Nov. 05 - Nov. 11 2005

The News Below

• Newman Wrecks Again...

• Baldwin to Yates?

• B. Labonte to Petty's Officially

• Sorenson to start at Homestead

• Kahne new Crew Chief?

• Roush has till '09 to comply with team cap

• NASCAR announces cap rule, testing and more

• Gordon Motorsports reevaluation

• B. Labonte to 43

• Schrader wins at PIR

• Biffle foundation helps Katrina pets

• NASCAR to sell kids game

• NASCAR and NBA stars team up

• Former driver Hutcherson dies

• Yeley to be named to Gibbs #18

• Blaney looks to announce deal soon

• Stewart to appear on SpeedFreaks

• Pepsi resigns with Hendrick

• Gordon to compete in France

• FL. lawmakers back NASCAR tag

• PIR fans be prepared for traffic back-up

• Chase, and Final Texas Television Ratings UP

• J. Gordon trying different setups

• Judge rules Atlanta must make bid public

• Rudd: Taking Break from Racing

• Dale Jr on QVC "For Race Fans Only"

• IRWIN tools and Sharpie to sponsor McMurray

• MB2 names crew chief for Marlin in '06

• NASCAR day at ASU

• Riggs returns to school

• Miller Extends NASCAR sponsorship

• Busch to drive the #2 Miller Lite Dodge next season

• Diageo to be Jamie McMurray's primary Roush Racing sponsor

• Mears promoted in Ganassi Racing, moves to #42

• Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Home123 End Sponsorship

• Ford Homestead deal valued near 25 million

• Gossage upset at NASCAR

• NASCAR Texas Overnight ratings

• B. Labonte and JGR part ways after '05

• Final Atlanta TV Ratings up

• Osborne Wins WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award

• Mears to be promoted in Ganassi Camp?

• Yeley to replace Labonte?

• Brown looks to start in '06

• NBC to sell final year NASCAR television rights?

• Sponsor wants rebate?

• Edwards wins in TEXAS

• Hamlin named driver of #11 FedEx Car

• Bliss takes NetZero back to the trucks

• Record voting for NASCAR's favorite driver

• No deal yet for Busch and McMurray

Find Updated NASCAR News 24hrs a day. at the GNEXT NASCAR Articles Section

Nov. 11, 2005:

• Newman Wrecks Again...  Ryan Newman's racing luck has taken a nasty turn. Newman, who won the pole last week at Texas before crashing on his second qualifying lap, hit the wall again Friday at Phoenix International Speedway, just five minutes before the end of practice sessions on the 1-mile oval. The fourth-year driver for Penske Racing South turned a lap of 133.210 mph, the fastest of the final practice, before colliding with a car driven by P.J. Jones and smashing hard into the wall. Newman was not injured in the crash, but was disgusted by the incident. "There's no need for me to comment about what happened on the track," Newman said. "Just look at the replay on TV and paraphrase it." (ThatsRacin)

• Baldwin to Yates?  Insiders say that Tommy Baldwin is set to leave his post as crew chief of the No. 9 Dodge and join Robert Yates Racing as the crew chief for the No. 38 Ford of Elliott Sadler. Sadler has been without a permanent crew chief since October when Todd Parrott was shuffled to the No. 88 Ford of Dale Jarrett. Chris Andrews is one of the possible contenders for Baldwin's gig at Evernham Motorsports. (Motorsports.com)

