NASCAR France Family News Page 3

France "No Free Pass into Chase": The potential absence of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon from this year's Chase for the Nextel Cup might leave the 10-race playoff without NASCAR's two biggest stars, which chairman Brian France views as proof that merit trumps popularity. Contrary to a rumor on some racing-related Internet sites that NASCAR might allow fans to vote in a driver this season in hopes of increasing viewership for NBC (which takes over coverage Saturday), France reiterated the sanctioning body's commitment to a points system, installed last year, that qualifies the top 10 drivers plus any within 400 points of first place for the Chase. "We have to be, and we will be, a performance-based series, and you have to perform," France said during Tuesday's teleconference. "The drivers would not want ... to limp in on a fan vote. They want to earn their way in or not earn their way in. "I hope we have all the drivers that everybody likes, but sometimes it's time to see drivers have a moment. Greg Biffle is having his moment right now. It's not just one driver or another. It's about performance and letting people who are earning it keep going." (USA Today)

France on TV negotiations: The current $2.6 billion television contract with Fox and NBC runs through 2006, but negotiations for a renewal have been ongoing. "As it stands now, there's not any time urgency. Negotiations or discussions that we're having are all ahead of schedule," he said. "We're having those kind of conversations you want to have with good partners about figuring things out." (USA Today)

NASCAR Day in Tucson: In conjunction with a NASCAR fan festival at Tucson Mall, mayor Bob Walkup has declared Monday as NASCAR Day in Tucson. NASCAR 101, the event held at Tucson Mall by Phoenix International Raceway at 6:30 p.m. Monday, will feature drivers Kurt Busch and Brendan Gaughan and Fox Sports analyst Jeff Hammonds. (AZ Daily Star)

NEXTEL Cup to Sprint in '07: Barring an unexpected snag, NASCAR's top series will undergo another name change, beginning with the 2007 season. The company created by the merger of Sprint and Nextel is expected to take on the name Sprint. And the name of what is now known as the Nextel Cup Series will also change to the Sprint Cup Series, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Executives of both companies are expected to formally approve the company's new master brand name within the next two weeks. An announcement of the branding change for the Cup series would follow, sources said. Sprint in now headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., and Nextel in Reston, Va. "No decision has been made. Obviously, we are conducting extensive research because we want to do this right," NASCAR spokesman Michael Mooney said Sunday. "We expect to make a decision (on the company name) by the end of the month." (Charlotte Observer)

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)

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)

France Family Voted Newsmaker of the Half-Century by AARWBA Members: The France Family, whose vision and leadership turned NASCAR stock car racing from a loosely-organized Southern-based attraction into the country's second-most popular sport, Saturday was named Newsmaker of the Half-Century by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association during the annual AARWBA members breakfast. Newsmaker of the Half-Century, determined by vote of AARWBA members, is the most important event of AARWBA's 50th Anniversary Celebration. AARWBA is the country's oldest and largest organization of motorsports media professionals. The France family received 28.5 percent of the vote among 12 nominees for the award. A record number of AARWBA members participated, according to President Dusty Brandel. The Hulman-George family, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and responsible for building the Indy 500 into the world's largest single-day sporting spectacle, finished second in the voting with 26.3 percent. The two families combined to capture almost 55 percent of the total vote. Lesa France Kennedy, president of International Speedway Corp, was present for the announcement. She accepted a specially commissioned painting, by artist Hector Cademartori, depicting the family's 50 years of achievement from Brandel and AARWBA 50th Anniversary Celebration Chairman Michael Knight. AARWBA also will donate $1,000 to Speediactrics at the Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., in honor of the France family. Mario Andretti was third in the voting, with 8.2 percent. Roger Penske and the late Dale Earnhardt tied for fourth, each with 6.7 percent. Also nominated were: Kenny Bernstein, John Force, A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon, Dan Gurney, Wally Parks and Richard Petty. To learn more about AARWBA, visit the AARWBA.org. (AARWBA)

NASCAR Alabama Plates Available: Alabama motorist will have a chance to show their true racing colors Tuesday when the Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles allows state race fans to begin purchasing "Race Plates" as their official registration license plates. The 20 distinctive license plates are sponsored by the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Eighteen current stars of the Nextel Cup Series are available to choose from, including Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bill Elliott, Ryan Newman, Michael Waltrip, Matt Kenseth, Jeremy Mayfield, Tony Stewart, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Kyle Petty, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton. (Alabama Live)

