Kerry Earnhardt Subs for Earnhardt, Jr. at Daytona testing: Having friends willing to drafting with you is always important at superspeedway tracks such as Daytona International Speedway and Kerry Earnhardt hopes his one-day testing session in his brother Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Busch Series ride earns him a favor. "I'll think I'll have one this coming Daytona," said Earnhardt when asked if he'll have any drafting friends. "I'll have a couple of them here actually with (Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Paul) Menard and Junior both. I know they'll work with me quite a bit. We've done it in the past and I know it'll happen this time. I believe that's the only ones that are going to be out there."  Kerry Earnhardt shook down the No. 81 Menard's Chevrolet that Earnhardt Jr. will wheel in the Winn Dixie 250 presented by Pepsico Busch Series race on Friday, July 2. Also testing Busch Series cars on Monday at the Speedway were Jeff Spraker (subbing for Mike Bliss in the No. 30 Ski Motorsports Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet). (Daytona International Speedway PR)

Kahne's Illegal Adjustable Spring Air Dam: NASCAR says the part, an adjustable spring-loaded air dam, was found during Friday's pre-qualifying inspection. Vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter says the part never made it onto the track. "A penalty will be forthcoming - I don't know what," said Hunter. "The rulebook says it cannot be adjusted, so it did not conform to our rules." Kahne, who qualified fourth, finished 18th in Sunday's race. He and the team face a loss of points and fines. (TSN)

Earnhardt Insurer and RCR reach agreement: The race team of the late Dale Earnhardt said Monday it reached a settlement with an insurer who had refused to pay the stock-car driver's life-insurance policy, ending a nearly monthlong trial. Richard Childress Racing had sought $3.7 million from United of Omaha Life Insurance Co., the amount for which the team had insured the popular driver. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. "I'm smiling, aren't I?" Childress attorney John Morrow said as he left court.  Morrow told Taylor before jurors were seated Monday the parties had settled the case. Rich Anderl, a United of Omaha attorney, said some of the company's customers had complained about their handling of the case after the death of one of the best-known drivers in NASCAR history. (CNNSI)

NASCAR's Sponsor Sprint inks deal with NFL: Sprint Corp. is close to signing a five-year, $200 million sponsorship and content rights deal with the NFL, according to a Monday report by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal, an affiliated publication of The Business Journal. Sources familiar with the deal told the SportsBusiness Journal that Sprint's commitment could swell to $600 million, including advertising spending during the five years. That would make the deal with the National Football League one of the largest sponsorship deals in all of sports. A spokeswoman at Overland Park-based Sprint (NYSE: FON) said Monday that the company will not commenting on "rumors and speculation." The SportsBusiness Journal reported that the deal would give Sprint exclusive rights to broadcast video and audio highlights of games on wireless phones -- a first for the league.   Sprint plans to merge later this year with wireless rival Nextel Communications Inc. in a $36 billion deal. An NFL deal would give Sprint the opportunity to make a splash after the merger closes and the NFL season starts in the fall. Nextel already owns the title rights to NASCAR's top circuit, giving a combined Sprint Nextel sponsorship of America's two biggest spectator sports.  (Kansas City Business Journal)

Hendrick Executive Shuffle:  NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick has announced executive changes at Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Cos.  Jim Perkins, chief executive and president of Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group since 1997, will become president and chief operating officer of Hendrick Cos., the corporate umbrella for Rick Hendrick's NASCAR operations and related enterprises. Jim Huzl, chief operating officer at Hendrick Automotive, will succeed Perkins July 1. In his new role, Huzl will oversee one of the nation's largest privately held auto retailers with 68 franchises and 4,000 employees spanning the Carolinas to California. The company has annual revenue of more than $3.5 billion.  Additionally, Bobby Rice has joined Hendrick Cos. as executive vice president and special adviser to Rick Hendrick, who presides over a racing empire that generates an estimated $125 million annually. Rice will also work as a consultant to Hendrick Motorsports, which fields multiple stock-car racing teams for NASCAR divisions and includes drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. (Charlotte Business Journal)

Childress Winery getting some neighbors: Charlotte-based Eastwood Development Corp. will soon begin construction on a 274-home residential development in Lexington that will have a total project value of around $44 million. Grading and preparation work for the 75-acre site, located across from Childress Vineyards at the junction of US 64 and US 52, will begin in July, and the first of the homes will be available early next year. The plan for the development, dubbed Vineyard Estates, calls for 204 single-family homes priced between $140,000 and $150,000 and 70 town homes priced from $110,000 to $120,000. The new subdivision comes amid a flurry of recent development around Childress Vineyards, the 65-acre winemaking operation owned by NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. (MSNBC)

