• Lewis not a fan of Buschwackers:  Busch Series regular Ashton Lewis Jr. had some harsh words for the Cup drivers who race semi-regularly in the support series. “Every incident that I’ve had this year, except for one of them, has been with a Cup guy,” said Lewis. “They always say that they’re coming down here to have fun and learn, but it’s not fun and learning for us. It’s us trying to make careers and run for a championship, and I think they take some chances they wouldn’t take in the Cup car and that’s unfortunate.”  (Gaston Gazette)

• Sadler Steps Out of No.66: Hermie Sadler has officially resigned as driver of the No. 66 Peak Performance Motorsports Ford effective immediately. Sadler has attempted to qualify for all 14 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series events this season, successfully making eight races. The No. 66 currently stands 40th in the owners’ points. Sadler, a veteran racer of 13 years in NASCAR’s top three series, agrees that the split is amicable and is the right decision for all involved parties. “I appreciate the opportunity given to me at Peak Performance Motorsports, but I feel at this time it is best that I step aside and allow the team to search for the combination that will help it improve,” stated Sadler. Team owner Jeff Stec will make announcement of the team’s intentions for the race at Pocono later this week. “We know that Hermie gave us his best effort each week and we appreciate what he has done for the team,” Stec said. “Peak Performance Motorsports has been proud to associate itself with Hermie and we wish him all the best." (PSE-3)

• NASCAR Nation reports; Ford named Leffler's Crew Chief: Today, a source close to Joe Gibbs Racing told me (Ralph Sheheen)  that Mike Ford will be named the new crew chief for the No. 11 and that he will be sitting on top of the pit box when the team races this coming weekend in Pocono.'  I also spoke to team president J.D. Gibbs who told me the team wasn't ready to officially announce anything but did say they were talking to Ford. Leffler's current crew chief Dave Rogers will stay with the team but in a different capacity. (FOX Sports)

• Sonoma Testing Today and Wednesday: A group of seven NASCAR regulars will be back at Infineon Raceway today and Wednesday, June 8, to put some quality time in before they race for real in Infineon's biggest event of the year, the annual Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Nextel Cup, which takes place for the 17th time on Friday through Sunday, June 24 to 26. There are 43 spaces open to qualified drivers to see if they can pass the Dodge/Save Mart test of 110 laps around the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. It takes about 1 minute, 16 seconds to make a fast lap. The NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers scheduled to participate in today and tomorrow's test sessions are Scott Pruett (No. 39 Target Dodge), Jamie McMurray (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge), Boris Said (No. 36 Centrix Financial Chevrolet), Jason Leffler (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet), Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet), Robby Gordon (No. 7 Harrah's Chevrolet) and Brian Simo (No. 33 Richard Childress Racing).  Infineon Raceway's gates open at 8 a.m and close at 5 p.m., with both days open to the public free of charge. (Sonoma News)

• NASCAR Testing at MIS: Some of the half-dozen or so cars zipping around Michigan International Speedway here yesterday were covered only in a mundane gray primer. Others had a mismatched fender, or a plain paint job, looking very much unlike the endorsement-plastered cars that we see on the race tracks each Sunday in the Nextel Cup events. But even while tooling around in these somewhat ugly ducklings, the drivers were all looking for the same thing - an edge. Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Dave Blaney hoped to find morsels of information that will help them get to the front in the first Cup race of the summer at MIS in less than two weeks.  "I've had some poles and five victories here at Michigan," said Wallace, who is in the midst of a farewell tour in his final season of racing full-time on the Cup circuit. (Toledo Blade) No speeds were reported on Monday with most of the teams continuing to test Tuesday during the two-day MIS test session.