• B. Labonte to Petty's Officially: Bobby Labonte, 2000 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion, will drive the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge beginning with the 2006 season, it was announced this morning by Robbie Loomis, Executive Vice President of Operations, Petty Enterprises. Labonte, 41, joins Petty Enterprises from Joe Gibbs Racing where he won 21 Cup races and the 2000 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship during his 10-year stretch with the team. He will be a teammate to Kyle Petty, and will also work first-hand with Loomis, who is rejoining the organization after a successful championship-winning stint at Hendrick Motorsports. "Winning in our sport is a learned process," said Loomis. "The heritage of Petty Enterprises, coupled with a talented, successful driver like Bobby Labonte, will lead to some great things. There's a lot of work to be done, but we have some tremendous tools here and we're excited about the future." "We're bringing some serious firepower to the #43 Cheerios Dodge next year and I am excited about having Bobby Labonte as a teammate," Kyle Petty said. "Bobby knows how to win races and how to win championships, as does Robbie Loomis." "I'm really pleased to be part of Petty Enterprises," Labonte said. "When I first came into this sport, my heroes were Terry Labonte and Richard Petty. To have the opportunity to drive Richard Petty's #43 car is something I could not have imagined growing up. The #43 knows its way to victory lane, and we'll get it back there. I am looking forward to working with Robbie, Kyle, The King and the entire Petty team. And, I'm excited about working with households names like Cheerios and Betty Crocker, along with the entire General Mills team. I had a great run at Joe Gibbs Racing, and have the utmost respect for that organization and appreciate all they did for me. I am fortunate to be going to another high quality organization in Petty Enterprises," Labonte said. "Just like Cheerios and Betty Crocker, Bobby Labonte is committed to winning, to family and to community," added General Mills Vice President Laurie Greeno. "We at General Mills are thrilled to have Bobby join the #43 team." (Williams Company)

• Sorenson to start at Homestead: Reed Sorenson is going to get a badly needed Nextel Cup start next week thanks to an old friend who has helped his career in the past. Sorenson will drive the No. 1 Dodge for James Finch, the same car owner who provided the Busch car that Sorenson drove in his second start in that series last year, at Memphis, and recorded his first top-10 finish. Sorenson is set to move to the Cup circuit next year, but unlike most rookies who run the NASCAR maximum of seven races the year before, he has just one start, at Atlanta. Finch said he's glad to help Sorenson advance his career by offering the car to drive at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

• Kahne new Crew Chief? #9-Kasey Kahne could have a new crew chief next season, with Chris Andrews taking over for Tommy Baldwin, according to team sources. Where Baldwin might wind up is unclear. At the moment Andrews said he expects to be working with Scott Riggs, the newest addition to Ray Evernham's lineup. (Salem Journal)

• Roush has till '09 to comply with team cap: The only exception to the rule will be Jack Roush's five-car armada - arguably the reason for the cap's introduction in the first place - which will be allowed to soldier on with all its entries until '09, when it is believed its current sponsorship contracts expire. Roush has fielded five Cup teams since 1998. (Speedtv)

• NASCAR announces cap rule, testing and more: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced Thursday it is taking several steps to ensure the continued growth and popularity of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, including a program that will cap the number of cars under one ownership group; institute a new testing policy; and adopt a new tire leasing program. The four-car ownership cap program starts in 2006 and NASCAR will work with groups that control more than four cars to establish a reasonable timeline for compliance. The four-car limit will extend to owners and any affiliate group, which includes situations where one or more of the car owners is entitled to receive, or actually receives, any financial consideration based upon the performance of the cars entered by the other car owners, or has any revenue sharing or ownership stake in the team. Most of NASCAR's current car owners think the cap rule is important for the continued success and growth of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. "It's a good move for the sport," said car owner Roger Penske. "It's important for the business model to remain pro-competitive for all owners. This decision will have a positive impact on our sport for years to come." NASCAR Chairman Brian France said the new steps are a continuation of NASCAR's pro-growth, pro-competition philosophy.  "The cap, the new testing procedure and the tire leasing program are in the best interest for the future of the sport," said France.  Jack Roush, owner of five cars, said he remains a critic of the cap, but added, "I'm committed to participate in this sport as long as I live. NASCAR has agreed to work with us to get us where we need to be and that's what we'll do."Other owners expressed optimism regarding the impact of the new cap rule, including Felix Sabates, J.D. Gibbs, Richard Childress, Bill Davis, Richard Petty, Cal Wells, Robert Yates and the Wood Brothers."I think it will be good for the sport," said Childress. "Personally, I could never have gotten into the sport -- the way it is today - like I did when I got in as a driver-car owner many years ago.""There needs to be a cap," said Sabates. "I think it's the best thing that's happened in a long time.""I think you're better off not having a handful of guys owning all the cars," said Gibbs. Also new for 2006 is a track testing policy that sets a schedule for when and where NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series tests are to be conducted. The scheduled tests will be the only opportunities teams will have to test at Nextel Cup tracks. Teams will be able to schedule tests at facilities that do not host NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events. There will be six test locations that include Lowe's Motor Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Testing in Daytona will be conducted January 9-11 (even-numbered cars) and January 16-18 (odd-numbered cars). The Las Vegas tests will be January 30-February 1. (NASCAR PR)