NASCAR Launches Fan Club; NASCAR Convention to Come: During its quiet launch, the club has signed 10,000 members. The Official Members Club has 10 local employees. Stoneacre will move into a 6,000-square-foot office in the University area next month. Brady knows the fan-club and customer-reward industries well. In his previous job at Cyrk, another Boston firm, he established a popular Beanie Babies membership program and also worked with NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Brannan anticipates launching a national fan convention in conjunction with the NASCAR club within a few years. Tim Newman, chief executive at the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, has broached the idea of recruiting a national fan convention if the city can win the bidding for the proposed NASCAR Hall of Fame. "I'm sure we'll look at doing a convention," Brannan says. "I think NASCAR would prefer sooner rather than later." (Charlotte Business Journal/MSNBC)

NASCAR in Canada '06 or '07: Toronto officials jumped into the mix with a proposal that Mosport, a venerable road course an hour east of the city of some five million, be the site for a NASCAR race. In fact, one of Toronto's largest newspapers insists that "it's a given," that NASCAR will, indeed, run a race in Canada in 2006. Given the Canadian weather, speculation has been that June or August are the two best months, with August given the better shot.NASCAR officials are heading to Canada this month to check things out at various ventures with various businessmen. One corporate hangup is that Molson, the Canadian brewer, has long been dominant in every major form of Canadian racing, but NASCAR would like to bill its first Canadian venture under its Busch logo. It is unclear how Molson's merger with Coors, a longtime NASCAR sponsor, might affect any NASCAR options there. (Salem-Journal)

Decision on Sprint-NEXTEL Cup Name by July: Nextel officials have accelerated their timetable to formalize name changes for the new merged Sprint-Nextel company and the Nextel Cup Series, but a name change of NASCAR's top series is unlikely until at least the 2007 season. Officials hoped to have a decision by September, but now expect a decision on the direction of the new company's master brand by July. "We have committed to NASCAR that by the middle of July at the latest we will make the decision on the direction of the Cup brand," said Mark Schweitzer, senior vice president of marketing for Nextel. (TheState)

Coinstar and NASCAR reach Agreement: Coinstar Inc., a provider of coin-counting, electronic payment, and entertainment services, on Friday said its Sugarloaf Creations Inc. unit signed a licensing deal to manufacture and sell NASCAR Inc. products for its line of entertainment equipment. Sugarloaf will make and distribute NASCAR products, including hats, watches and plush, vinyl, beanie plush and capsulated toys. Coinstar said the product line will be distributed via Sugarloaf's network of skill crane machines and bulk vending equipment. Coinstar said the merchandise will be available beginning this fall, and the company plans to expand to Sugarloaf's more than 18,000 locations in the next one to two years. (Business Week)

NASCAR Day Celebrated Around the Country: NASCAR Day is being celebrated across the United States today, as the largest annual charity event of NASCAR is bringing together fans from all walks of life for the common cause of helping young people. For a $5 donation, fans can receive a commemorative 2005 NASCAR Day lapel pin and have the opportunity to wear their favorite NASCAR apparel to work today. Proceeds go to the three NASCAR Day designated charities -- Victory Junction Gang Camp, Speedway Children's Charities, and Speediatrics. Each organization shares the common denominator of improving the lives of children in need. More than 2,500 companies nationwide are participating in NASCAR Day, more than triple last year's number. There is corporate participation in all 50 states, with more than 1 million corporate employees exposed to NASCAR Day. To date, 25 Governor's Offices have officially proclaimed May 20 as NASCAR Day in their respective states. (NASCAR)

ISC Looks to Build Offices, Shopping Center and more: International Speedway Corp. announced Thursday it wants to demolish most of its Speedplex Office Park and replace it with a 600,000-square-foot office and shopping center. An 18-screen movie theater, a new eight-story corporate headquarters and a big-box store would anchor the $75 million-plus lifestyle center proposed for ISC's existing 50-acre office complex. Specialty stores, restaurants and dozens of upper-story residential lofts would fill out the project. Five buildings, originally built more than 30 years ago for the General Electric Co., would be razed. "We view this development as an opportunity to reinvest in the local community and unlock the full value of this prime acreage located across the street from the world-famous Daytona International Speedway," said Lesa France Kennedy, ISC president. (NewsJournal)