Kahne in trouble, front end: Speed Channel's Bob Dillner reports the big story in the garage area after this race has to do with the No. 9 team.  NASCAR has confiscated the front end of that car. We are told the 9 team had a spring-loaded valance on that car, and the bottom line is that is illegal. I am told that we are going to expect to hear some big-time fines and penalties and also a possible points deduction for that team on Monday or Tuesday when that announcement is made. (Fox Sports)

NASCAR Takes Engines: NASCAR officials took the engines from 10 teams to test at the sanctioning body’s research and development center in Concord, N.C. It’s the first time series officials have taken just engines after a race. This is being done as part of an ongoing process of examining the engines.  Engines taken belonged to the cars of Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Elliott Sadler, Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears. (Pilot Online)

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

Gordon Frustrated: Jeff Gordon has said many times he enjoys racing at Michigan because the wide, 2-mile oval allows for high speeds and lots of passing. But he couldn't take advantage, finishing 32nd and continuing a midseason slump. Gordon said tires on the right side of his car were worn down to the cords early in the race, and he was concerned about tire trouble the rest of the race.  "It's beyond frustrating," Gordon said. "I don't know what was going on out there." Gordon finished ninth last week at Pocono, and has now finished 30th or worse in four of his last five races. He has dropped to 12th in the Cup points standings. (News-Journal)

29th Consecutive Sellout: The crowd at Michigan Speedway was estimated at 160,000 and extended its string of sold-out Cup events to 29 consecutive races, dating to June 1991. (NASCAR Notes)

Marlin to Serve as "Ambassador" and Out because of demographics: Marlin has not announced his plans for next year, though Ganassi said he has offered a personal-services contract to Marlin for more than $100,000 to serve as an 'ambassador.'"  Sabates, however, said the change in drivers was suggested by Coors Light, the team's primary sponsor this year, to try to appeal to a younger demographic. "You don't find 50-year-old men, old guys, drinking beer," Sabates said. "Old people like us drink wine. And we had a lot of wine last night." (Times-Dispatch)

PR Wire: Richert Wins Again the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award

More on Gannasi:  In 2006, Stremme's Dodges will split sponsorship between Coors Light and Lone Star Steakhouse. Coors will grace the hood in 19 events, while Lone Star will be the primary sponsor in the other 17 races. "I never thought I'd be able to get to this level," Stremme said. "To be able to succeed in the driver development program is a feeling I can't describe. It's what I set out to do, and I feel next year I'll show the training I've been through is a success to come to the Nextel Cup Series." Stremme will make his Nextel Cup debut at Chicagoland Speedway next month. He plans to test the speedway Monday. Ganassi said Stremme will run four Nextel Cup races in 2005 before running for rookie of the year next season. (NASCAR)

No more R. Wallace Doubles: Rusty Wallace, who is retiring after this season, said he will rethink racing twice in one weekend.  Wallace flew from MIS to Kentucky Speedway Saturday to compete in the Busch race, in which he finished 24th. He flew back late Saturday to prepare for Sunday's Cup race.  "I'm a little tired after running Kentucky," Wallace admitted after finishing 10th at Michigan. "I was going to run the Busch race at (Indianapolis Raceway Park) before the Brickyard (in August), but I don't think I'm going to do that now."  (Detroit Free Press)

June 19, 2005

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

Stremme and Sorenson to Cup, Mears to stay: As a result, at a press conference later today Ganassi will start reshaping the future of the team by formally announcing long-rumored changes that will yield Marlin's No. 40 Dodge to driver David Stremme. "It wasn't an easy decision, I'll tell you that," Ganassi said. "I'm sure if you were to ask Rick Hendrick if Tim Richmond or Geoff Bodine contributed to his team's overall success, he'd answer 'yes.' "Sterling's done that for us, too, and that's why I'm not just cutting him loose, even though at the end of this contract I didn't owe him anything." Engineered by Ganassi, Marlin will get a substantial, six-figure, three-year personal services contract -- the money coming in equal parts from Ganassi and Coors. According to Ganassi, the changes won't stop with the No. 40 Dodge -- though such aren't scheduled to be formally announced today. Reed Sorenson, also recent grist in the rumor mill, will be moving up to Cup, too -- but not at the expense of Casey Mears, as many have predicted. (News-Journal)