• NASCAR Fan killed  at Dover: Police in Dover say a NASCAR race fan from Western Maryland was killed over the weekend when he was hit by a car. It happened late Saturday night when 43-year-old Robert Davis was crossing Route 13 north of Leipsic (LIP'-sick) Road -- near Dover International Speedway. Police say Davis ran in front of the northbound vehicle. An autopsy determined that Davis died of multiple fractures caused by blunt-force trauma. His blood-alcohol level was point-three-eight -- more than four-times the legal intoxication level in Delaware.  Police the driver won't be charged in the death. (WMDT)

June 6 2005

• Major Gannasi Shakeup? Sterling Marlin still hasn't been officially told what the plans are for the No. 40 Dodge in 2006, but he says he's not ready to retire. "I'd like to race another two or three years and then go fishing," says Marlin, who'll turn 48 on June 30. Marlin has spoken with several teams and hopes to have a plan solidified in the next two weeks. Busch driver David Stremme is considered the heir apparent in the 40. He could replace Marlin for the last seven races of the season, gaining experience while not jeopardizing his rookie status for next season. Changes are expected involving the No. 41 team and driver Casey Mears. Sources say owner Chip Ganassi plans to clean the entire house, making way for Busch Series rookie sensation Reed Sorenson and crew chief Brian Pattie. (FOXSport's Lee Spencer)

• NASCAR Argument Turns Deadly: According to police, it appears a fight over auto racing triggered a deadly shooting between two friends. It happened in the 2200 block of Westerland on the city's (Houston) southwest side.  Investigators say the suspect got into some type of an argument with his roommate over NASCAR racing.  The argument became so heated that the suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the other man in the chest.  The victim died at the scene. The gunman was taken into custody by Houston police. (KHOU)

• Engine of the Future Delay: NASCAR's controversial engine of the future suddenly appears all but dead, according to engine builders and car owners, after the latest round of meetings between NASCAR executives and a few Nextel Cup team owners.  However, that would lock in the current Toyota and Dodge engine designs as still technically superior to the present Ford and Chevrolet engines. And it would leave Honda - widely expected to make a run into NASCAR racing - with a clean sheet of paper to design its own new NASCAR V-8, which rivals worry would be even better than any engine in the sport right now.  NASCAR's engine of the future was to have debuted at California in February 2007. Now it has been pushed back to 2009 or 2010. (Salem-Journal)

• NASCAR PR Wire: Biffle's Richert Wins Fourth WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award

• TV Contract Negotiations: Only half the NASCAR TV renegotiations story with Fox came out last week. NASCAR officials said they had decided not to renew the final two-year option with Fox for 2007 and 2008.  But the real story, according to sources, is that Fox has proposed canceling that two-year option in order to sign a new six-year contract with NASCAR, for 2007 through 2112, for a slight bump in money. And Fox executives are reportedly pleased with David Hill's work last week at Charlotte in his negotiations with NASCAR.  Hill is Fox's sports boss; his duties have also expanded to include running DirecTV, the satellite network. It is unclear what role DirecTV might play, if any, in any new Fox-NASCAR contract. NASCAR officials are very interested in expanding their sport's international television coverage. (Salem-Journal)

• Gear Rule Changes at Pocono: Changes in NASCAR's gear rules mean competitors will not be able to shift through the turns this Sunday at Pocono. "I disagree with the gear rule," Jeff Gordon says. "At Pocono, we'll be way down on RPM, and we won't be able to shift. It's like putting a restrictor plate on the cars at New Hampshire. We won't be able to pass, and that's not a good thing." Many competitors feel the lack of horsepower will produce single-file racing. (FOXSport's Lee Spencer)

• New Models in '06? Both Chevrolet and Ford have been busy working on their new models for Cup and Busch competition starting next season. Chevrolet will debut the newly-redesigned Monte Carlo at Daytona in February 2006, while Ford will switch from the Taurus (which is no longer being built) to the Ford 500 next year. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Truex and DEI: If Martin Truex Jr. signs a new contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. as a Nextel Cup driver, as DEI officials would like, Bass Pro Shops, a part-time Nextel Cup sponsor for Richard Childress, will become Truex's primary sponsor next season. DEI has offered Truex Jr. a three-year contract. However Michael Waltrip's future with DEI is still up in the air. DEI's Richie Gilmore said he would like to keep Waltrip and sponsor NAPA, but the ultimate decision is up to team owner Teresa Earnhardt, who could make a move in the next few weeks. (Salem-Journal)