• Gordon Motorsports reevaluation: Robby Gordon, after failing to qualify at Texas, Atlanta and Kansas City, and blowing engines at Dover, Charlotte and Martinsville, is rethinking his whole operation. He's bringing in a new engineer to help crew chief Greg Erwin and a new team manager to help John Story. And Gordon will have new engines here and at Homestead, from the Dale Earnhardt Inc. shop. "John Menard (who currently provides Gordon's engines) decided it would be better this way," Gordon said. "And we'll sit down at the end of the season and evaluate. (Salem-Journal)

• B. Labonte to 43:  On Friday, November 10th at Phoenix International Raceway, Petty Enterprises will announce that Nextel Cup champion, Bobby Labonte, will drive the #43 Cheerios / Betty Crocker Dodge in 2006. Labonte won the NEXTEL Cup championship in 2000 driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, has 21 career NEXTEL Cup victories and claimed the NASCAR Busch Series Championship in 1991. Labonte started racing quarter midgets at the age of five in his hometown of Corpus Christi, TX. His brother is NASCAR champion Terry Labonte.

• Schrader wins at PIR:  A victory for Kenny Schrader was a win for Jim Pettit II on Thursday night in the Arizona Lottery 125 at Phoenix International Raceway. Needing to finish 11th or better to secure his second consecutive AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series championship, Pettit finished ninth, 14.4 seconds behind Schrader. "(It) hasn't really set in yet," Pettit said. Schrader, 50, the ironman of NASCAR, won his track-record 15th race at PIR since 1979. The race was riddled with yellow and red flags. A three-car pile-up caused a red flag before the first lap was finished.

• Biffle foundation helps Katrina pets: The Greg Biffle Foundation announced the kick off of a special eBay® auction benefiting the forgotten animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. The SUBWAY® restaurant chain, the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise and associate sponsor of Greg Biffle, and Roush Racing have donated an autographed replica hood from the #16 Ford Taurus for auction. The proceeds from the eBay auction will benefit the Foundation's "Racing for Katrina" initiative, which is raising money for the thousands of animals in need of shelter and medical attention in the Gulf Coast region. "After seeing the devastation that Katrina brought to so many homes and families, I realized there would be thousands of animals in need of care and shelter, and decided to take an active role," said Greg Biffle. "It's through partnerships with companies like SUBWAY that the Foundation is able to provide hope for rescued animals and their families." Beginning November 11th, NASCAR, Biffle, and Roush Racing fans, as well as pet lovers, can bid on this one of a kind item. To participate in the auction, fans can log on to www.eBay.com/gregbifflefoundation and enter Item Number 8721397503 or search by keyword "Biffle Foundation." The auction will begin at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on November 11 and will end on November 21. The winner will be announced on www.subway.com and www.gregbifflefoundation.com. Shipping costs are included. Bidders are encouraged to consult their financial consultant regarding tax deductions on this item. "On behalf of our franchisees, SUBWAY® is proud to assist the Greg Biffle Foundation in its hurricane relief efforts" said Tom Seddon, President and CEO of the SUBWAY® Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust (SFAFT). "We applaud Greg's commitment to help the animals, shelters, and families in the Gulf Coast Region recover from this devastating disaster." Recently, SUBWAY® Restaurants donated one million dollars to the American Red Cross. The donation was generated by a one day fundraiser contributing five percent of sales from October 23rd at all SUBWAY® Restaurants across the country. The fundraiser coincided with the SUBWAY® 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Fleishman-Hillard PR)

Nov. 10, 2005:

• NASCAR to sell kids game:  NASCAR, whose fan base represents one-third of the U.S. adult population, is hoping a new game called Race Day, which is rolling on to store shelves this week, will boost its popularity among young children. Race Day's foil packaging makes it look like a pack of trading cards, but when opened it includes a fold-out game-board track and plastic cards with punch-out pieces used to construct two cars modeled after those used by NASCAR drivers, like Jeff Gordon. "(Race Day) is not that traditional die-cast car," said Blake Davidson, managing director of licensed products for NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. "We need to grow beyond that, and that's what a product like this lets us do." Race Day is rolling out to store shelves in time for the crucial end-of-the-year holiday shopping season, and as NASCAR, whose U.S. fan base has grown 19 percent to 75 million over the past 10 years, is stepping up its effort to draw more women and children to the sport. (Reuters)