Marlin and MB2? (Sterling) Marlin said he expects to run the rest of this year's races in the No. 40, and is looking for another ride for 2006 and beyond. Marlin could, for instance, factor in changes expected at MB2 Motorsports, which plans to buy out Valvoline in the No. 10 Chevrolets. The team is looking for another sponsor to keep driver Scott Riggs in that car. If yet another sponsor shows interest in Marlin, MB2 could grow from two to three full-time Cup teams.  There also have been reports Marlin has talked to Richard Childress and Jack Roush. "I'm pretty sure something will turn up," Marlin told The Tennessean, "but if it don't, it isn't the end of the world." (More news and notes at Charlotte Observer)

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

Pocono Changes: Pocono Raceway will make changes made to the track after a series of tire problems in last weekend's race, a NASCAR official said Saturday. The series returns there July 24. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, said the patches in the track's second turn will be redone. One patch had been put in a couple of months before the race and contributed to some of the tire issues. Pemberton also said that the apron will be redone and the rumble strips will be put further back on the inside of the track surface. (News & Record)

June 18, 2005

Hello Newman, Wins the Pole again: It took Ryan Newman just over 37 seconds Saturday to grab his fifth pole of the season and first at Michigan International Speedway. NASCAR's "Rocketman,'' well on the way to becoming the best qualifier in the history of the stock car series, was the 43rd of 47 qualifiers when he turned a lap of 194.232 mph on the 2-mile, high-banked oval. The lap -- timed at 37.069 seconds -- was easily good enough for his 32nd pole in 104 races. 1st) Ryan Newman - 194.232, 2nd) Casey Mears - 193.757, 3rd) Tony Stewart - 193.512, 4th) Kasey Kahne - 193.123, 5th) Jeremy Mayfield - 193.086, 6th) Bobby Labonte - 193.055, 7th) Brian Vickers - 192.818, 8th) Robby Gordon - 192.771, 9th) Jeff Gordon - 192.658, and 10th) Bill Elliott - 192.658 (NASCAR - NASCAR Batman Begins 400 Lineup)

Evernham Close to starting 3rd Team: Evernham Motorsports is close to getting the money needed for a third full-time entry in NASCAR's top series.  The third full-time Nextel Cup entry would take over the No. 91 team that is now a part-time ride for Bill Elliott, team owner Ray Evernham said Friday. Elliott would not be the driver, but the NASCAR veteran, who cut back to a limited schedule in 2004, can remain affiliated with the program, the owner said. "I would love to run a third team,'' Evernham said. "We have the infrastructure in place. We've built the new building (in Statesville, N.C). We have the people ready. We have the plan ready. But I'm not going to pull the trigger until I know the money's in place.'' (NASCAR)

Stremme expected to be named in #40: Youth Movement has swept aside veteran Sterling Marlin.  Months of speculation about the future of the 47-year-old racer from Columbia will end at a press conference tomorrow at Michigan International Speedway when David Stremme, 27, is introduced as Marlin’s replacement for Chip Ganassi Racing. “They decided they wanted a younger driver,” Marlin said yesterday from the track where he is preparing for tomorrow’s Nextel Cup race. “They’re going with Stremme.”  Marlin said he “understands” that he will finish out the season in the No. 40 Dodge he has driven for the past eight years.  “I think they may put Stremme in another car for about four races,” he said, “but as far as I know I’ll run them all.” Ganassi Racing would only confirm that a press conference has been called to announce “major changes” in the team. (Tennessean)

Fans are greeted to AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza: Fans for Friday's events at Michigan International Speedway took great joy in baptizing the new AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza, plush with uncountable semitrailers and attractions that would make any race fan salivate. Souvenir trailers from every possible driver were open and taking customers. Corporate-sponsored rides and games generated long lines. Fans strolled the 22 acres of fresh asphalt exploring everything the newly renovated "front door" to the speedway had to offer. Friday also served as an appetizer for the plaza before larger crowds flock in for Sunday's Batman Begins 400.  "It was a lot more closed up," said Dennis Vanfossem, from Akron, Ohio, of the area in past years.  (Mlive)

Earnhardt, Jr. with the Flu: Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is battling a touch of the flu this weekend, was 35th in the first practice, 42nd in the final session. (NASCAR)