• Vegas Track Renovation: Before the 2007 Cup race in Las Vegas, he expects more than 150,000 spectators to see a completely rebuilt infield that will move pit road several hundred feet closer to the grandstand. A new media center and team garages will be erected, new spectator areas created and more space will be available for infield parking -- and partying.  He expects those projects will cost around $50 million, and he might rebuild the 1.5-mile track to improve the qualify of racing. Smith exemplifies the philosophy that if you're not getting better, you're getting worse.  He recalls a conversation he had about 12 years ago with Bill France, son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., who was the association's chairman at the time. (Review Journal)

• Labbe Recovering From Fever: Crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe is going to be out of action for a while, it appears, while battling a stubborn case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Engineer Francis Allen handled the pit-box action for Jeremy Mayfield yesterday. (Salem-Journal)

• Stewart Tired of J. Gordon "Whining":  Tony Stewart says he's tired of Jeff Gordon's "whining," and isn't worried about retaliation for the spinout Sunday that dropped the four-time champion from the top 10 in the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings. Gordon was exiting the second turn when the right front of a closely pursuing Stewart tapped his left rear, and Gordon hit the wall. Ricky Rudd, like Gordon a four-time winner on The Monster Mile, also crashed in the aftermath.  "I guarantee that next time Tony's in my way, it won't take but about a half a lap for him to be out of my way," Gordon said. "Tony was a little bit better than me, and no doubt I held him up. I just think he ran out of patience." Stewart said he won't be intimidated by the threat.  "That's fine," he said. "We can get into a car crash. It really doesn't matter to me." (FoxSports)

June 5 2005

• Biffle Wins at the Monsters Mile: Greg Biffle's surprising run to the top of Nextel Cup competition got a boost Sunday from a stunningly easy victory in a crash-filled race on The Monster Mile. Biffle got his series-leading fourth win of the season to close within 46 points of pacesetter Jimmie Johnson. The victory in the $5.5 million MBNA 400 was Biffle's first at Dover International Speedway and the seventh of his career. In a race slowed seven times for 33 of its 400 laps, Biffle won in part because he avoided traffic problems that resulted in hard crashes. Among those taken from the field were four-time Dover winners Jeff Gordon and Ricky Rudd, and Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney. (ABC News - Results - Points)

• Dupont Extends sponsorship with Gordon: DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports today announced the extension of DuPont's longstanding sponsorship of the #24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The new pact builds on an association launched 13 years ago with a flashy "rainbow" paint scheme and a 21-year-old rookie driver named Jeff Gordon. Under the new contract, DuPont continues as the primary sponsor for three years, through the 2008 racing season, with the option to extend for an additional two years. Financial terms were not disclosed.  "We're proud to have Jeff Gordon represent DuPont," said Edward J. Donnelly, group vice president, DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies. "We believe he represents the future growth of NASCAR's fan base because he can communicate with a wide range of people, regardless of where they live or what they do for a living." (Yahoo!)

• R. Gordon Wins Baja 500 Overall: Returning to his racing roots, NASCAR Team Owner/Driver Robby Gordon began his double-duty weekend with a stunning overall 4-wheel and SCORE Trophy-Truck victory in the 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race in Ensenada, Mexico. Leaving shortly after finishing the race to return to Dover, Del., to drive in Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race, Gordon charged to the front early in his No. 83 Red Bull Chevy CK1500 and stayed there, covering the brutally-tough 419-mile course in 9 hours, 10 minutes, 32 seconds, averaging 45.66 miles per hour. (Robby Gordon Racing)

June 5 2005

• NASCAR & Toyota Rift over future engines: NASCAR's meetings with the sport's four car makers about specifications for the engine of the future, tentatively designed to roll out in 2007, have been takin place since December. The Toyota engine, according to its rivals, has a technical edge in several respects, and the engine of the future project was in part designed to put all four car makers back on equal technical footing.  The NASCAR-Toyota debate comes as word breaks that NASCAR and Honda are reported to be in talks for an engine program of some sort, still undefined, but apparently tied in with NASCAR's technical institute in Mooresville. (Salem-Journal)

