NASCAR News March 2 - March 12, 2006

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March 12, 2006:

• Johnson edges Kenseth:  It took Jimmie Johnson 270 laps to get to the front Sunday, but that was soon enough. Johnson took advantage of a late-race caution flag, catching and passing Matt Kenseth in a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish Sunday in the NASCAR Nextel Cup UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet surged past Kenseth's No. 17 Ford on the outside after the two sped side-by-side through the third and fourth turns on the 1.5-mile oval for the final time. The winner crossed by finish line 0.115 seconds about half a car-length ahead as he led a lap for the only time in the race. Carl Edwards beat Johnson last spring at Atlanta with the same kind of move and then Johnson beat Kurt Busch with an outside pass last fall at Charlotte. (ABC News - Results - Points)

• Lester to make Cup debut: Bill Lester is expected to announce at a Tuesday news conference that he'll attempt to make the Cup race next weekend at Atlanta in a Bill Davis Racing car. If Lester makes the race, he would become the first African-American to compete in a Cup race since Willy T. Ribbs in 1986. (Roanoke.com)

March 11, 2006:

• Las Vegas Condos at Speedway: Las Vegas Motor Speedway is joining the building boom in a town where it's said the city bird is a construction crane. The track's parent company, Speedway Motorsports, announced plans on Friday for Trophy Towers, a 127-unit condominium project to be built overlooking the first turn of the 1.5-mile oval. "I have said many times that I want to make this the greatest speedway in the world," Speedway Motorsports Chairman Bruton Smith said. "We announced a few weeks ago that we were making major improvements to our infield area and to the racing surface itself. And this is another step in separating this speedway from all others." Smith said the project would represent more than $100 million of some $300 million in improvements planned at LVMS — an estimate he noted ruefully was increasing daily. (USA Today)

• Bruton wants second Cup date in Vegas: Bruton Smith wants to buy Las Vegas Motor Speedway a second NASCAR Cup race date. Smith, chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports Inc., has the money to do it. He is worth an estimated $1.4 billion, according to this month's Forbes, and ranks 562nd among 793 billionaires. Smith anticipates it would cost "upwards of $200 million, maybe $250 million" to get Las Vegas that second date. "What we need is to buy a speedway and I hope someday somebody will give me a phone call," Smith said Friday. Smith said he has no pending deal but people know "that I'm there and they know that I'm willing and that we can write a check," he added SMI owns five other tracks that run Cup races: Charlotte, Texas, Atlanta, Bristol and Infineon. Smith said he wouldn't move a race date from one of those tracks to give Las Vegas a second race. (Greensboro News-Record)

• Red Sox owner eyeing NASCAR? Daytona International Speedway is a long way from Fenway Park, literally and figuratively. But a team of executives from the Red Sox ownership group, including owner John W. Henry, visited the track at the Daytona 500 festivities last month, and sharp-eyed spectators may have spotted a small green Fenway Sports Group logo on the second-place finisher of Daytona's Craftsman Truck Series race. The logo is the most visible sign yet that the Sox ownership is serious about investing in one of the nation's most popular sports. 'It's no secret we've been kicking the tires in NASCAR -- this was a way to get our feet wet," said Mike Dee, president of the team's sports marketing subsidiary, Fenway Sports Group. ''We love the sport. We think the sport is certainly one that's growing exponentially, both nationally and within New England. If it makes sense to do more, we will." Fenway Sports Group became involved in its first NASCAR sponsorship deal in a roundabout way. In 2004, (Boston Globe)

• No Sponsorship on NASCAR Hall of Fame: In a sport famous for slapping sponsor names on every available inch of sheet metal and fire-retardant racing suit, it appears NASCAR has finally found something it doesn't want to sell. The historic moment comes deep on the 63rd page of a contract between NASCAR and the city of Charlotte to build a NASCAR Hall of Fame in the city's downtown by the end of the decade. "Neither party shall sell any naming rights or presenting sponsorship for the HOF (e.g. 'The XYZ Company NASCAR Hall of Fame' or 'The NASCAR Hall of Fame presented by ABC Company') without the other party's prior approval." Yes, it's true. The folks who this year will bring you the "Banquet 500 presented by ConAgra Foods" and the "Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500" don't want a bunch of corporate names getting in the way of the clearly stated "NASCAR Hall of Fame." "We think that would probably go beyond the bounds of good taste," said Mark Dyer, NASCAR's vice president of licensing. (Pensacola News Journal)

• Petty Movie: The Disney-backed movie on Richard Petty is on again and filming could start this fall or spring 2007, says Bill Scott with Petty Enterprises. The movie was to be filmed in either 2004 or 2005, but the script was rejected. Scott says the script has been rewritten and that actor Dennis Quaid is scheduled to play Lee Petty. (Greensboro News-Record)

March 10, 2006:

• Biffle Wins Pole: Roush Racing #16 driven by Greg Biffle won the pole Friday for Sunday's UAW-Daimler-Chrysler 400 with a speed of 172.403 mph around Las Vegas Motor Speedway's 1.5-mile tri-oval. Biffle's second career pole, knocked off Tony Stewart who qualified second at 172.068, followed by Jimmie Johnson at 171.597. Biffle's 31.322 secs. is one of three Fords who qualified in top 15, along with teammate Matt Kenseth (9th) and Robert Yates's Dale Jarrett (15th) (GNEXTINC.com Grid Line-up)

• Honda Exec. on NASCAR Racing plans: Honda Racing president Robert Clarke was asked this week if Honda will follow archrival Toyota into NASCAR. "I never say never," Clarke said. "I've learned that in this business. But we have no immediate or near-term plans to get into NASCAR. We are quite occupied with our activity in the IRL." Honda is the only engine supplier for the IRL this season because of the departure of Toyota and Chevrolet. (Dallas Morning News)

• Waltrip Tundra now available: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2006 Darrell Waltrip Edition Tundra. The Darrell Waltrip Edition Tundra is based on Tundra 4x2 and 4x4 SR5 V8 Double Cab grades. All Darrell Waltrip Edition Tundras will feature unique exterior and interior enhancements and will be available in two exterior colors, Spectra Blue Mica and Silver Sky Metallic. NASCAR Winston Cup fans will enjoy this Tundra's unique 18-inch TRD alloy wheels, unique mesh grille with color-keyed surround, TRD dual exhaust system, and Darrell Waltrip Signature badging and body-side graphics. Inside, passengers will appreciate the light charcoal cloth interior and Darrell Waltrip Signature floormats. Only 2,000 units of this Special Edition Tundra will be built. 4x2 models will carry a base MSRP of $29,615. The 4x4 model will begin at $32,950. Darrell Waltrip Edition Tundras are currently available at Toyota dealerships. (TMS PR)

• Motocross Stewart eyeing NASCAR but not just yet:  Think Richard Petty in the late 1960s and early '70s. Or maybe Dale Earnhardt a decade later. Or even Jeff Gordon as the '90s closed out. Then you'll get an idea of what James "Bubba" Stewart is to Supercross and Motocross racing. In just his fifth year of riding professionally, the 20-year-old has won four championships -- two in Supercross (indoor, man-made tracks) and two in Motocross (outdoor, natural tracks). He holds the record for the most career professional victories (47) in AMA Supercross Lites and Motocross Lites (smaller motors and half the number of races).  It is Stewart's study habits that may land him in a stock car one day. "Actually I have an interest in NASCAR for sure," Stewart said. "People look at it differently, but I consider what we're doing, with all the different people in the industry and all the guys racing, I think that's NASCAR to us. It's the top level." NASCAR -- or even racing in any type of cars -- isn't his goal just yet. He still has a lot of riding to do on a motorcycle. This is just his second full season of racing in the 250 class after dominating the 125s. Plus, he wants to make up for last year.  (In part by NASCAR.com)

• Vegas Sold-Out: For the fifth consecutive year, Las Vegas Motor Speedway has attained a virtual sellout for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Nextel Cup Series race. "The demand for race tickets in Las Vegas continues to increase every time we stage a NASCAR race," said LVMS General Manager Chris Powell. "We're especially thrilled to be announcing this sellout, given that we added the 17,000-seat Richard Petty Terrace for this year's race." A few single seats remain for Sunday's event, but Powell expects them to be sold long before the green flag falls at 1:30pm/pt [4:30pm/et]. Tickets are available for Saturday's Sam's Town 300 Busch Series race, Friday's Nextel Cup qualifying and Thursday and Friday World of Outlaws action at the dirt track. Race fans can call 1-800-644-4444 or log on to www.lvms.com for tickets and information. (LVMS PR)

• NYC Mayor Bloomberg supports NASCAR track over other businesses: Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday spoke favorably of NASCAR as a potential economic boost for the city and for the first time expressed concern about what type of business might move onto its proposed site in Bloomfield if the racetrack is not built there. "There are other uses for that land which may create worse traffic jams than the three weekends a year NASCAR wants to do," Bloomberg told reporters yesterday after marching in the Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade. In some of his most expansive comments yet on the proposed 80,000-seat track, Bloomberg called NASCAR "one of the most popular sports in this country." But the mayor said he has yet to be convinced that the Island's roads could accommodate the traffic that the racetrack would generate. "I like the idea that someone is willing to invest in New York City. (Staten Island Advance)

• FAQ on NASCAR Hall of Fame:  What will a ticket cost? Hall officials say adults will pay $17 for a ticket in the first year.  (More at WFAA.com)

• FOX brings Skycam to NASCAR: Fox officials say the network is bringing its popular Cablecam for Sunday's coverage of the UAW-DaimlerChrylser 400 Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The high-definition camera, made popular by NFL on Fox, will be suspended above the track by a system of cables, puleys and computer-controlled winches. The camera moves within a 250,000-square-foot area covering the front stretch, the start/finish line and pit road at LVMS. (NASCAR Scene Daily)

March 9, 2006:

• Carmichael looking at NASCAR ride before 2008: Ricky Carmichael is arguably the greatest motocross racer of all time. But he may trade in his two-wheel ride for NASCAR's four-wheel variety, perhaps as soon as 2008. He has a friend, mentor and supporter in Kasey Kahne, who spent last Saturday -- on a rare weekend off from Nextel Cup -- hanging out with Carmichael at the AMA Supercross at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Kahne and Carmichael are the same age (26) and share the same passion for racing, having met at the Daytona 500 in 2004 and immediately becoming friends. That friendship has helped increase Carmichael's interest in four-wheel racing. Kahne offered to set up a taste of driving a stock car last summer and Carmichael accepted. They went to the one-third mile, semi-banked Hickory Speedway in North Carolina, a classic short track where many NASCAR drivers have run before they hit the big time. Ray Evernham, Kahne's Cup team owner, provided a late model and went along to oversee the preparation. Kahne drove to set it up. "We wanted to see what feel he had for the car," Kahne said. "When a driver doesn't have any laps, Hickory is a great place to go." Carmichael not only didn't hit the wall, but also put in some good laps for a guy driving a stock car for the first time. "Ricky did a great job," Kahne said. "He did it right. We had a lot of fun." (SI.com)

• Junior Johnson movie in the works: NASCAR legend Junior Johnson has signed a life story rights deal with Fred Griffith of Follow Your Dreams Productions Inc., a Beverly Hills, Calif., motion picture company, to create a movie about Johnson's life as a moonshine hauler and NASCAR race driver. Griffith, an actor and producer who hails from South Carolina, is currently adapting a screenplay based largely on the book, "Junior Johnson, Brave In Life," written by Tom Higgins and Steve Waid. Veteran actor and producer Chris Mulkey ("Radio") has signed on as a writing producer for the film. "We plan on utilizing not only the information from 'Junior Johnson, Brave In Life,' but also the years of knowledge that Junior, Tom and Steve have," Griffith said. "We want to make a film that tells the story of a NASCAR legend and do it as accurately as possible." (ThatsRacin.com)

• signs multi-year extension with DEI: Snap-on is proud to announce they have extended their sponsorship commitment with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. - one of NASCAR's premier teams. With this multi-year contract renewal, Snap-on will serve as an associate sponsor to DEI. "Snap-on has played an important role in our team's success through the years," said Teresa Earnhardt, president and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. "This long-term renewal reaffirms the strong relationship that Snap-on and DEI enjoy. We look forward to our continued partnership with Snap-on and its quality tools." "Snap-on Tools has been a part of the DEI family since my father began racing," said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. "Their products have been in our shops for decades and we rely on them to help us win races. They've been a solid partner through the years, and it's great we can continue working with them well into the future." DEI is currently comprised of four teams - the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops, No. 8 Budweiser and the No. 15 Menard's Chevrolet teams which compete in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. They also field the No. 11 Menard's Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series. In 2005, DEI celebrated 25 years of intimidation with its 100th NASCAR win (No 8 Busch Series win at Indianapolis Raceway Park). Through 2005, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has won 16 Nextel Cup Series in DEI-built racecars. Dale Jr. was named NASCAR's Most Popular Driver for the third consecutive year, making him one of only four drivers to win the award that many years in-a-row. (Ogilvy Public Relations)

• Earnhardt to be inducted International Motorsports Hall of Fame:  The late Dale Earnhardt will be inducted into the France family's International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega, Ala., next month. And Earnhardt's birthday, April 29, will be celebrated at DEI in Mooresville that weekend. The Talladega Hall of Fame is just one of several prominent NASCAR stock-car racing museums, and many top Cup teams boast their own, such as Richard Childress' lavish layout in Welcome and, of course, Richard Petty's place in Randleman. The hoopla this week over the Frances' next proposed Hall of Fame, in Charlotte, is curious, particularly given the little promotional and marketing support the Daytona company has given its oldest Hall of Fame, at venerable Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, where the Joe Weatherly Stock Car Museum and National Motorsports Press Association Stock Car Hall of Fame has been in business for decades, on the site of this sport's first big race, the 1950 Southern 500. (Salem-Journal)

• Indy for sale rumor: Brock Yates, one of the country's best and most respected motorsports writers, speculates in this month's Car & Driver magazine that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is for sale and the France family and Disney are potential buyers. This rumor has been around for the past few years, along with the one that said Roger Penske would broker the deal for the Frances. Yes, Tony George has spent millions and millions of dollars on Formula One and keeping the Indy Racing League afloat but the Brickyard 400 remains a three-day cash cow. And Indy still makes money. Bottom line: Mari Hulman George, who remains THE BOSS of the IMS kingdom, has said time and again that Indy isn't for sale -- it's for her grandchildren. No reason to think Mari has changed her mind. (SPEED TV)

• J. Gordon wax to be unveiled: Madame Tussauds was set to unveil a life-size wax statue of four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon this week, adding Gordon to its SPEED attraction at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. SPEED is an interactive attraction dedicated to auto racing. It was opened in August 2005 with a $200,000 wax figure of the late Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time NASCAR champion. Adrian Jones, general manager of Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, said that Gordon consistently has been voted one of the most popular sportsmen in the U.S. "and is heavily requested by our guests." (AZ Daily Star)