25 Governors Declare NASCAR Day: NASCAR Day is receiving national support in 2005, as 25 Governors' Offices from across the United States are expected to officially proclaim May 20 as NASCAR Day in their respective states. NASCAR Day is the largest annual charity event of NASCAR. For a $5 donation, fans can purchase a NASCAR Day lapel pin and have the option of wearing their favorite NASCAR apparel to work on May 20. All proceeds go to the three NASCAR Day designated charities -- Speedway Children's Charities, Victory Junction Gang Camp, and Speediatrics. Fans may participate by visiting NASCAR.com and following the link to NASCAR Day. Pins are also available at all AutoZone stores nationwide and all SunTrust Bank branches in the southeast. (NASCAR)

France Denies Leaving NASCAR: NASCAR chairman Brian France continues to deny any plans to leave his family's sport any time soon, but the speculation is hotter than ever this week that once France finishes the new TV negotiations, sometime over the next year, he will, indeed, be moving on. France won't discuss the family business in any detail, and NASCAR is a private family venture, unlike the publicly-traded International Speedway Corp. However, insiders say that France has sold, or is selling, or plans to sell his shares in NASCAR to the rest of the family. (Salem-Journal)

NASCAR Exec's Head North: Daytona executives are expected to fly north in the next week or two to check out possibilities for their planned north-of-the-border expansion. And the latest thinking is that the Mosport road course near Toronto has moved to the top of the NASCAR list. Canadian sources say that it is almost a certainty that NASCAR will schedule a Busch race in Canada in 2006, hoping for success similar to that of its Mexico City venture of two months ago. The two cities in the running are Toronto, the country's largest, with 5.3 million in the greater metropolitan area, and Montreal, the second largest, with 3.2 million. (Salem-Journal)

S. Carolina Tags Support Children: Nearly five years after parking his race car at the Statehouse, Jeff Burton has seen the success of an idea he supported to help troubled children. The plan, backed by Burton and his wife, Kim, to use proceeds from sales of South Carolina NASCAR license plates for charity gave its first major donation of $17,000 from the South Carolina Emergency Shelter Foundation to the McCormick Children's Home Inc. "This is a really neat deal," Burton told The Associated Press by telephone this week. "For a while, we weren't sure how this would turn out. We're really glad it's going like this." (CNN/SI)

NASCAR Official Recovers from Surgery: Veteran Official Pete Babb Recovering from Cardiac Surgery: Pete Babb, NASCAR’s senior official who has served the sport for more than 50 years working in a variety of capacities, is recovering from cardiac surgery that was performed on Monday, May 2 at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala. Babb, who celebrated his 78th birthday on April 30, has most recently been a fixture in the NASCAR Busch Series garage. He was at his post at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend before being transported to the hospital. Babb will remain at Carraway before returning to his home in Chesapeake, Va., to continue his recovery. “Pete is a beloved and respected figure,” said NASCAR Vice President of Communications Jim Hunter. “He will be in everyone’s thoughts and prayers. We wish him all the best. People like Pete Babb helped make NASCAR the great sport it is today.” (NASCAR PR)

NASCAR Banquets Set: NASCAR has officially set Friday, Dec. 2 as the date for this year's Nextel Cup awards ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, and has moved the Truck Series banquet away from the weekend of the season-ending races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Truck banquet will be held on Dec. 11, two days after the Busch Series ceremony, with both set for the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando. (NASCAR PR)

Alabama NASCAR Tags: For Talladega race fans, specialty NASCAR license plates are coming around again. The state Department of Motor Vehicles has approved 20 vehicle tags featuring 18 current NASCAR drivers as well as the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. and a special Alabama Gang tag. The tags are to help keep the financially plagued International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum in business. The hall will receive $30 per tag. The tags will cost $50 more than a normal car tag. They will be a special-order item and will take three to four weeks to produce. Hall of Fame director Jim Freeman said the tags can be ordered from the probate offices of county courthouses beginning about the middle of May. (Tuscaloosa News)