• Waltrip and Earnhardt, Jr. talking: After beginning the week with three days of team meetings, Director of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said all is well again at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Dale Earnhardt Jr. apologized to Michael Waltrip's crew Monday after spinning his teammate in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Gilmore said he and owner Teresa Earnhardt addressed the issue first thing Monday morning, gathering DEI managers, then crew members and finally the drivers.  "We wanted the drivers to talk amongst themselves first," Gilmore said. "That was the most important thing that Teresa wanted to handle was talk about what happened and get past it." (Times-Dispatch)

• Martin Says 15yr. ready for NASCAR now: The driver who would be Mark Martin's first choice to replace him as driver of the No. 6 Ford will not be in the car after Martin retires from full-time competition at the end of this season.  "I'll tell you exactly who I would put in the No. 6 car in a heartbeat," Martin said. "Joe Logano turned 15 a few days ago, and if NASCAR would let me I would make Jack Roush let us put him in the 6 car. He's already ready. He's the man."  Martin has been singing Logano's praises since early this year. Logano can't race in the Nextel Cup, Busch or Truck series until he's 18, but he has already made his debut in the Hooters Pro Cup series.  "I am absolutely 100 percent positive, without a doubt, that he can be one of the greatest who ever raced in NASCAR," Martin said.  (Charlotte Observer)

• Mayfield Signs Extension with Evernham: Jeremy Mayfield signed a multiyear extension with Evernham Motorsports and celebrated by posting the fastest speeds in both Nextel Cup Series practices at Dover International Speedway.  Ray Evernham said he is "very, very close" to adding a third full-time car next year.  "We're going to have to hang the 'help wanted' sign on the door looking for someone to drive it for us," Evernham said. "Within the next month, either before or around Daytona in July, we'll either say we're going to do it or pull the plug on it."  Evernham said Erin Crocker could split time with Kasey Kahne in a Busch car next year. (Times-Dispatch)

• NASCAR Declines FOX TV Option: NASCAR, the second-most watched sport on U.S. television, declined an option to extend its TV contract with Fox Sports past the 2006 racing season, said Dick Glover, NASCAR's vice president of broadcasting and new media.  Fox, NBC and Turner Sports are in the fifth year of a six-year, $2.4 billion contract to televise NASCAR races. NASCAR had to decide by May 31 whether to pick up its option with Fox through 2008. Glover said the move was made to end all of its television contracts simultaneously. (Tennessean)

• McNabb at Dover: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb chatted with Jeff Gordon and watched Cup practice from a hauler beside Richard Petty in his first visit to a NASCAR event yesterday. McNabb, who attended with members of the Urban Youth Racing School, a NASCAR program for minorities in Philadelphia, also spent a few minutes with Elliott Sadler.  "I need a roster," the All-Pro joked while staring at a line of 20 cars in the garage. In exchange for an autographed Eagles jersey, McNabb received a pair of red driving shoes from Gordon, who watched McNabb in the Super Bowl in February from a suite at Alltel Stadium. (Times-Dispatch)

June 4 2005

• Permanent ban for Hmiel? The brash 25-year-old who has served as a lightning rod for criticism and controversy has been suspended indefinitely, and it's uncertain whether he will be allowed back again. Hmiel followed a NASCAR-mandated recovery program and was reinstated five months after a positive test following a Busch Series race on Sept. 5, 2003 at Richmond International Raceway. That might not be an option after Hmiel entered uncertain ground by testing positive twice. NASCAR hasn't decided yet how another appeal would be handled. A decision could come Monday, and a NASCAR source said a permanent ban was being considered. (Times-Dispatch)

