.

ISC Ready to Sell Nazareth: The Nazareth Speedway is officially up for sale.  When it closed for racing five months ago, the owners had said the track might remain a venue for motor sports activities.  "When we evaluated the interest from teams and from racing schools to use the speedway as a rental facility, the numbers didn't work out," President Craig Rust said Friday. "While we were doing that we'd been receiving a great deal of interest ... in the property." The speedway, built as a dirt track in 1966, is on 157 acres at Routes 191 and 248 in Lower Nazareth Township. In 1986, the home track of the father-son racing duo of Mario and Michael Andretti was paved.  The track is owned by International Speedway Corp., of Daytona, Fla., which owns or operates 11 motor sports facilities.  "There are many people that are interested and we'll talk to everybody," said Bill Winterburn, a real estate broker hired to sell the track.  Township officials hope it continues to be used for sports or entertainment. (NASCAR)

January 30, 2005:

Waltrip and Petty Marathon: Knowing that it would take a "marathon of giving" to keep the camp running, the Waltrip's created OPERATION MARATHON around a number of fundraising events including running the 39th Annual Las Vegas Marathon on January 30, 2005. Michael Waltrip finished 747th overall and 124th out of 270 in his age group (Men's 40-44) in a time of 3 hours, 58 minutes and 33 seconds. Petty finished 1112th overall and 168 out of 270 in his age group (Men's 40-44) in a time of 4 hours, 18 minutes and 1 second.  To date, the Waltrips have raised close to $700,000 and raised more money during the Las Vegas Marathon.  For more information, go to MichaelWaltrip.com. (FoxSports)

January 29, 2005:

Fittipaldi back in Brazil:  After two unsuccessful seasons in NASCAR, former Champ Car and Formula 1 driver Christian Fittipaldi has decided to return to Brazil to race stock cars.  Fittipaldi had been looking for work since his deal with NASCAR’s Petty Enterprises collapsed because of a lack of sponsorship.  “For various reasons I didn’t have the success I was hoping for,” Christian Fittipaldi told Radio Jovem Pan on Saturday. “But I’m glad I got the opportunity in Brazil, where everybody knows stock car racing is growing rapidly.” (MSNBC)

Penske Sets New Standards on Race Shops: Penske Racing South has opened the doors of its new race shop, showing off the enormous building that will house its Nextel Cup operation.  "We had our people scattered over several buildings not too far from here and, half the time, you couldn't find anybody you were looking for," Roger Penske said. "Now, we at least know they're going to be somewhere in the building."  It still may not be easy for Penske or anyone else to find someone in the new building.  The team is now using 300,000 of the available 425,000 square feet in the former air conditioner plant set on 104 acres in rural Mooresville, north of Charlotte. The building includes wide-open areas for each of the team's three Cup entries, including newcomer Travis Kvapil. (NASCAR)

January 28, 2005:

Adrian Fernandez to run Busch race in Mexico? NASCAR is believed to be working at securing Mexico’s biggest auto racing star, Adrian Fernandez, a one-off ride for the upcoming Busch Series race at Mexico City. Fernandez, who was shut out of an IndyCar ride this year due to lack of sponsorship dollars - he preferred to focus on his ownership role at Fernandez Racing, which will campaign cars for Scott Sharp and Kosuke Matsuura - could join his former Champ Car colleague Michel Jourdain Jr, so far event’s biggest fan-drawer. Jourdain has signed a deal with [#10 Ford] ppc Racing to contest the full 2005 Busch Series season. Mexican touring car standouts Carlos Contreras [#13 FBR] and Jorge Goeters have already been confirmed to race at the inaugural Telcel-Motorola 200 at the famed Autodromo. (Speed Channel)

California could lose a 2nd date? Among the rumors at the Nextel Media Tour in Charlotte, N.C., is that one of California Speedway's two NASCAR dates could be in trouble. Mind you, it's strictly something said and repeated but never finding its way into print. After all, it's rather silly to even think about. Absurd is perhaps a better adjective. NASCAR, track owner International Speedway Corp. and the controlling France family went to great lengths to realign the schedule in 2004 to give Fontana its Labor Day Sunday night event. To even propose such a thought after one race is unthinkable. However, it indicates someone somewhere is concerned about whether NASCAR will ever catch on in Southern California. Apparently, selling 93,000 seats or so, not to mention another 15,000 in the infield, isn't enough for some.(Daily Bulletin)