NASCAR Releases Busch Official over incident: Johnny Sauter's race team is not alone in feeling the consequences from a rules violation in Saturday's O'Reilly 300 Busch Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. A NASCAR official has lost his job over the incident, in which an unapproved carburetor was found on the No. 1 Dodge in postrace inspection. The violation led to Sauter's disqualification from a 14th-place finish and a four-race suspension for crew chief Joe Shear Jr. While NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Wednesday that he could make no comment on personnel issues, the Observer confirmed that Woody Neese is now no longer employed as a Busch Series official and that his departure stems from the incident. Neese declined requests for comment. (ThatsRacin)

NASCAR Gets Award, well sort of: NASCAR has been named one of 12 recipients of the annual "Jefferson Muzzle" awards, given by The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression to call attention to those who disregard the Founding Father's admonition that freedom of speech "cannot be limited without being lost." NASCAR was cited for its $10,000 fine and 25 driver point penalty assessed to Dale Earnhardt Jr. for using an expletive in a nationally televised TV interview following his Nextel Cup Series victory last season at Talladega, Ala. In responding to a reporter's question about the significance of his win, Earnhardt Jr. replied, "It don't mean shit right now. Daddy's won here 10 times." The Center issued the following explanation for its selection of NASCAR: "As a private corporation, NASCAR may establish rules by which its drivers must abide. Since there is no state actor in play here, there is clearly no First Amendment violation. But it is important to recognize the power imbalance inherent in the contractual relationship between NASCAR and the drivers. (ThatsRacin)

France and NFL Rumors again: When asked about selling off his shares of NASCAR or ISC stock back to the family, presumably to finance an NFL bid, France would not discuss it. "We don't get into any of our family planning within the business," the 42-year-old executive said. "We do all kinds of financial transactions within the family. "What I can tell you is that I'm heavily invested in the industry of NASCAR. I have a financial interest that, in my little world, is very important to me and I plan on keeping for a long time." When pressed for more information, France would not budge off the non-comment. "The public company (ISC) has various filings we've had, but we've never talked about the infrastructure of the private company and I can't get into that," he said. "I'd break the family tradition." The rumor that France wanted to buy into the NFL started near the end of the 2004 racing season and has followed him into 2005 like his own shadow. (The-NewsJournal)

NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge presented by Motorola: Presented by Motorola, NASCAR's top pit crews to compete for cash, prizes and bragging rights Reinforcing the status of the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge as one of the nation's elite sporting events, Nextel and NASCAR today announced that the first NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge presented by Motorola will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, at the Charlotte Coliseum. The only event of its kind officially sanctioned by NASCAR, this inaugural contest will pit the nation's favorite over-the-wall athletes against each other in seven head-to-head skills competitions designed to showcase the talents of NASCAR's top crew members. Components of the competition include individual and team contests for tire changers, tire carriers, gas men and jack men, and the competitors will earn at least $200,000 in guaranteed cash and prizes. 'The NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge is one of the many ways that Nextel is helping to raise the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge to the next level,' said Mark Schweitzer, senior vice president of marketing for Nextel Communications. (dBusiness)

New Cup Name in 2006: It may have taken more than a year, but most NASCAR race fans have gotten used to the name change that took place at the beginning of 2004 when Nextel took over as the NASCAR Cup Series' primary sponsor. But, don't start getting too used to the Nextel Cup logo because thanks to the impending merger of Nextel and Sprint, next season race fans will have to try to remember a brand new sponsorship name and logo. Corporate leaders from Nextel and Sprint are currently sitting behind closed doors trying to decide - among other things - what to call NASCAR's premier touring division in 2006. Nextel Director of Corporate Communications Mike Mooney said Thursday the merger won't have anything but a positive effect on NASCAR Nextel Cup racing, except for causing fans to have to get used to a new sponsorship name for the second time in three years. ..."The Sprint folks are very supportive and enthusiastic of the NASCAR program, and in fact Sprint was a primary sponsor of Petty Enterprises for a number of years, so they understand the value of NASCAR," Mooney said. "Right now there are a lot of people doing brand studies on the name, but there hasn't been anything formally announced. There won't be any new name for the series in 2005, but I would imagine the new name in 2006 will reflect where the new company is heading. "At the end of the day, we want fans to recognize that regardless of the name, the people are still here and still committed to racing. Even if the name changes, the sport stays the same." (The Kingsport Times-News)