• Newman Wants Medical Crew: Ryan Newman yesterday told the American College of Sports Medicine that NASCAR does an "overall excellent" job when it comes to driver safety but took the association to task in one area.   Newman said NASCAR is remiss in not appointing a permanent safety and medical crew to travel the circuit, work crashes and provide medical attention for injured drivers. "It's a no-brainer, and I'm 100 percent in favor of it," said Newman, who addressed a seminar which was part of the ACSM's three-day meeting at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.  "It's simple. If you had to travel across the U.S. every year and had to see different doctors each place you went, would that be as good as having a doctor traveling with you who knows your medical history?" (Tennessean)

• Coca-Cola 600 Rating Up: Final Nielsen Media Research numbers show that Fox's broadcast of last Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway earned a 6.1 rating and a 13 share, Street & Smith's Sports Business Daily reports. The rating is 22.0 percent higher than last year's 5.0, and the Daily says 10.2 million people watched this year's race, up 22.9 percent from the 8.3 million last year. For the first time since 2001, however, the NASCAR race earned a lower rating than ABC's broadcast of the Indy 500, which drew a 6.5/18. (Scene Plus Daily Newsletter)

• Drivers Catching Up on Rainy Day: Many Nextel Cup drivers didn't set foot in the garage yesterday as the rain never let up. Ryan Newman said he caught up on sleep. Jimmie Johnson caught up on exercise.  "I slept in when I heard the raindrops on the bus, then got motivated, went to the gym and got six miles in," Johnson said. "Otherwise I'd sit in the bus and eat 1,000 calories instead of burning them." (Times-Dispatch)

• ISC Appeals IRS Tax Ruling: International Speedway Corp. says it plans to appeal an Internal Revenue Service request for downward adjustments on its depreciation expenses of approximately $70 million for its 1999 and 2000 fiscal years. ISC says the IRS is also expected to request adjustments for subsequent years that could have an impact on the company of $90 million to $110 million. ISC, which owns and operates Daytona International Speedway and other tracks, says it will deposit about $33 million with the IRS to cover an increased tax bill for 1999 and 2000 while it appeals. That process is expected to take six to 18 months. (Scene Plus Daily Newsletter)

June 3 2005

• Rain Halts Friday Speedway Qualifying: Rain prevented qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch series cars Friday at Dover International Speedway, meaning the grid for this weekend's races was determined by car-owner points. (Related items: Nextel Cup lineup | Busch Series lineup)  The downpour also caused postponement until Saturday of the Craftsman Truck series event. David Starr won the pole in qualifying Thursday. The green flag waves at 9 a.m. The truck race will be broadcast on a same-day tape delay at 7:30 p.m. ET on Speed Channel.  Jimmie Johnson was awarded the pole for the Nextel Cup race, and Greg Biffle will start on the outside of the front row Sunday in the MBNA 400. Johnson leads Biffle by 71 points. (USA Today)

• R. Gordon heads to Mexico, Truex, Jr. in 7 (Not 31): Today Robby Gordon he will qualify in Dover, Del., for the MBNA 400 Nextel Cup race, then fly to Ensenada, Mexico, to drive in the Baja 500 off-road race Saturday and return to Dover for the Cup race Sunday. Gordon, who will drive solo in the 419-mile Baja race, won it in 1989 and '90.  While Gordon is bouncing his No. 83 Red Bull Chevy CK1500 Trophy Truck in his first SCORE desert race of the year, Martin Truex Jr. will be putting Gordon's No. 31 (Last season's team!) Chevy Cup car through its pre-race ritual in Dover.  "Robby has a lot of respect for [Truex], so he was the perfect person to practice our car this weekend while Robby is running Baja," said Greg Erwin, Gordon's crew chief. "Martin's feedback on the car's race setup is going to be important, and we can't thank him enough for offering to help us out."  On Tuesday and Wednesday, Gordon will be at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma testing his car for the Nextel Cup race there June 26. (LA Times) LA Times incorrectly put RCR's No. 31 instead of Gordon's No. 7.