SAFER Barriers going up at Bristol: Construction on the SAFER Barrier System is scheduled to begin on the walls of Bristol Motor Speedway on Tuesday. Supplies have already been delivered to the infield, according to BMS spokesman Wayne Estes. Bristol Motor Speedway is the last circular track on the NASCAR circuit to install the barrier system. The installation was delayed at Bristol while engineers determined how to install the walls over the track’s gates. The road courses at Watkins Glen and Infineon Raceway will not install the barriers. NASCAR mandated that all tracks other than road courses have the barriers installed by this January. Dover International Speedway installed SAFER barriers its inside walls last year and will complete construction this summer. (Bristol Herald Courier)

January 27, 2005:

NASCAR Day Back in May 2005: NASCAR has announced that the second annual NASCAR Day will be held Friday, May 20. NASCAR Day, NASCAR’s largest annual charity, will once again unite fans across the country for a common goal. In exchange for a $5 donation to the 2005 NASCAR Day Designated Charities, fans, businesses and schools will be able to wear their favorite NASCAR gear to work that Friday. In addition, participants will receive a commemorative NASCAR Day 2005 lapel pin.  This year, NASCAR Day will benefit three proud charities – Speedway Children’s Charities, Victory Junction Gang Camp and Speediatrics. Each of these charities shares a common thread – to better the lives of children in need. Speedway Children’s Charities is dedicated to providing direct assistance to children with medical, educational and social challenges. Victory Junction Gang Camp is a free racing-themed camp for children with chronic or life threatening illnesses. Speediatrics is a NASCAR-themed pediatric unit located at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach and Homestead Hospital in Miami.  “We are thrilled to be back as one of the beneficiaries of NASCAR Day 2005,” said Kyle Petty, co-founder of Victory Junction Gang Camp. “We encourage the entire NASCAR community to show their enthusiasm for the sport while helping children in need.”  Individuals and organizations can participate in NASCAR Day by visiting www.nascar.com. Individuals can make their $5 donation through the website and will be mailed the commemorative lapel pin. Businesses, schools and other organizations can take part as a group by requesting a NASCAR Day Participation Kit. The kit includes posters, pins, envelopes and a Crew Chief Manual; everything needed to jump start NASCAR Day within the organization.  “NASCAR Day is a unique platform for the NASCAR community to display its trademark compassion for others to support special causes like the Victory Junction Gang Camp, Speediatrics and Speedway Children’s Charities” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “We are committed to bringing together our resources from across the sport to help make a difference through programs like NASCAR Day.” In its inaugural year, fans embraced NASCAR Day as a way to celebrate the NASCAR spirit and support related causes, namely Victory Junction Gang Camp. With 50,000 individuals and over 700 companies participating in 2004, NASCAR Day found a permanent place in the hearts of the NASCAR community.(NASCAR PR)\

Latest Apprentice fired lands at NASCAR Nation: John Willenborg didn't get picked by Donald Trump to run a company, but he has found life on TV after "The Apprentice."  Willenborg, who was a contestant on the second cycle of "The Apprentice," has joined the Speed Channel's new series "NASCAR Nation," which will look at life behind the scenes in stock car racing.  The show will launch Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. with Ralph Sheheen and Courtney George as the key anchors. Krista Voda will be a senior correspondent. Connie LeGrand will handle news, Marty Smith will cover business, and Michelle Fizer and Willenborg will be field reporters.  Covering auto racing isn't a stretch for Willenborg. Long before his time with Trump, he was an intern at Speed Channel. (New York Daily News)

Jarrett Continues Support: Jarrett and wife Kelley will continue supporting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, with donations ranging from $10,000 for a victory to $1,500 for 10th, with another $5,000 for a pole. (USA Today)

Jarrett Two Years, Rudd Maybe Last: Dale Jarrett said he has at least two more years left in him. Ricky Rudd knows he might have only one left. Since Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Terry Labonte announced retirement plans last year, fellow 40-somethings Jarrett, Rudd and Kyle Petty have become the next logical focus of speculation. Jarrett, 48, has two years left on his contract with Robert Yates Racing and said because he started his Nextel Cup career later than his contemporaries - at age 27 - he can go longer.  "It'll be a minimum of two, but probably three (years)," said Jarrett, who won the championship in 1999 and finished 15th last season. (SPTime)