Brian France on the way out? Despite the denials, sources continue to indicate that Brian France’s tenure as leader of NASCAR could be shorter than expected, NFL or not. There is credible word that Jim France, brother of Bill France and vice chairman/exec vp of NASCAR, and Bill France’s daughter, Lesa France Kennedy, are seeking to acquire Brian’s shares in the company. Why this would be done is not clear, and it may have nothing to do with the NFL. Brian France has denied this as well. “I have a huge economic interest in this industry today, and I plan to have for a long time,” he told USA Today in February. (SPEEDTV)

France and Johnson Talk NFL Franchise to LA: Former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson says he and NASCAR chairman/CEO Brian France have held discussions concerning the purchase of an NFL team for Los Angeles. Johnson, a co-chairman of NASCAR's diversity committee, said he has met three or four times with France in Los Angeles, where France has a home, and he said the two will meet again in two weeks. "I'm working on trying to bring the NFL back to L.A.," Johnson said in a telephone interview Tuesday night. "I've met with the league three, four, five times, hopefully to be a minority owner." Johnson has established several businesses since retiring from the NBA, bringing movie theaters and Starbucks franchises to inner-city locations — including Los Angeles. He has an ownership stake in the Lakers and is a club vice president. In his capacity with NASCAR, he is trying to help get more minority-owned businesses involved in the sport. Los Angeles, the nation's No. 2 media market, hasn't had an NFL team since 1995. NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said during his annual state of the game address before the Super Bowl that the league intends to return a team to the Los Angeles area sometime this decade. (USAToday)

New Racing Magazine: Racing Fan magazine reaches newsstands next Monday - a bold effort by a major publisher to tap into NASCAR mania. Sporting plenty of big photos and the same oversize format as ESPN The Magazine, Racing Fan leads with cover boy Dale Earnhardt Jr. ("10 Things You Don't Know About Jr.") and ranks "10 Crashes That Shook NASCAR's World." First on the list, of course, is father Dale Earnhardt's fatal wreck at Daytona in 2001. Another ranking, "The Sweetest 16," is topped by the '74 Dodge Charger, which Richard Petty called "probably the best overall car we ever had." Time4 Media, the Time Inc. unit that publishes Field & Stream and other enthusiast titles, will put out a second issue in May before deciding on the mag's future. The word at Time Inc. is that Racing Fan, which has no business ties to NASCAR, has already impressed company executives. Some 20,000 copies of the inaugural issue have already been reserved by visitors to NASCAR.com. (NY Newsday)

NASCAR Fan points program available: Stoneacre Partners announces today the launch of NASCAR RacePoints(SM), a new rewards program designed for NASCAR(R) fans who use the products and services of official NASCAR sponsors. With its new MBNA NASCAR RacePoints(SM) VISA credit card, MBNA America Bank, N.A. has become the first issuing partner of NASCAR RacePoints. For the first time ever, the MBNA NASCAR RacePoints VISA credit card allows consumers to earn one NASCAR RacePoint for each dollar spent in net retail purchases. "MBNA America Bank, N.A., the issuer of the officially licensed NASCAR VISA credit card, has become an important partner in NASCAR RacePoints," said Patrick Brady, Chairman and CEO of Stoneacre Partners, LLC. "MBNA provides the program with an anchor brand and product that enables race fans to earn NASCAR RacePoints through any purchase made with the MBNA NASCAR RacePoints VISA credit card." "NASCAR RacePoints allows our customers to earn points simply by using their MBNA NASCAR RacePoints VISA credit card for everyday purchases. Points can be redeemed for NASCAR gear, collectibles, and once-in-a-lifetime NASCAR experiences," said Frank McKelvey, Senior Executive Vice President of MBNA America Bank, N.A. (NASCAR PR)