• Stewart Invites NEXTEL Drivers on DIRT: (Tony) Stewart thought he would bring a few of the guys over and let them take a few laps around his new backyard.  That modest idea has grown into an event called the Nextel Prelude to the Dream, which will be staged at Eldora on Wednesday night. Fans were calling for tickets before the event was even set, and the available seats were quickly sold out. "Some of the guys who don't know this stuff are nervous," Stewart said. "I heard they are sneaking off and getting in some practice laps on any dirt track they can find. It should be a lot of fun, no matter what happens." So far, Stewart has his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte, 2003 Nextel Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth, five-time Cup winner Kevin Harvick, Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Dave Blaney and now Elliott. The Nextel Prelude serves as a mid-week promotional tie into the Dirt Late Model Dream next weekend at Eldora. Tickets for that event remain available through the track box office at (937) 338-3815.  Stewart hopes to accommodate the droves of fans who had to be turned away from next week's star-studded event with a second big show in August. He will have fellow Nextel Cup drivers Kasey Kahne and Blaney join him then to run against the National Racing Alliance (NRA) Sprint Invaders. (Toledo Blade)

• Earnhardt, Jr., Kahne and Gordon Most Popular Driver Voting: A record 1.75 million votes have been cast for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award so far this season, and the 3.3 million-vote record set last season seems to be in serious jeopardy. By going to http://www.mostpopulardriver.com , NASCAR fans have cast over 1,750,000 votes, some of those surprising and some exactly what was expected.  Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the award the past two seasons, leads the voting this year as well, certainly no surprise. Jeff Gordon is second, followed by Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick and Rusty Wallace. Rounding out the top 10 are Tony Stewart, Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson.  Second-year driver Kahne is a solid third in the fan voting, however, which has raised a few eyebrows. The Ray Evernham #9 Dodge driver won his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race just a few weeks ago at Richmond, Va. (Chex PR)

• Earnhardt suffered Dizzy Spell? NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt acknowledged on a life insurance application shortly before his death that he once had a dizzy spell during a race, apparently a 1997 event in South Carolina in which he crashed.  The disclosure was contained in 41 previously sealed exhibits in a lawsuit against insurer United of Omaha, which refused to pay millions to Earnhardt's widow after he died in a crash at the 2001 Daytona 500.  United of Omaha claims the policy was never valid for Earnhardt because he had not taken a required physical.  The exhibits were made public Thursday after several news organizations, including the Associated Press and the Charlotte Observer , went to court and asked for them. Testimony in the case continued Thursday.  In the insurance application, submitted a month before the fatal crash, Earnhardt admitted in a handwritten note that he experienced "dizziness in race in Darlington" about three years earlier. Earnhardt crashed in the first turn of the 1997 Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C., after blacking out twice at the wheel.  The note indicated that no cause was found for the dizziness and that Earnhardt returned to racing immediately and experienced no further symptoms. (St. Petersburg's Times)

• NASCAR Primetime Races hurting short tracks: NASCAR went prime time in May, running Nextel Cup events under the lights before sellout crowds in Darlington, Richmond and Charlotte.  However, some short-track operators have not embraced NASCAR's shift to night racing, as they find themselves shortchanged at the box office. Charlie Cathell, track promoter at Delaware International Speedway, said his track loses about 200 from its average attendance of 2,000 when NASCAR races on Saturday night.  With the Nextel Cup Series scheduled to run 10 night events this season, that means the half-mile dirt track will lose about 2,000 from its overall gate — at $10 per ticket — plus concessions.  "It's a shame that NASCAR has kind of forgotten the roots of short-track racing across America," Cathell said. "They put in these night races knowing that the vast majority of short-track races are run on Saturday nights. (The Tennessean)

• Wood in the 6 Roush? It has been almost a given that Busch Series driver Jon Wood will end up behind the wheel of his family's No.21 Ford on the Nextel Cup circuit. That day could come sooner than expected if Ricky Rudd decides not to return next year.  But Wood's name also has surfaced as a potential replacement for the retiring Mark Martin in the No.6 Ford at Roush Racing and for other cars that will need drivers.  Wood, 23, drives the No.47 Ford for Tad Geschickter and remains under contract with the Roush Racing team he drove for in the Craftsman Truck Series. He said he has heard the talk about possible Cup rides but hasn't been contacted by owners.  "I'm always the last to know, but that's probably a good thing," Wood said. "The only thing I know for sure is that I'll be driving the 47 next year." (St. Petersburg's Times)