• NASCAR and NBA stars team up: The reigning NASCAR rookie of the year, Kasey Kahne, and the current NBA rookie of the year, Emeka Okafor, have teamed up for a special cause. Kahne and Okafor partnered with the Charlotte Bobcats Charitable Foundation to create Team 950. The organization will provide 40 Bobcats tickets and tickets to selected NASCAR events in the Southeast for children and youth in need. Both Kahne and Okafor say they share a passion for helping the Charlotte-area community. (News 14)

• Former driver Hutcherson dies: Former NASCAR driver Dick Hutcherson, who won 14 races in 103 starts in the 1960s, has died at the age of 73. Hutcherson died Sunday, when he suffered a fatal heart attack while traveling from Florida to North Carolina. He died at the Providence Hospital in Columbia, S.C. He joined NASCAR in 1964 after racing late models in the Midwest for almost a decade. He finished second in his second career start, then joined the Charlotte-based Holman-Moody team, for which he ran 52 races in 1965. Later, he served as crew chief for David Pearson in championship seasons of 1968 and 1969, then returned to Holman-Moody as general manager. In 1971, he and Eddie Pagan formed Hutcherson-Pagan, building race cars used by drivers such as Darrell Waltrip and A.J. Foyt. Hutcherson-Pagan still supplies parts to race teams with a truck that serves as a rolling warehouse at tracks.  A funeral was scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Raymer Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Comers Rock Cemetery in Elk Creek, Va. (Newsday)

• Yeley to be named to Gibbs #18: In a news conference scheduled for Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway, Yeley, a Phoenix native, will be introduced as the newest driver in the powerful Joe Gibbs Racing lineup. Yeley, 29, is replacing Bobby Labonte, who is vacating the No. 18 Chevrolet at the end of the season. Yeley, who has driven a NASCAR Busch Series car for Gibbs the past two seasons, joins a stable that includes Stewart and promising rookie Denny Hamlin. (AZCentral)

• Blaney looks to announce deal soon: Blaney confirmed Tuesday that he expects to seal a deal for a full-time ride perhaps as soon as next week. He's in negotiations with more than one team. Once a contract is completed, the owner could have an announcement shortly thereafter. "Hopefully, we have a contract done enough where they can announce it when they want," Blaney said. "All I can say is that I think we're close." (Tribune Chronicle)

• Stewart to appear on SpeedFreaks: The Mopar Speedshop will play host to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship contender and Team Mopar open-wheel boss Tony Stewart, as he sits down with Speed Channel's "SpeedFreaks" on Saturday, November 12. Shot on location at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nev., Stewart will chat with hosts Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys, Statt Mann Caruthers and Lugg Nuttz from the Mopar Speedshop, beginning at 12:30 a.m. EST. The famous DJ duo Crystal Method will also join the SpeedFreaks on the Mopar stage. The Mopar Speedshop is a traveling image center that features interactive displays, plasma screens, Mopar Performance Parts and technical information. (SPEED)

• Pepsi resigns with Hendrick: Pepsi and Hendrick Motorsports have extended one of NASCAR's most enduring relationships, today announcing an agreement that secures the New York-based beverage maker as a major associate sponsor and "Official Soft Drink" of Jeff Gordon's #24 DuPont Chevrolets through the 2010 NEXTEL Cup Series season. As part of the pact, Gordon in 2006 will drive Pepsi-branded race cars April 30 at Talladega, Ala., and July 1 in the company's signature event, the Pepsi 400, at Daytona Beach. NASCAR's 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001 Cup Series champion, Gordon has been associated with Pepsi since 1997 and remains its most longstanding spokesperson. (Hendrick Motorsports PR)

• Gordon to compete in France: #24-Jeff Gordon, and five-time X-Games gold medalist and rally driver, Travis Pastrana, will represent Team USA in the 18th Race of Champions - Nations Cup, Dec. 3 at the 70,000 seat Stade de France in Paris. Three years ago, Team USA - Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Colin Edwards - won the event. Approximately 10 countries with drivers from many racing disciplines, including NASCAR, Formula One and World Rally Championship, will take part in the prestigious international competition. (GM Racing PR)

Nov. 9, 2005:

• FL. lawmakers back NASCAR tag: Two of Florida's most-powerful lawmakers support creating a NASCAR license tag during a special legislative session in December, potentially boosting Daytona Beach's bid for a stock-car hall of fame. House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, and House Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, back a plan to sell specialty tags to help finance the hall of fame. Daytona Beach is trying to outbid four other cities for the project, which economic-development officials say would be a boon to tourism. "I want NASCAR to see that we take this very seriously, and we want to help," Gardiner said Tuesday. But it remained unclear whether Senate leaders also would back the idea. Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he will consider adding the issue to the special session, but said hall-of-fame supporters should have met legally mandated criteria to get the tag approved. Those criteria include paying a $60,000 fee and doing a survey to ensure enough motorists would buy the tag. (News Journal)

• PIR fans be prepared for traffic back-ups: Valley residents and race fans should brace themselves for hours of traffic tie-ups as NASCAR lovers flock to Phoenix International Raceway for this weekend's big race in the southwest Valley. State, Maricopa County and city agencies have been working closely for the past month to get cars flowing through Avondale and Goodyear as smoothly as possible, but don't expect any miracles. More than 30,000 cars will pulse through Avondale's streets two times a day for four days as race fans get in and out of PIR for the Checker Auto Parts 500. The extra cars will create hours of traffic back-ups, impatient drivers and unhappy residents who just want to get out of their cars and into their homes. "The traffic coming out of PIR after a race is the equivalent of five hours of heavy traffic on a Valley freeway," said Roger Ball, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Department of Transportation.Traffic tangles are the biggest price residents and fans pay when one of the state's largest sporting events takes over the southwest Valley, Ball said. (AZ Central)

• Chase, and Final Texas Television Ratings UP: NBC's coverage of the inaugural fall NASCAR Nextel Cup race from Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday earned a 5.1 national rating/10 share, a four percent increase from the comparable race last year (4.9/10 in Phoenix). With only two races left in the "Chase for the Nextel Cup," the eight "Chase" races are averaging a 4.5 rating on NBC & TNT, up five percent from 2004 (4.3) and up ten percent for the comparable eight races in 2003 (4.1). Season to date, NASCAR on NBC & TNT is rating a 4.7, up eight percent from 2004 (4.4). The rating for NBC's coverage of NASCAR Nextel Cup racing from Texas peaked at a 6.6/11 between 7-7:23 p.m. ET as Carl Edwards outdueled Mark Martin for the checkered flag and back-flipped his way up the "Chase" standings.  (NBC Universal PR)

• J. Gordon trying different setups: Jeff Gordon says his team has gone away from some of the setups Jimmie Johnson uses because they weren't working for Gordon. The four-time series champion has struggled on tracks 1.5 miles long and says some of that is because he doesn't share the same driving styles as his teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, including Johnson. "I've been telling them all year I can't drive it like that,'' Gordon said. "That's what I'm so proud with Steve (Letarte, new crew chief) is that we were able to start on a clean sheet. He said, 'All right, let's start from scratch. I've been hearing you talk on the radio all year long, you don't like this and this is what you need. Let's try to give you that.' "We went to Atlanta and we took all the aero guys from Hendrick Motorsports and said, 'Give Jeff that feel.''' (Pilot Online)

Nov. 8, 2005:

• Judge rules Atlanta must make bid public: A Fulton County Superior Court judge has ruled that Atlanta's bids for the NASCAR hall of fame and 2009 Super Bowl must be open to the public. Judge Michael Johnson's ruling was a setback for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Central Atlanta Progress. The two leading Atlanta business groups argued in court that they are private organizations, and that releasing the bids would hamper the metro area's ability to win big-ticket spectacles like Super Bowls and Final Fours -- prizes that mean millions to the local economy. Monday's ruling by Judge Michael Johnson backs up Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who concluded in August that the bids should be public under Georgia's Open Records Act because each promised millions in taxpayer money and involved elected officials., including Gov. Sonny Perdue and Mayor Shirley Franklin. (News-Journal)