NASCAR and ISC Record Growth: International Speedway Corporation (NASDAQ:ISCA) (BULLETIN BOARD: ISCB)  today reported record results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended November 30, 2004. Fourth Quarter Comparison: Total revenues for the fourth quarter were $231.3 million compared to revenues of $152.1 million in the prior-year period. Operating income was $92.6 million during the period compared to $51.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 was $54.4 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, compared to net income of $31.6 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Prior period financial statements have been restated to reflect discontinued operations, net of tax, related to the previously announced sale of North Carolina Speedway. In addition, the long-lived assets of Nazareth Speedway are held for sale as of November 30, 2004 and its results are also recorded as discontinued operations, net of tax, for all periods presented.
Significantly contributing to quarterly results was the impact of NASCAR's Realignment initiative, the timing of certain events and the acquisition of Martinsville Speedway. These collective changes resulted in three additional NEXTEL Cup weekends in the 2004 fourth quarter. Specifically, the 2003 Labor Day Cup/Busch weekend at Darlington Raceway was included in third quarter 2003 results, while the 2004 Labor Day Cup/Busch weekend was held at California Speedway during the fourth quarter of 2004. Also as a result of Realignment, Darlington's fall 2004 NEXTEL Cup weekend was held in November, the historical date for North Carolina's NEXTEL Cup weekend. However, the 2003 fourth quarter NEXTEL Cup weekend held at North Carolina is included in discontinued operations for that period. Finally, the July 2004 acquisition of Martinsville resulted in an incremental NEXTEL Cup weekend in the fourth quarter of 2004. (ISC Report and Press Release) Highlights of the fourth quarter of 2004 include:
* As a result of NASCAR's Realignment initiatives, California successfully hosted its inaugural Labor Day NEXTEL Cup and Busch weekend, posting a more than 65 percent increase in Cup attendance as compared to the event held during the Labor Day weekend at Darlington in 2003.
* Richmond International Raceway posted increased attendance for its NASCAR Triple Header Weekend, highlighted by record Busch attendance and a 15 percent increase in average household television viewership for the sold out NEXTEL Cup Chevy Rock and Roll 400.
* Chicagoland Speedway recorded sold-out attendance for its IRL IndyCar and ARCA racing weekend, and California hosted a successful NASCAR Craftsman Truck/IRL IndyCar series weekend.
* Talladega Superspeedway posted increased attendance for its NEXTEL Cup/ARCA weekend.
* Kansas Speedway hosted another sold-out NEXTEL Cup and Busch racing weekend showcasing exciting on-track competition. The fourth race in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Chase for the Championship also posted strong viewership results with a five percent increase in average households over the prior year.
* Martinsville hosted a successful NEXTEL Cup and Craftsman Truck weekend highlighted by a capacity crowd on-hand for the Subway 500 NEXTEL Cup event, which also posted a ten percent increase in average household viewership.
* Phoenix International Raceway once again hosted a sold-out Checker Auto Parts 500 NEXTEL Cup race with Dale Earnhardt Jr. returning to victory lane for the sixth time of the 2004 season. Television viewership for the eighth race in the Chase for the Championship increased five percent over the prior year.
* A near capacity crowd was on-hand for Darlington's NEXTEL Cup series Mountain Dew Southern 500 to watch Jimmie Johnson record his series-leading eighth victory of the season. In addition, more than 5.5 million households tuned in to witness the second to last race of the season.
* Homestead-Miami hosted a highly successful Ford Championship NASCAR finale weekend, highlighted by a sold-out crowd for the Ford 400 Cup race and increased attendance for the Busch and Craftsman Truck events. Broadcast performance for the Ford 400 surged ahead of the prior year, posting a 40 percent increase in average household viewership and garnering the highest rating ever for a Cup race broadcast in direct competition with the NFL.

Dodge Fans, eBay Auction: DaimlerChrysler will auction off the first 2006 production Dodge Charger on eBay, along with an autographed race body. The winner will receive the keys from seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp and Salvation Army charities. (USA Today)