• Crash at California Speedway kills 2: Two San Diego County men died when the Porsche they were racing crashed and caught fire Thursday morning at California Speedway in Fontana, authorities said.  Benjamin Miles Keaton, 39, and his passenger, Corey Nicholas Rudl, 34, both of La Jolla, died from injuries after Keaton lost control of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT.  The car left the track, careened onto a grassy area and struck a barrier. The engine compartment then caught fire, according to a San Bernardino County sheriff's report.  On-site medical personnel, the same used for NASCAR and Indy Racing League events at the speedway, responded at 10:40 a.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, sheriff's officials said.  Rudl, who worked in Internet marketing, was pronounced dead at the scene; Keaton was airlifted to Loma Linda University Hospital, where he died about an hour later, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office. (LA Times)

• Atlanta's NASCAR HOF Impact 1 Billion:  NASCAR hall of fame in Atlanta not only would crowd downtown streets with racing fans, it also could mean worn-out bells at hotel desks, "help wanted" signs in local store windows and fat tips left on restaurant tables.  Landing NASCAR's version of Cooperstown might yield up to 1,200 new jobs and an economic impact of $1 billion for the metro area during its first decade, according to a Deloitte Consulting study passed among state officials and obtained under Georgia's open records law.  If Deloitte's numbers are borne out, that would be the equivalent of a large employer coming to town and would be "a significant pop to the economy," said Roger Tutterow, an economist at Kennesaw State University. (Pulse Journal)

• NASCAR and Canada: French-language reports from Canada say that Normand Legault, a Montreal track promoter who was at Indianapolis last weekend, was talking optimistically about a deal with NASCAR for a race at Montreal's downtown Formula One course next season.  Presumably, such a race would be under the Busch tour logo but with extra Nextel Cup drivers in the field.  According to one unconfirmed report, an announcement could be made within the next two weeks. (Salem-Journal)

• Vegas NASCAR Economic Impact:  A Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority study released on Wednesday revealed that race week had a record $167 million impact on the Nevada economy. The total sum -- $167,127,800 -- was a 17.1 increase over the 2004 figure of $142,673,400. The numbers, based on one-time expenditures, are derived from interviews with fans during race weekend and reflect money spent both at the track and away from it, including gaming expenditures. "We were surprised to hear the number," LVMS general manager Chris Powell said Wednesday. "We were pleased and also surprised by that large a leap. It just shows what a massive event this is, and how important it is to the state and local economies. We are proud of it." (Vegas Sun)

• Jarrett's Racing Adventure in trouble? Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Inc. incurred a net loss for the quarter ended March 31 and says its auditors have expressed reservations about the company's ability to continue operating. The Denver, N.C., company, which operates a stock-car fantasy driving school at several tracks around the country, including one at Lowe's Motor Speedway, says in its SEC filing it has experienced a significant loss from operations, a result of investments necessary to achieve its operating plan. From the company's creation in 1998 through March 31, Dale Jarrett Racing has incurred net losses of nearly $4.8 million. The company has a working capital deficit of more than $1 million. The company says failure to secure equity financing, raise additional capital or attain profitable operations may result in the company depleting its available funds and not being able pay its obligations. This month, Dale Jarrett Racing announced it changed from a fiscal year ending June 30 to a calendar year ending Dec. 31 to better coincide with business planning and strategy. (Business Journal)

• Texas Motor Speedway new beer/wine law: Governor Rick Perry has signed into law the "Fan Choice" legislation that will allow fans, for the first time in the nine-year history of Texas Motor Speedway, to purchase beer and wine in the grandstand concourse during major race weekends. As a result of this landmark legislation, Texas Motor Speedway becomes the first sports facility in the state to serve beer and wine as well as continue its "fan friendly" policy of permitting fans to bring their own coolers with alcoholic beverages into the facility. Texas Motor Speedway had the option to sell beer and wine or allow the fans to bring their own after passage of a local option election in 2000, and speedway president Eddie Gossage favored the option that most benefited the fan. Passage of SB 1331, authored by State Senator Jane Nelson of Lewisville and carried in the House by State Representative Mary Denny of Flower Mound, now allows the fans a choice, which is in line with every other major motorsports facility in the United States. The bill authorizes the granting of temporary beer and wine permits to be issued during major event weekends such as NASCAR or Indy Racing League races, and would also apply during practice and qualifying days of those specific weekends. The change only affects sales in the grandstand area, and will not apply to the infield, luxury suites or the Speedway Club. (Texas Motor Speedway)