• Rudd: Taking Break from Racing: NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Ricky Rudd released a statement saying he will "take a break" from racing following the conclusion of the 2005 season and his contract with Wood Brothers Racing. Rudd had said he would drive Penske Racing South's No. 2 Dodge for 2006 if Kurt Busch, who had signed a contract to drive the car in 2007, was not released early from his current contract with Roush Racing.   Penske and Busch announced Monday that Busch would join the team in 2006, which Rudd said prompted his announcement. "I am happy that I was able to provide [Penske Racing South] with a good alternative in case Kurt was not able to drive the No. 2 car next year, but quite frankly -- for me and my family -- the way it has turned out is a much better result," Rudd said. (NASCAR Scene Daily)

• Dale Jr on QVC "For Race Fans Only": Dale Jr. will appear on QVC Network's call-in show "For Race Fans Only" Friday at 8 p.m. ET, live from Phoenix International Speedway. This will mark Dale Jr.'s second time on QVC this season. (DEI Weekly Release)

• IRWIN tools and Sharpie to sponsor McMurray: Jamie McMurray announced that he will drive the IRWIN Industrial Tools/Sharpie Ford for Roush Racing in 2006. The announcement ends the speculation of when one of the most coveted driver's seats in racing would be filled. "The addition of Jamie McMurray as driver of the IRWIN/Sharpie Ford is a development that's exciting to our employees, customers and fans," said Eric Pinkham, director of motorsports for Newell Rubbermaid. "There's no question that Jamie now has the right tools to achieve even greater NASCAR success and make a permanent mark on racing history." IRWIN and Sharpie racing will compete in 15 races throughout the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series next year, including special Sharpie paint schemes at each event at Bristol Motor Speedway. The brands' sponsorship will feature interactive marketing at tracks, retail appearances, advertising and consumer and customer promotions. (Sharpie/Sanford PR

• MB2 names crew chief for Marlin in '06: MB2 Motorsports announced that Doug Randolph will be the crew chief for the team's #14 Chevrolet, which will be driven by Sterling Marlin in 2006. MB2 also announced that Randolph will replace Rodney Childers as crew chief of Scott Riggs' #10 Valvoline team for the remaining two races of 2005. MB2's #10 will change to #14 next season. Randolph joined MB2 following the 2003 season as crew chief for Riggs' Chevrolet. He held that post until June of this year when he was named race coordinator and driver development manager. As MB2's driver development manager, Randolph worked closely with 20-year-old Kraig Kinser and directed the sprint car racer to a pair of strong performances in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. (DMF Communications)

• NASCAR day at ASU: On Wednesday, November 9, Phoenix International Raceway will present a fascinating look at the sport, competition and business of NASCAR in a special program, open to the public, on Arizona State University's Tempe campus. NASCAR Day at ASU is an educational program for ASU students and faculty, local business leaders, media and NASCAR fans that will include four sessions of panel discussion focusing on business and career opportunities with in the sport. Panelists will consist of key players from many facets of the industry such as drivers, team owners, engineers, team and track sponsors, and public relations agencies. Other features of the program include interactive NASCAR exhibits, NASCAR show cars and displays from some of the most prominent NASCAR sponsors. Admission for the event to be held at Arizona State University's Gammage Auditorium from 4p.m. to 7p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 will be $10 for the general public and $5 for students. Tickets for NASCAR Day at Arizona State University are available by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling the ASU ticket office at 480-965-3434. (PIR PR)

• Riggs returns to school:  Carrington Middle School sixth-graders Heather Higdon and Kelsey Rothwell are nursing serious schoolgirl crushes on NASCAR driver Scott Riggs. Riggs, a Bahama native who attended Carrington and Northern High School in the 1980s, visited his old stomping grounds Monday at an event for Carrington students who made the A/B honor roll during the first nine weeks of school. Giddy with anticipation, Heather and Kelsey could hardly contain their glee when Riggs signed pennants and posters for them. Later they returned for more, asking the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver to autograph the backs of their shirts. "I was crying earlier when I found out that we'd be meeting him," Heather exclaimed. "He's my favorite NASCAR driver. I watch every race that he's in." (Herald Sun)

• Miller Extends NASCAR sponsorship: Miller Brewing Co. said Monday that it is extending its sponsorship of the Penske Racing South team with defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch behind the wheel of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge.  Busch will replace Rusty Wallace, who retired this year, beginning with the Daytona 500 in February. Milwaukee-based Miller also extended its contract with Penske Racing South through the 2010 season. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. As part of the sponsorship agreement, Busch will participate in a number of personal appearances at bars, retail outlets and events on behalf of the brewer. In addition, his likeness will be featured on Miller Lite's retail and on-premise merchandising materials, promotional programs and on the company's Web sites. (Milwaukee Business Journal)