France AND NFL Rumors: Brian France's on-and-off plans to get into the National Football League as part-owner of a proposed new Los Angeles franchise may be back on again, according to sources who say France is working with Magic Johnson on various NFL-NBA angles. Johnson is on the NASCAR business roster to help this sport's diversity program. The latest thinking on France-to-the-NFL is that he will complete NASCAR's current round of TV renegotiations before making any big moves. France has insisted he's not planning on leaving NASCAR anytime soon, though he has left the door open. (Winston-Salem)

NASCAR to Franchise? Ganassi hopes so: Last winter, some of the larger teams approached NASCAR with the idea of becoming franchises within the organization. As it stands now, teams are independent operators that have no financial share of NASCAR. Franchising would give the teams a monetary book value they now lack. But Ganassi, who owns 10 cars in four series (Nextel Cup, Busch, IRL, GASC) says the value is there. "Sponsorships, physical plants, equipment, contracts all mean something," Ganassi said. "Racing operations all have the challenges of traditional sports teams – payrolls, competition and the demands to be successful to win support. "But there are also some major differences. There's no players union in racing (nor are there pension plans). We don't have home courts. In your traditional sports, half the teams will win every day. We're like golf in that respect. All our stars are always in one place, with one winner. "But every racing team is part of the pie, just like the Pirates and Cubs are part of the National League." With the difference that racing teams are not officially part of the organization. (More at Union-Tribune)

Another Division of NASCAR in China? NASCAR went to Japan in 1996-98 for exhibition races. Helton said it was not an "experiment." He said NASCAR went there all along with the thought it was a temporary exhibition series to showcase NASCAR. Don't underestimate NASCAR's "international" plan now, even though it now is modest. NASCAR just got back from its first crack at Mexico, with a successful Busch Series race that is a tier below its premiere Nextel Cup Series. While NASCAR's international plan probably won't include Nextel Cup races in China, or anywhere outside of North America, it could mean the creation in the future of a China NASCAR series, similar to Mexico's Desafio Corona and Canada's CASCAR. Both national series are supported by NASCAR and operate using rules, guidelines and business plans similar to NASCAR. The Desafio Corona, in its second season, already is the top national series in Mexico. With Formula One struggling, NASCAR sees an opening. Other countries already targeted as possibilities to be added to NASCAR's growing empire include Germany, United Kingdom, Brazil and a return to Japan. France said racing is second only to soccer in worldwide sports popularity. France would just like to see those fans prefer racing "NASCAR style." Someday, he might. (ThatsRacin/Miami Herald)

Frances in Forbes Billionaire List: Brothers Bill and Jim France clocked in 507th with $1.3 billion each, up from $1.2 billion in last year's list. The France family owns NASCAR and are major holders of stock in International Speedway Corp., all based in Daytona Beach. (News-Journal)

GA NASCAR Tags: Georgia's interstates have long resembled the Daytona 500. State lawmakers are trying to make it official, giving the green light Thursday to NASCAR-themed license plates for Georgia motorists. Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) said a constituent driving through Mississippi noticed a Dale Earnhardt tag there and asked him to bring them to Georgia. Senate Bill 168 would allow Georgians to choose from about 40 plates featuring drivers, including the late champion Earnhardt and racing legend Richard Petty. If the House agrees, the plates would cost $25 and be available beginning in January. Passage in the House shouldn't be a problem: It approved a resolution Thursday making every April 29 Dale Earnhardt Day in Georgia. Before approving the plate, some senators jokingly concocted an amendment to exclude a certain No. 24 from the selection. That would be the highly successful, love-him-or-hate-him driver Jeff Gordon. When asked why he'd singled out Gordon, Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) kidded: "I'd like to say no comment. I may quickly foreclose any political future I have. I sort of like my state Senate tag." (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

NASCAR Paying BIG Bucks for Lobbying in NYC: Guy Molinari's biggest lobbying payday is coming from the Florida-based International Speedway Corporation, which is seeking to build a NASCAR raceway on a huge 660-acre swath of property beneath the Goethals Bridge. Reports show that the company has signed a three-year consulting contract with the former borough president, agreeing to pay him up to $540,000 at a rate of $15,000 per month. Although Molinari partner John D'Amato is also working for the company, contract language makes it clear that it's Molinari they want: The deal is void if the former borough president leaves the firm. Molinari said the contract's unusual length wasn't his idea. "It was their estimation it would take three years before they get all their approvals." Molinari inked his deal with the company last May and brought his new client straight to City Hall to meet with the mayor. "I contacted somebody in the mayor's office asking for the meeting, like we do with all elected officials," said Molinari. In addition to Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff attended, as did Economic Development Corporation president Andrew Alper. On Molinari's side of the table were the speedway operators, along with their local partner, Related Companies, which is seeking to build a giant mall alongside the track. Steve Ross, chairman of Related and a close friend of Doctoroff, was among those attending, said Molinari. (Village Voice)