March 8, 2006:

• Hall of Fame Racing appeal denied:  Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach's Hall of Fame Racing team will have to live with its Daytona penalty. The team's appeal was denied Tuesday by a three-person review panel of the National Stock Car Racing Commission at the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, N.C. HOF Racing's No. 96 DLP Chevrolet team was penalized 25 championship points and crew chief Philippe Lopez was fined $25,000 on Feb. 21 for using a carburetor that didn't meet regulations during qualifying for the Daytona 500.  (Dallas Morning News)

• NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte until 2038: The agreement between NASCAR and the city lasts through June 30, 2038. By then, the city will have paid all the original debt on the building. In 2033, NASCAR and the city begin a six-month negotiating period for renewing the contract. If they don't reach agreement by Jan. 1, 2034, NASCAR "shall thereafter be free to negotiate with any third party" about another hall of fame. NASCAR officials said Monday that they have no intention of leaving. (Kansas City Star)

• Bristol postpones repaving till '07: Bristol Motor Speedway will require the undivided attention of its paving engineer and contractors when it installs a new concrete racing surface on the World's Fastest Half Mile, and that's why the project has been put off until 2007. The project was very close to being scheduled for this summer. Wayne Estes, BMS vice president of communications and events, said Tuesday that Speedway Motorsports Inc. CEO Bruton Smith left it up to track President Jeff Byrd whether or not to proceed with the resurfacing in 2006 or wait until 2007. Speedway Motorsports also owns Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, both of which will receive a new surface in 2006. Ultimately it was decided that spreading the attention of Speedway Motorsports' preferred engineer, construction company and developers three ways might not produce the optimum results. (Kingsport  Times-News)

• Bill would give $60 million to Homestead-Miami Speedway: The Homestead-Miami Speedway is a tiny step closer to receiving a $60 million sales-tax subsidy, after winning approval from the House Tourism Committee Tuesday. Under bills being sponsored by Rep. Bob Allen, a Merritt Island Republican, and state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican, the Homestead landmark, which is home to the NASCAR championship race, could receive a sales tax rebate of roughly $167,000 a month for the next 30 years. But the hurdles are considerable before the bills can be considered by the full Legislature. Though the House version breezed through its first committee Tuesday, it still must pass through three additional committees. Its counterpart in the Senate needs approval from five. (Miami Herald)

• DirecTV to sponsor Martinsville race:  NASCAR partner DIRECTV, the nation's leading digital TV service, announced today that it will be the title sponsor of the upcoming NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race in Martinsville, VA on April 2, 2006 (FOX, 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time). In addition to sponsoring the DIRECTV 500, DIRECTV will also be the primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) No. 07 Chevrolet in the race with rookie Clint Bowyer in the driver's seat. "We are thrilled to be the title sponsor of the DIRECTV 500 and watch the DIRECTV Chevrolet make its Nextel Cup Series debut," said Jon Gieselman, senior vice president of Advertising and Public Relations, DIRECTV, Inc. "We hope the race fans in Martinsville and the millions of NASCAR fans watching FOX on Sunday enjoy this special event." (Martinsville Speedway PR)

Mar. 7, 2006:

• Harvick/RCR Contract:  Kevin Harvick got out of Mexico City in a hurry, leaving Sunday's Busch Series race without coming to the media center for post-race interviews as is customary for third-place finishers. According to a NASCAR spokesperson, there were security issues with crowds leaving the garage and Harvick opted to catch a plane instead of dealing with them.Whether Harvick returns to Richard Childress Racing next season will not be totally up to the 2001 Nextel Cup rookie of the year. A source close to the organization said there is concern over whether Harvick is focused enough on his Cup career to be given a long-term contract. Harvick already owns teams in the Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and is believed to be a target of Toyota as a driver and perhaps owner when the Japanese-based manufacturer enters NASCAR's top series in 2007. Harvick and team owner Richard Childress have set an April deadline for determining whether they will remain together past this season. Childress has maintained he would like Harvick back. He also admitted the decision is not one-sided. "It's got to be right for both of us,'' said Childress, who attended Sunday's race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. "It can't be right for just one. It has to be a deal that both of us believe we can win races and win championships. (NASCAR.com)

• Wheldon looking at NASCAR or F1 in 2007? Andretti/Green NASCAR? Michael Andretti says one of the reasons why IRL champion Dan Wheldon elected not to re-sign with his Andretti-Green team for 2006 is his desire to go NASCAR racing. Wheldon, who captured the Indy 500 and series title last season, will race for Chip Ganassi's team this season. Ganassi also fields a NASCAR team with Felix Sabates.  "That was part of the deal," Andretti tells a Pennsylvania newspaper. "That was one of the reasons he went there." In fact, Wheldon's manager, Julian Jakobi, indicated that he has aspirations beyond the IRL, be it NASCAR or Formula One. Jakobi added that there is language in the deal with Ganassi which includes a move up to NASCAR, possibly as early as 2007. Andretti did not discount the possibility of expanding his own team into NASCAR and competing in the Super Bowl of stock car races, the Daytona 500. "We look at all options. We're still looking at options to expand the team. Is NASCAR one of them? Maybe. But there are other areas of racing, too. If we do decide to do something, we want to do it right." (TSN)