Nov. 7, 2005:

• Busch to drive the #2 Miller Lite Dodge next season: Penske Racing South announced today that Kurt Busch will drive the Miller Lite Dodge commencing with the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. Busch, the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion, has reached an agreement with Roush Racing to be released from his driver responsibilities for the 2006 season. Busch will join Penske Racing South at the conclusion of the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. "We are pleased that Kurt and Roush Racing were able to reach an agreement on Kurt's release and appreciate the professionalism that it has taken to arrive at this result," said Roger Penske, chairman. "Kurt's joining us for 2006 will provide a smooth transition for the team and our sponsors." Busch had recently signed a multi-year agreement with Penske Racing South that was to take effect in 2007. (Penske-Racing South)

• Diageo to be Jamie McMurray's primary Roush Racing sponsor: Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business, today announced that it will take over primary sponsorship of Jamie McMurray's Roush Racing Ford beginning in the 2006 season. The company's Crown Royal and Smirnoff ICE brands will own the primary paint scheme on the Roush Racing Ford for 21 races next season, with Newell-Rubbermaid retaining the remaining 15 races. In 2004, Crown Royal became the first spirits brand to enter the sport after NASCAR announced that spirits companies would be allowed to participate as team sponsors. "We are thrilled that Crown Royal is becoming primary sponsor, and that we're partnering with one of the sport's rising talents in Jamie McMurray and one of racing's best teams in Roush," said Debra Kelly-Ennis, Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo. "As we have witnessed with both Crown Royal and Smirnoff ICE, NASCAR continues to be a great platform for our responsible drinking programs, and we look forward to having an even greater presence in 2006 to continue these efforts." "I am excited about the opportunity to start a new era in my career with Crown Royal and Roush Racing," McMurray said. "I know that with this new partnership comes greater responsibility, as I will be counted on to help Crown Royal and Smirnoff ICE reach millions of fans with messages related to the importance of responsible drinking." Extending best wishes to Kurt Busch as he heads to Penske Racing, Debra Kelly-Ennis added, "Our association with Kurt has been enormously positive, and together we've been able to connect with millions of adult NASCAR fans about the importance of responsible drinking. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors." (True Speed Communications)

• Mears promoted in Ganassi Racing, moves to #42: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) and its sponsor Chevron Products Company announced today that they have selected Casey Mears to pilot the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge starting in 2006. In addition, CGRFS has agreed to release Jamie McMurray from his contract to drive for the organization through the '06 NEXTEL Cup Series season. "We've been working hard to find a driver solution for Texaco/Havoline and we are fortunate that we could offer them Casey," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "Some recent positive developments have allowed us to make this move and we couldn't be happier with how things are shaping up for the 2006 season. Casey is a driver and a person that we think a lot of and have a lot of faith in." Mears has been with CGRFS since being selected by the organization to drive its #41 NEXTEL Cup Series entry in 2003. He has competed in 106 races and recorded two poles, three top-five finishes and 17 top-10 finishes. "I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to drive the Texaco/Havoline Dodge next season," said Mears. "Texaco/Havoline has been a sponsor in this sport for a long time and they've had an impressive list of drivers compete and win in their cars. I look forward to joining that group and taking them and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates back to Victory Lane." In 2006, Texaco/Havoline will embark on its 19th season as a NASCAR sponsor. (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)

• Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Home123 End Sponsorship: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that CGRFS and Home123 have mutually chosen to terminate their sponsorship relationship. "We have enjoyed working with Home123," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "This was a good decision for us both and our separation was amicable. We wish them well in their future endeavors." "While we have enjoyed working with the Ganassi organization and have seen benefit in the team sponsorship, we will be refocusing our 2006 dollars in other areas," said Pat Flanagan, Chief Executive Officer of Home123 Corporation. "We are committed to having marketing programs that strategically position the Home123 brand among our target audiences. We will continue to support the racing sport as the official mortgage company of NASCAR. In addition, we continue to be excited about announcing the winner of the Home123 "Pay Off Your Mortgage Sweepstakes." (Ganassi Racing/Felix Sabates PR)