June 2 2005

• Kahne and Ford Head to Court September: Ford Motor Co., eager to discover and groom future racing talent, took a chance and backed the young driver, and soon Kahne went on to win his first Busch Series race in 2003.  But he was hungry for a chance to race for the Nextel Cup.  Frustrated that Ford wouldn't allow him to race in NASCAR's premier circuit full time, Kahne secretly struck a deal, the automaker says, to drive Dodge-powered cars in fall 2003. In 2005, he won his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race, the Chevy American Revolution 400 on May 14, driving a No. 9 Dodge Charger.  Ford is now suing Kahne, 25, for breach of contract. The two sides head for trial in September.  According to court records, the case has become a bitter standoff between one of NASCAR's biggest financial backers and its rising star.  U.S. District Judge Robert H. Cleland summed up the case at a hearing last week: The company "lost a diamond in the rough," who jumped at the chance to make more money before his contract was up and gambled that Ford might sue him.  Kahne's lawyers have blasted Ford repeatedly, noting that Kahne won rookie-of-the-year honors in the 2004 Nextel Cup season with a Dodge team. He earned $4.8 million racing in 2004 and has pocketed $1.7 million this year. (Seattle News)

• DEI Chassis Changes: While some teams use chassis built in-house to incorporate details that make them more suitable to their driver's styles, DEI is taking a chassis it bought from a manufacturer and modifying it in an attempt to develop a feel that works best for Earnhardt Jr., Waltrip and Martin Truex Jr.  The chassis has been tested at Kentucky Speedway, but DEI has yet to try it in a race just yet.  Truex almost drove the chassis at Charlotte, but went with a more proven car. Earnhardt thinks it will make a big difference once the refined car becomes part of his arsenal.  Still, a period of adaptation comes any time there's a change within an organization. DEI might adapt quickly – at least that's what Junior's hoping for, as he's not about to write off this season just yet.  He believes DEI's on the verge of turning things around in a big way.  (ESPN.com)

• Nazareth Sold for 19 Million: Pennsylvania International Raceway and its parent company, International Speedway Corp., announced an agreement yesterday to sell Nazareth Speedway to a real estate company for about $19 million.  Closing of the transaction is expected no later than Nov. 30, contingent upon whether the buyer, Brookside Realty, runs into problems getting approval from Lower Nazareth Township for its redevelopment plans for the 158-acre site.  Nazareth Speedway suspended major motorsports operations last summer. Its final race was the Indy Racing League's Firestone Indy 225 in August.  This season, NASCAR's Busch Series and IRL's IndyCar series events were transfered from Nazareth to Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, another ISC property. (Philadelphia Daily News)

• Skinner Back in Davis Car: The No. 23 History Channel AUTOMANIAC Dodge Charger at Dover International Speedway is Chassis No. 75.  It has been run as the No. 23 Dodge in the past, but has since been rebuilt to comply with the new 2005 rules.  Make it two again this weekend at DIS and at MIS … Bill Davis Racing confirmed Sunday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that Skinner and Scott Wimmer will team up at least two more times this year to compete in the upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races at Dover International Speedway and Michigan International Speedway this month. Skinner most recently raced in the Coca-Cola 600 at LMS this past weekend, but fell out of competition early due to engine problems (started 22nd, finished 41st). He also piloted the No. 23 BDR Dodge last month at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where he was taken out of contention in the 25-car pileup on lap 132 of the 194-lap event (started 34th, finished 42nd). (Bill Davis Racing)