• DIS seeks new lease today: International Speedway Corp. goes before its landlord today, requesting for a lease extension while it also has asked the state to exempt it from a regional review of a mixed office-retail-residential complex. The board of the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District convenes at 3 p.m. to hear a report from a consultant about the value of the land on which ISC's Daytona International Speedway sits. The company has asked to extend its lease to 2054 and freeze the annual rent at $500,000. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be in the law office of Cobb & Cole, 150 Magnolia Ave., Conference Room A. ISC contends the longer lease is necessary to guarantee racing will continue at the Speedway for decades to come. That stability, in turn, will help attract tenants and investors for a proposed redevelopment of the Speedplex Office Park across the street from DIS. The company also has asked the state Department of Community Affairs to exempt the project from requiring a development of regional impact permit. DRI status adds an extra layer of regulatory approval to make sure the project won't clog highways or cause other problems. (News-Journal)

• Marlin & No. 14 signs Wiley X Eyewear for Vegas: Wiley X Eyewear (pronounced Y-lee), a manufacturer of sports, casual and tactical eyewear, will be the primary sponsor on Sterling Marlin's No. 14 Chevrolet for this weekend's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The MB2 Motorsports entry will carry the black and red colors of Wiley X, a company that was lauded by the New England Journal of Medicine in the Dec. 9, 2004 issue. The renowned weekly medical publication stated that Wiley X ballistic eyewear was one of the main reasons for the decreasing amount of eye injuries suffered by soldiers. Along with being a major supplier to the U.S. Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, Wiley X produces sophisticated sunglasses for both causal, active wear and specialty eyewear for the motorcycle, mountain/street bike, hunting, boating and fishing markets to name a few. "It's hard to contain our excitement after finalizing a deal with the good folks at MB2 Motorsports to have our very own Nextel Cup car competing in Las Vegas, " said Myles Freeman, co-owner and vice president of sales for Wiley X Eyewear. "And, we couldn't have a better role model than Sterling Marlin to drive the No. 14 Wiley X Eyewear car. This race is dedicated to all of our retail customers who have helped us achieve such a lofty goal in our quest to further raise brand awareness." (MB2 Motorsports PR)

• Daytona International Speedway statement on HOF: The following is a statement from Robin Braig, President of Daytona International Speedway, regarding the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “While we are disappointed that NASCAR did not choose Daytona Beach as the preferred location for its future Hall of Fame, we are extremely proud of the tremendous efforts put forth by the Daytona Beach/Volusia County organizing committee and its supporters. “The delegation submitted an innovative proposal that presented a formidable alternative to the bids developed by Atlanta and Charlotte, and kept Daytona Beach in the running down to the end of this competitive selection process. “We are proud of the leadership demonstrated by the Daytona Beach Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce and the Central Florida Sports Commission. Their vision, complemented by the City and County, the State of Florida, the business community, thousands of volunteers and the multitude of fans was unprecedented in our area’s history. “We appreciate everyone’s efforts in this initiative and congratulate the Charlotte delegation on a job well done.” (DIS)

Mar. 6, 2006:

• NASCAR Hall of Fame awarded to Charlotte: NASCAR today announced that it has selected Charlotte, N.C., to be the home of its Hall of Fame. The NASCAR Hall of Fame, which will be a state of the art facility capturing the spirit of the sport, will honor the NASCAR icons and create an enduring tribute to the drivers, crew members, team owners and others that have impacted the sport in the past, present and yet to come. “To NASCAR fans everywhere, it is my distinct honor to announce that NASCAR has selected Charlotte, N.C., to be the home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “The winners in this process are the 75 million NASCAR fans nationwide, who will have a Hall of Fame to call their own. The City of Charlotte will welcome fans from around the country and even the world to the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said France. Charlotte’s proposal best achieves NASCAR’s overriding goal to have one of the premier hall of fames in the world of sports and entertainment. The region’s rich racing history and heritage along with the strength of the city’s overall financial structure for the Hall, represents the best fit for NASCAR, the industry and the fan-base. The Hall is expected to include exhibit space, a Great Hall, a Hall of Honor, interactive entertainment restaurants, retail outlets, and a state-of-the-art media center for the industry. The NASCAR Hall of Fame will be a special place that brings NASCAR’s history to life and preserves that history in the appropriate environments. The new facility will allow longtime fans to have the opportunity to relive NASCAR’s greatest moments and for new fans to learn about them. “Our goal has been – and continues to be – to create one of the “crown jewels” of Charlotte and the very best Hall of Fame-themed entertainment experience in the world,” said Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. “This Hall of Fame will expand the dynamic and growing sport of NASCAR racing in a dynamic and growing city. It’s a victory not only for the entire region, but for NASCAR fans across the country and internationally. We look forward to welcoming all fans for a unique and entertaining experience.” Mayor McCrory credits the regional effort and broad-based support from the business community, elected officials, the hospitality and tourism industry and NASCAR fans who supported this effort. Mayor McCrory specifically cited the strong leadership from his fellow “Crew Chiefs,” including Cathy Bessant of Bank of America; Luther Cochrane of BEK Building Group, as well as John Tate of Wachovia and Tim Newman of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. The Hall of Fame, which will be located in Charlotte’s Center City will be developed, designed, and operated by the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. The total cost of the Hall of Fame is estimated at $107.5 million. This will primarily be funded by a new two percent hotel/motel tax and contributions from the State of North Carolina and the private sector. The Hall of Fame, which will be open no later than spring of 2010, has been designed and concept by world renowned architecture firm, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. The firm has designed iconic buildings in cities worldwide, including the Javits Convention Center in New York City, the expanded Louvre in Paris, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Charlotte is the hub of the NASCAR industry. Currently 82% of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup teams, 72 percent of NASCAR Busch Series teams and 55 percent of NASCAR Craftsman Truck teams are based in the Charlotte region. The industry’s current annual statewide economic impact is estimated to be $5 billion. (NASCAR PR):