More NASCAR Hiring, USC Official Joins NASCAR: Kerry Tharp, associate athletic director for media relations and sports information at the University of South Carolina, is expected to become manager of public relations for NASCAR's Charlotte office. His decision comes less than two months after USC Athletic Director Mike McGee announced his retirement. "The opportunity came out of the blue," Tharp told The (Rock Hill) Herald. "A guy who was a college classmate of mine asked me if I was interested in a position they were creating up there." That classmate, Mark Dyer, is vice president of NASCAR's Charlotte office. A NASCAR spokesman says Tharp hasn't been hired yet, although the two parties have had conversations about Tharp joining the company. (Biz Journal)

NASCAR Hires Kerry/Edwards PR: NASCAR announced the hiring of Marcus Jadotte to manage NASCAR’s national media outreach efforts. Jadotte will be based in NASCAR’s Daytona Beach headquarters and will be responsible for strategic planning and execution of all media outreach efforts nationally. “Marcus’ experience on the national stage along with his leadership ability is going to be a great asset for all of NASCAR,” said NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter. Most recently, Marcus worked for the Kerry-Edwards 2004 Campaign as the Deputy Campaign Manager. Prior to the campaign, Marcus was the Chief of Staff for the United States House of Representatives, Office of Congressman Peter Deutsch. Marcus brings with him over ten years of communications/political experience and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Florida State University.(NASCAR PR)

NASCAR Looking North of the Border: The popular stock car series is definitely interested in expanding north of the border, Robbie Weiss, managing director of NASCAR International, said Friday. "It's a matter of time before we work something out," he said in a telephone interview from Mexico City, where the NASCAR Busch series is holding its first points race outside the United States this weekend. Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver have been cited by NASCAR officials as attractive markets. Weiss said weather in Canada left only June, July and August for racing, a period in which the 37-race schedule is already crowded. "Another challenge is that you already have a number of events, whether in motor racing or cultural activities, in each of those markets," he said."Not only do you not want to cannibalize any of those, but from a commercial standpoint, there's not a lot of openings. You need a bit of breathing room to make sure your event is successful." (TSN.ca)

Bill France, Jr. in the Music City: For the second year in a row, Bill France Jr. will help kick off the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series racing season at Nashville's Music City Motorplex. Accompanying Mr. France will be NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter. Mr. Hunter serves as NASCAR's Vice President of Corporate Communications, Regional Touring and NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Opening day, set for Saturday, March 19th, with heats and feature races for all three of the track's 5/8 mile NASCAR divisions, Late Model Stocks, Super Trucks and Grand National Sportsman. The grandstand gates will open at 4:30pm with MMRA Mini Cup Tour events at 5pm and the NASCAR races getting the green flag at 7:05pm. Saturday adult tickets are $10, with accompanied children 11 and under admitted free. On Sunday, March 20th, the track's ¼ mile divisions will begin their season with events for TN Outlaws, Thunder Stocks, Legends, Bandoleros Outlaws, and Front Runners. On Sunday, adult tickets are $5 and children 11 and under admitted free. Grandstand Gates will open at noon with the first race set for 2pm. (Speedway PR)

NASCAR Urged to Switch to Unleaded: NASCAR is under fire from environmentalists for using leaded gasoline more than six years after the Environmental Protection Agency asked the stock car racing industry to switch to unleaded. "By permitting the continued use of lead, your organization may be putting millions of spectators and nearby residents at unnecessary risk of suffering serious health effects," environmental group Clean Air Watch said in a recent letter to NASCAR Chairman Brian France. "Because of the clear public health threat, lead is being eliminated from gasoline throughout most of the world," the letter said. "If Kazakhstan can eliminate lead from gasoline, why can't NASCAR?" (Sun Herald)

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