Johnson defends driving: If you haven't noticed, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR's boy next door, is driving harder and driving his car wider this year.  His tactics have drawn criticism. Some competitors have accused the usually mild-mannered Johnson of spinning other drivers out.  Johnson, who leads the NASCAR Nextel Cup series, has always been considered one of the garage's nice guys. But nice guys don't always finish first, and Johnson has been runner-up for the series title the past two seasons. Johnson denies that he's a dirty racer, but thinks drivers have gotten far more aggressive on the track this year. "Yeah, its hard to argue with the numbers," said Johnson, 29. "The competition is closer than it has ever been with the new rules. On top of that, the shorter spoiler makes the cars harder to drive." (ThatsRacin)

Testing in Chicago: On Tuesday, June 21, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers #9-Kasey Kahne, #18-Bobby Labonte and #45-Kyle Petty will be testing at Chicagoland Speedway in preparation for the July 10th USG Sheetrock 400, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event. Several Busch series teams will also test. The test is closed to the public. (Chicagoland Speedway PR)

NASCAR NYC Ratings Up: Sorry, New York, but your dirty little secret is out: You've been watching NASCAR.  NASCAR's first nine races this season have drawn a 6.2 national rating on Fox, more than double the 2.7 average the network posted for its Major League Baseball game of the week last summer.  NASCAR'S numbers aren't as impressive in New York, where it is drawing a 2.2 rating, but its Big Apple numbers are on the rise - ratings are up 10% here for the season, compared to a 5% national jump. "Anytime you see an increase of that magnitude in the No. 1 market, it's very encouraging," says Fox Sports communications manager Tim Buckman. "This is also a market that doesn't currently have a NASCAR venue."  "I think there needs to be a race track in the area for New Yorkers to come and watch a race," says NASCAR's current points leader Jimmie Johnson, who keeps an apartment in New York and met his wife here. "More and more New Yorkers are watching on TV, every cab is racing from stoplight to stoplight, and if there was a place to go watch racing, I think people would go. I think that would take the sport to the next level." (New York Daily News)

More Ratings, Pocono Final Ratings Up: Fox's broadcast of last Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway earned a final Nielsen Media Research rating of 5.6 and a 14 share, Street & Smith's Sports Business Daily reports. The rating is 7.7% higher than the 5.2 Fox drew for the June 2004 race at the track. (NASCAR Scene Plus)

June 17, 2005

NASCAR Fines Added up in 2004: NASCAR collected fines of $384,495 from 73 Nextel Cup penalties in 2004 and redistributed the money to the top 25 drivers, The Wall Street Journal reports today. As a result, champion Kurt Busch, whose team was fined $21,000 for various infractions during the season, collected $84,588. The newspaper says the NBA, the NFL and MLB turn over the fine money they collect to philanthropic organizations. (NASCAR Scene Plus)

Riggs hopes to stay in #10: Scott Riggs said Friday that he hopes to continue driving the No. 10 Chevrolet at MB2/MBV Motorsports in 2006, but the decision hinges largely on the team's sponsorship situation.   Riggs' current sponsor, Valvoline, announced recently its plans to leave MB2/MBV following the 2005 season. "We've got a couple different fish on the line, but we're trying to figure out who's going to step up and be the primary," Riggs said. "Luckily, we're in a good position because it seems like we've had a lot of calls from people interested in doing it.  "I just want to make sure everything's secure there. [MB2 Motorsports CEO and general manager] Jay Frye assures me it is. I feel like it is." (NASCAR)

Mayfield and Newman Fast in Happy Hour: Jeremy Mayfield and Ryan Newman posted identical times Friday during Happy Hour practice at Michigan International Speedway, placing a pair of Dodge Chargers atop the speed chart heading into Bud Pole Qualifying Saturday. Mayfield's 37.481-second effort came on his second lap of practice, and Newman didn't match it until the late stages. The Nos. 19 and 12 Dodges appear to be quite consistent, as well. Newman, who won this event a year ago, also paced Friday's first practice with the day's fastest lap - 192.164 mph. Mayfield was seventh. "I've always liked this racetrack," Newman said. "I've always said it's an easy racetrack to drive, but it's a great racetrack to race because of the drafting, horsepower, you've got to get through the corners to get down the straightaways. Nextel Cup Series points leader Jimmie Johnson was third overall in Happy Hour, just seven-hundredths of a second off the quick pace, and up several positions from his 10th-place rank the first practice. (NASCAR)