• NASCAR confirms Announcement, France expected to speak before City council:  NASCAR finally acknowledged late this morning that it will make "a special announcement" at the Charlotte Convention Center at 4 p.m. Monday regarding the NASCAR Hall of Fame. One week after the Observer reported that Charlotte's $137.5 million bid to host the NASCAR museum would be the winning effort, NASCAR will make that official at this afternoon's news conference. NASCAR sent an advisory about the event to motorsports media members and posted it on its media web site at approximately 10:40 a.m. Fans are invited to attend the session. The building will open at 3 p.m.and fans should enter via the Second Street entrance to the Convention Center. The news conference will be held in the ballroom.. (Charlotte Observer)   NASCAR Chairman Brian France expected to address council. (Live streaming video can be seen at WCNC of announcement. VIDEO: Charlotte unveils vision of NASCAR hall

• Wallace's to be featured on Biography Channel's "NASCAR Driven to win": Each racing season, millions of NASCAR aficionados tune in to America’s #1 motorsport. They revel in the pure adrenaline and drama generated by drivers and machines being pushed to their absolute limits. On March 8, The Biography Channel gets behind the wheel of an exciting and original new series produced in conjunction with NASCAR Images, “NASCAR Driven to Win.” Offering up-close-and-personal profiles of some of the racing circuit’s most popular young drivers, the series delivers an “under-the-hood” glimpse of life both on-and-off the track. Comprised of 13 half-hour episodes, “NASCAR Driven to Win” will debut new World Premiere episodes each Wednesday during March at 10pm ET/9pm CT/11pm PT. The series launches with the premieres of Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch (10:30pm ET/9:30pm CT/11:30pm PT); March 15 revs up with a premiere of Carl Edwards (10:00pm ET/9:00pm CT/11:00pm PT). Rusty and Steve Wallace’s episode will debut Wednesday March 22nd at 10:00pm ET / 9:00pm CT / 11:00pm PT on Biography Channel. It will feature exclusive interviews with several members of the Wallace racing family, including Rusty, Steve, Kenny, Mike, Greg and Katie Wallace. (RWI Racing PR)

• Cup series in Mexico Series? Team owner Felix Sabates has admitted that he's had serious discussions with several influential and presumably wealthy Mexican associates about building a ¾-mile oval near Mexico City. Sabates thinks it could happen within five years. That could pave the way for a Cup event in Mexico. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Furniture Row Racing joins with PPI: Nextel Cup's Furniture Row Racing of Denver has joined forces with North Carolina-based PPI Motorsports. The single-car teams agreed to share resources and manpower, according to Furniture Row backup driver Jerry Robertson of Arvada. obertson, who might replace veteran driver Kenny Wallace in the No. 78 Chevrolet later in the season, will become teammates with PPI driver Travis Kvapil, who drives the No. 32 Tide-sponsored Chevy. (Denver Post)

Mar. 5, 2006:

• Charlotte City Council to approve NASCAR HOF:  NASCAR is expected to declare Charlotte the winner Monday in the yearlong race to land the sport's hall of fame. Then the sprint begins. According to a preliminary schedule provided to the Observer, a 4 p.m. announcement at the Charlotte Convention Center will be followed by a 6 p.m. Charlotte City Council meeting to approve the deal with NASCAR. Critics say that leaves little time for the public to digest or comment on the details of an agreement whose key details remain shrouded in secrecy. "Speed is not the friend of the taxpayer here," said John Hood, executive director of the John Locke Foundation think tank in Raleigh. Two other boards will also take quick votes. The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority will be asked to approve the deal at the group's Wednesday meeting, according to the schedule. (Miami Herald)

   