Teresa makes brief Appearance:  DEI President and CEO Teresa Earnhardt made a rare public appearance. The widow of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt read a brief statement, introduced her team and left without taking questions (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Nicorette Signs Sponsorship: NASCAR, a sport historically linked with cigarettes and chewing tobacco, has signed on what might seem a most unlikely sponsor: Nicorette. The stop-smoking product is the first to sign on with the car racing circuit. The Nicorette deal comes just a year after Winston stepped down as title sponsor of NASCAR's championship series — after 33 years — and was replaced by cell phone company Nextel. The new NASCAR season is set to begin with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. Why NASCAR? Where there's smoke, Nicorette smells sponsorship fire. NASCAR fans are 28% more likely to smoke than other adults, reports Simmons Market Research. They smoke 18% more cigarettes than other adults and are more likely to smoke than NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB fans, Simmons says.  Nicorette believes that many NASCAR fans would like help quitting.   "We understand that tobacco products created this arena — but the game has changed," says Steve Kapur, senior manager of promotional activities at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, maker of Nicorette gum, NicoDerm patches and Commit lozenges, which will jointly sponsor NASCAR. "This is a great audience for us." (USA Today)

Goodyear Out? Goodyear has been a stalwart on the NASCAR tours for decades, but rumblings are getting stronger that NASCAR is considering a major change in its tire-supplier contract.  Michelin is rumored to be in line for the exclusive deal in the next year or two. NASCAR people are still talking about Goodyear running out of tires for last year's 24 Hours of Daytona, a faux pas that was probably a key in the France family's switching to Hoosiers for this year's 24 Hours. (Winston Salem Journal)

Stewart not Happy: Tony Stewart said he is ''not comfortable'' wearing the HANS device, but has no choice. NASCAR made the head-and-neck support system mandatory this season.  Stewart had been wearing the less-restrictive Hutchens device, but it's no longer allowed. Stewart initially balked at using even the Hutchens device, but was forced to do it two years ago when NASCAR ordered drivers to use either the Hutchens or the HANS.  After further study NASCAR decided the HANS afforded greater protection and announced that starting with next month's Daytona 500 only the HANS can be used. (Tennessean)

Dale Jr, Back in Rolex Next Year: Dale Earnhardt Jr., badly burned in a crash at Sonoma last summer during a NASCAR off-weekend race, is taking a year off from sports-car racing for GM. But he is expected to run next year's 24 Hours of Daytona, in a car, probably a Corvette, fielded by Dale Earnhardt Inc. (Winston Salem Journal)

RYR upgrades pit crews: Andy Ward, who helped build the crew that led Matt Kenseth to back-to-back pit-crew championships, has become the pit-stop coach for Dale Jarrett's team. Robert Yates Racing also has acquired Ryan McCray, an ace member of Jimmie Johnson's crew, for Elliott Sadler's team.(Richmond Times Dispatch)

Student Gets Sponsorship: Milford High School student Alicia Kincaid hopes to one day be on the pit crew for a top NASCAR contender.  Kincaid’s dream got a boost on Wednesday when she was formally presented with a $10,000 scholarship to attend NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C.  The scholarship was awarded by Time Magazine and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which hosted an essay contest for high school seniors. Entrants are asked to describe in 500 words or less their passion for the automotive industry and reasons for pursuing a career in the automotive field.  The ceremony took place at the Dreher-Holloway Mercedes-Benz dealership.  Kincaid’s love of cars began five years ago. (Foster)

NASCAR Nation Replaces Totally NASCAR: SPEED Channel's much-anticipated new show, NASCAR Nation, will make its debut on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. Airing each week of the race season, Monday through Thursday, NASCAR Nation will be the signature show for SPEED's NASCAR TV block of programming, concentrating heavily on features and all-access content.   "Much of what SPEED Channel has done with NASCAR since re-launching the network in 2002 has been about the racing and what's going on at the track," said SPEED Channel President Jim Liberatore. "We are proud of the way the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series audience has grown since moving to SPEED, and with the successful development of programming from our traveling SPEED Stage. SPEED Channel felt like 2005 was the appropriate time to step up and develop a signature NASCAR program. NASCAR Nation will be that program."   "NASCAR has always tried to find ways to bring our fans as close as possible to the sport's athletes and the competition on the race track," said Mike Helton, President of NASCAR. "We are pleased to see NASCAR Nation on SPEED Channel making our sport even more accessible to fans." "NASCAR Nation is the definitive all-access show for NASCAR fans," said Jeffrey Pollack, Managing Director, Broadcasting and New Media, NASCAR Digital Entertainment. "It's fun, fast-paced and takes viewers behind-the-scenes like never before. NASCAR is a lifestyle for millions of people coast-to-coast, and this show has been designed just for them by SPEED Channel, NASCAR Images, and NASCAR Digital Entertainment." (Business Wire)