Tubby's Sponsors Cope at MIS: Tubby's Sub Shops will be the sponsor, along with SBC, of the #79 Conley Motorsports car, driven by Derricke Cope in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Race at Michigan International Speedway (M.I.S.) on Sunday, June 19, 1:30 p.m. The Conley Motorsports team, owned by John Conley, is headquartered in Brighton, Michigan.  Cope tested his #79 Monte Carlo, and the M.I.S track, on June 7. Cope said, "They are a great group of people and I look forward to working with John and his team."  "This is our first NASCAR sponsorship and we're especially proud to support a Michigan NASCAR racing team like Conley Motorsports, and this race at Michigan International Speedway," said Robert Paganes, president of Tubby's Sub Shops.  "The Michigan connection is very important to us. We're a 37-year-old Michigan company and, like Derricke Cope, we have lots of fans," he laughingly added. (Tubby's Sub Shop PR)

Kansas HOF "Infield of North American": Like about 100 others in a ballroom at the Westin Crown Center hotel, Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon had just heard Thursday morning's presentation on the bid to bring the NASCAR hall of fame to Wyandotte County. And like virtually every one of those 100 or so others, Reardon was left a bit breathless by what he had just seen and heard.  “I am absolutely thrilled by this,” he said.  The job now for the Kansas City Area Development Council is to make NASCAR officials feel the same way. Members of the development council and the media got to take a look at what NASCAR officials are looking at — a $100 million-plus, 100,000-square-foot-plus structure whose attractions are much more Disneyland-glitzy than archival. The hall, if awarded to Kansas City, will be built on a bluff overlooking the intersection of Interstates 70 and 435. It will be packed with high-tech, interactive gadgets such as holograms of hall members who will describe their lives and careers.  It will feature what is believed to be the largest video wall in the world and a wall of retired race cars six stories high. Video simulators in which actual NASCAR drivers will electronically help visitors drive in a virtual race are also planned. (Kansas City Star)

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

June 16, 2005

College Jocks Find Life in the Pits: After Bob Dowens finished playing college football, he turned pro. But not in the NFL -- in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.  Once a defensive back at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the 28-year-old Mr. Dowens is now a professional tire carrier in a Nascar pit crew. At Evernham Motorsports, the stock-car racing team for which Mr. Dowens works, pit-crew members practice five days a week. A pit coach studies videos to hone their footwork and hand speed. A trainer has them lift weights and run sprints.  "This is a professional sport as far as I'm concerned," Mr. Dowens said recently, drenched in sweat after a morning workout. "It's 95 degrees out, and today we were running an obstacle course. Last week, I was so drained, I almost couldn't eat lunch afterwards. This is as tough as any football practice." Today, teams like Evernham look increasingly for college jocks whose strength and speed can save precious tenths of a second in a race. One of Mr. Dowens's teammates, jack-man Ed Watkins, was a 300-pound offensive lineman at East Carolina University. The Chip Ganassi Racing team's pit crew includes baseball players from Wake Forest University; football players from Wake, the University of Kentucky and the University of North Carolina; and a hockey player from Dartmouth. Top tire-changers -- the guys who air-wrench lug nuts off and on -- can make $100,000 a year. The average at Evernham is about $60,000. Mr. Dowens figures he'll be a bit over that, with bonuses, this year. (Find Exclusively on AOL and Wall Street Journal)

Nemechek looking to stay in Cup: The NASCAR Nextel Cup team MB2/MBV is currently negotiating with Joe Nemechek of Lakeland concerning 2006 Cup racing. There are other MB2/MBV team issues that have to be resolved. One of the big questions is if Scott Riggs will be staying and who could be driving the possible third car?  According to Nemechek his current Cup contract talks could last until month's end. The contract became a big question with local fans when Nemechek announced in a TV interview last week that he would drive a Busch car full time in 2006 and field another Busch team, as well. But according to Nemechek's public relations department, his Nextel Cup ride would take top racing priority. (The Ledger)

Gannasi and Sabates Announcement at MIS: Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates will be on hand for a special announcement on Sunday, June 19th at Michigan International Speedway regarding new sponsor activities and plans for the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)

Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch in Sports Illustrated:  #5-Kyle Busch and #24-Jeff Gordon are featured in the July edition of Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine. Dubbed as a "Rookie to Watch," Busch answers questions about his racing career in the Teen bonus section. (Hendrick Motorsports)

NEXTEL Testing: 07-Dave Blaney, #31-Jeff Burton, #5-Kyle Busch abd #25-Brian Vickers tested this week at Virginia International Raceway in preparation for the upcoming road-course events at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen. (RCR and HMS Press Release)

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

PR Wire: Richard Petty Vegas Terrance construction begins