• Lady in Black to get repaved: Darlington Raceway is slated to receive a new coat of asphalt sometime within the next two to four years. A centerpiece of Darlington's renaissance will be a repaving job, sorely needed for a grainy, worn surface marked by unsightly patches. But for track president Chris Browning, the challenge is to reinvigorate the old racetrack without changing its character; after all, the slick, slippery, tire-eating surface is a large part of Darlington's wicked reputation, and a large reason why so many drivers see it as the ultimate challenge on the NASCAR tour. "One of the things I've talked about with our asphalt and paving gurus down in Daytona, and one of the things I've challenged them with is, 'Look, guys, we've got a real racy place here. How can we repave this place and still keep it racy like it is now?' " said Browning, whose facility is owned by International Speedway Co., a company based in Daytona Beach, Fla., that operates 12 Nextel Cup venues. The repaving job, Browning said, will happen sometime in the next two to four years. There are no plans to alter the track's banking, which varies from 23 degrees in the narrow end to 25 degrees in the wider end. Repaving is but one part of an ongoing $6 million renovation project, which includes a new grandstand in Turn 1 that will increase Darlington's seating capacity by about 3,000 for the May 13 Dodge Charger 500. The infield tunnels have been refurbished, and plans are on the table to widen them when the track gets ripped up for repaving. . (Charleston Post and Courier)

• Record Atlanta Purse: NASCAR drivers competing in the March 19 Golden Corral 500, the March 18 Nicorette 300 and the March 17 John Deere 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be battling for nearly $6.5 million in posted prize money. The awards for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series events are part of a $6,452,858 purse announced for the three days of racing that comprise the March 17-19 Golden Corral 500 race week schedule of events. On Sunday, the stars of the NEXTEL Cup series will take on the high banks at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Golden Corral 500, battling for a record purse of $4,843,713. This year's purse represents an increase of nearly $200,000 over the prize money posted in the March 2005 Golden Corral 500 NEXTEL Cup race just one year ago. The purse for the first race ever held at Atlanta Motor Speedway was $39,500, a far cry from just the winner's take home pay of $147,850 for this year's race. Great seats are still available for the Golden Corral 500 race weekend, March 17-19. Contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting atlantamotorspeedway.com. (AMS PR)

Mar. 4, 2006:

• Charlotte HOF announcement Monday: New details emerged Friday about next week's expected announcement that Charlotte has landed NASCAR's Hall of Fame. An official announcement has been tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday at the Charlotte Convention Center, a NASCAR source said. Luminaries such as Gov. Mike Easley, Mayor Pat McCrory, NASCAR Chairman Brian France and Hendrick Motorsports Owner Rick Hendrick are expected to attend, said the source, who asked not to be identified because of the confidentially of the bid process. The Speed Channel, channel 67 on Time Warner Cable, is tentatively scheduled to broadcast the event live, the source said. Asked late Friday about any expected NASCAR-related announcement, McCrory declined comment. (ThatsRacin.com)

Mar. 3, 2006:

• California Speedway atop sports television ratings last weekend: 2006 West Coast Premiere of NASCAR At California Speedway Wins The Rating Race March 2nd, 2006 The 2006 West Coast Premiere of NASCAR at California Speedway dominated the Nielsen Media Services television ratings for sports this weekend (February 24-26), with both the NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series races scoring top finishes. According to data received from NASCAR, Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Auto Club 500 on Fox was number seven nationally for total households in primetime, and number four among adults, with a rating of 7.4 and average viewership of 12.5 million. The race ranks as the fourth highest rated auto racing event (with the exception of Daytona 500 broadcasts) in broadcast history. It was the top-rated competitive sporting event for the week, finishing second only to the Winter Olympics closing ceremonies. Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series Stater Bros. 300 was the No. 1 cable sporting event of the weekend, with a 2.1 rating and an average of two million households tuning in. The race finished ahead of cable broadcasts of both NBA and college basketball games (including the Celtics/Lakers game), and the PGA tour. (California Speedway PR)

• Former NASCAR driver passes away: North Carolina native James Ronald "Bunkie" Blackburn, a former NASCAR driver who once won a race at Daytona International Speedway, died Tuesday. He was 69. Blackburn died at his home, according to an announcement from Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home in Columbia. His cause of death was not available Thursday night.   Blackburn drove in the Grand National and NASCAR circuits from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, driving for teams run by Smokey Yunick and Petty Enterprises. He had four top-fives and 14 top-10s in the Grand National series, The Daily Herald in Columbia reported. Blackburn ran 71 races at 26 different tracks in his career. His top finish was in 1968, when he won the Permatex 300 at Daytona from the pole. He also won poles at Talladega and Bristol and was inducted into the Pure Darlington Record Club in 1964 after posting a record qualifying time. He finished in the top 10 twice in the Daytona Firecracker 400. (NASCAR.com)

• New role for Red Bull T.D.: Former Red Bull Racing technical director Guenther Steiner is to leave Formula 1 and move to the energy-drink company’s fledgling NASCAR outfit. Steiner’s existing role at RBR was occupied when the team hired design genius Adrian Newey last November. Steiner will move from Milton Keynes to Mooresville, North Carolina, to serve as technical director for the Red Bull Toyota NASCAR team, which will make its debut in the premier Nextel Cup category in 2007. The 40-year-old South Tyrolean described his career move as “a new, fascinating challenge. “If as a European you are asked to help set up such an ambitious project, you simply cannot say no. “I am really looking forward to working on my new task.” (ITV)

• Alert Dale Jr. fans, Bud webcast: Budweiser.com will provide a live webcast of the "One Night Stand with Dale Jr." starring NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Thursday night, March 9, from Las Vegas. The concert-style Budweiser event will begin at 11 pm ET/ 8 pm PT with the opening musical act, Sabotage, followed by a Dale Jr. Q&A session featuring video from some of his most memorable victories and moments from his Nextel Cup career. The "One Night Stand with Dale Jr." series of events are held in major cities across the United States in nightclubs and concert venues. Tickets for the events are not available for purchase, and must be secured through radio or Budweiser vendor and retail promotions. Fans 21 years of age or older may watch the live feed by logging in to http://www.budweiser.com ( Budweiser Racing PR/Fingerprint, Inc.)

• HoF racing appeal date set: Hall of Fame Racing's appeal of a fine and two points deductions meted out by NASCAR for infractions discovered at Daytona International Speedway will be heard Tuesday in Concord, N.C. The start-up Nextel Cup Series team is co-owned by former Cowboys quarterbacks and Pro Football Hall of Famers Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. HOF Racing was hit with three penalties last week after an unapproved carburetor was found following qualifying for the Daytona 500 on the No. 96 Chevrolet driven by Terry Labonte. (F.W. Star-Telegram)

Mar. 2, 2006:

• USAF at Vegas: Come out and see the United States Air Force in action as today’s modern Air Force screams across the Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 11-12. The Air Force will also have its NEXTEL Cup show car on display and members of the Air Force Recruiting Service available to talk. Secretary of the Air Force, the Honorable Michael W. Wynne will represent the Air Force at the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Secretary Wynne is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its nearly 530,000 man and women on active duty, guard and reserve, and the over 160,000 civilians, and their families. With an annual budget of approximately $110 billion, he ensures the Air Force can meet its current and future operational requirements. Watch the skies during the Sam’s Town 300 Busch series race on Saturday as two F-15C fighters from the 433rd Weapons Squadron, and two F-15E fighters from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, roar over the track during the national anthem as part of the pre-race ceremonies. Six red, white and blue F-16 Fighting Falcons in precision formation will fly over on Sunday for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NEXTEL Cup race. The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, Thunderbirds will show the power and precision of Air Force pilots and equipment that is fighting the war on terrorism around the world. (Air Force P.A.)

• NASCAR denies Charlotte HOF Report, Atlanta ups Ante to 169 mil:  Kerry Tharp, a spokesman for NASCAR, has put a damper on rumblings that the Queen City has landed the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday, citing anonymous sources, that Charlotte has won the three-city race for the coveted hall.   Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla., are also vying for the museum. "To say anyone is still no longer involved would be inaccurate," Tharp says. "From our standpoint, the process is still very much open and active." Tharp's statement comes the same day that the city of Atlanta announced it is upping its commitment to NASCAR to $77 million from $5 million, making Atlanta's total bid package for the museum $169 million. By comparison, Charlotte's bid totals $137.5 million, including about $120 million from public funds. The $102 million publicly financed piece of the Atlanta bid comprises $25 million that was previously committed by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue in state support and $77 million in funds from the city of Atlanta. The city had previously committed only $5 million to the project. Bank loans and corporate support would finance the remaining portion. "We're absolutely delighted that Gov. Perdue and Mayor Shirley Franklin see this effort as the true economic engine that we expect it to be," said Mark Lazarus, chair of Atlanta's NASCAR Bid Committee and president of the Turner Entertainment Group, a NASCAR partner. "We just found a whole lot more horsepower to go after the NASCAR Hall of Fame." (Charlotte Business Journal)

• Bill Davis Racing files motion against ruling: BDR has filed three motions: one requesting a new trial, another to request a reduction in damages and another for a judgment that it did not violate its Dodge agreement by signing the GM contract. Among the arguments are improper jury instructions and issues dealing with the way Dodge compiled its amount of damages. If Judge George Caram Steeh upholds the verdict, BDR has announced plans to appeal. Dodge terminated its contract with BDR in May 2003 after it discovered BDR's work with Toyota's truck program. (NASCAR Scene Daily)

• R. Wallace test IRL car: 1989 NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace prepared for his role as a television analyst for ABC Sports and ESPN’s coverage of the IRL IndyCar® Series by driving a Honda-powered Dallara prepared by Team Penske at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I tell you what, I gotta get one of these at home,” Wallace said. “I had a good time. I feel like I need to breathe a little while and then try it again. I need to talk to Penske about running a third car at Indy. You never know.” Wallace ran eight laps on the 2.21-mile road course. He said wanted to drive the car to experience the same thing that IndyCar Series drivers face each week. “I’m just here to see how the car accelerates and brakes. That’s it,” he said. “My goal is for when I start to talk about it, I can say ‘I’ve done that, and that’s what I feel.” Wallace said he plans to drive the Indy Experience two-seater at each IndyCar Series event to relate the unique challenges of each track. “I’m going to be doing it all year long in the two-seater,” he said. “I don’t know if you’ll see me in this car. Next time, I want to get the comfort zone a little better.” (IRL PR)

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