• Ford Homestead deal valued near 25 million: Ford Motor Co. will pay $20 million to $25 million to be the title sponsor of Homestead-Miami Speedway's NASCAR triple-header for the next 10 years, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal reports. Terms were not reported when the deal was announced last Friday, but the weekly publication says the amount was calculated by industry insiders.  (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

• Gossage upset at NASCAR:  TMS president Eddie Gossage is upset over NASCAR officials not allowing the speedway to count down the laps on the two infield scoring towers. Other NASCAR events have the towers count upward as each lap is completed. Gossage thought it was better this weekend to count down, so the fans would see how many laps remained in the Dickies 500. Gossage said NASCAR president Mike Helton refused to allow the change.   "He said it would be confusing to the fans and to the scoring officials," Gossage said. "But you watch. Come the Daytona 500 next year, [NASCAR] will do it and have a press conference saying it was their idea." (Dallas Morning News)

• NASCAR Texas Overnight ratings:  NBC's broadcast of Sunday's Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway earned an overnight Nielsen Media Research rating of 4.4 and an 8 share in the nation's largest markets, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Daily reports. (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

• B. Labonte and JGR part ways after '05: Bobby Labonte and Joe Gibbs Racing will conclude an 11-year relationship at the end of the 2005 NEXTEL Cup Series season, Labonte and officials from JGR announced Nov. 7. Labonte's future plans, as well as a replacement driver for the #18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet, will be announced at a later date. "I regret to say that this is the final year that I will be at Joe Gibbs Racing," Labonte said. "One of the things that made this decision so difficult was thinking of all the fans that have supported me at JGR throughout the past 11 years. This relationship has lasted a long time, and I hate that it has to end. Joe Gibbs and his family gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, and I want to thank them, and all the employees at JGR, for 11 years of hard work. I will always cherish the times at JGR, and the only thing that I regret is that we didn't win more races and or championships. I wish everyone at JGR continued success in the future and I want to thank J.D. (Gibbs, president of JGR) for giving me the chance to be released from my contract early and letting me pursue other opportunities." (Joe Gibbs Racing)

• Final Atlanta TV Ratings up: NBC's broadcast of the Oct. 30 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway earned a final rating of 4.7 from Nielsen Media Research and a 10 share, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Daily reports. The rating is 2.2% higher than the 4.6 rating NBC drew for the race in 2004. (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

• Osborne Wins WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award: Bob Osborne, crew chief of the #99 Office Depot Ford, and Carl Edwards teamed up to capture their second win in a row this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Much like his win in Atlanta, Edwards only got stronger as the race went on. He led five times for 82 laps, most importantly, the final two. For bringing Edwards his fourth win of the season, Osborne was voted the WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. Edwards had the car to beat in the final stages of the Dickies 500, but an untimely caution with 15 laps left in the event forced him to work twice as hard for the victory. Osborne called Edwards into the pits under the yellow for a two-tire stop, which moved the #99 Taurus from first-place to sixth. With only 11 green flag laps in the event, Edwards gunned down the five drivers ahead of him and captured his first-ever win at Texas Motor Speedway. The panel of voters, including Dave Wellham of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a WYPALL® Wipers representative and Tony Eury Sr., all voted for Osborne as the crew chief that did the best job. "Bob and Carl can't do anything wrong," said Eury Sr. "Everybody though that he was a sitting duck on the final caution, but he made the right call. If he didn't pit for tires, someone with fresh tires probably would have passed him. If he took four tires, he would have been too far back in the field to win. Bob's two tire call won the race." Doug Richert leads the WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. This weekend marked Osborne's fourth win, which moved him to second-place. Alan Gustafson and Greg Zipadelli are tied for third-place with three wins. Jimmy Fennig, Robbie Reiser, Chad Knaus, Steve Addington and Robbie Loomis are tied for foruth-place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Fatback McSwain, Steve Hmiel, Greg Erwin, Slugger Labbe, Pat Tryson and Pete Rondeau are tied for fifth-place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. (SMC 500)

• Mears to be promoted in Ganassi Camp? There is speculation that if Ganassi can't get a top-name driver for the McMurray-Texaco ride, he is willing to promote Casey Mears. (Winston Salem Journal)

• Yeley to replace Labonte? #18-Bobby Labonte has refused for several months to talk about his future plans, and he has become increasingly testy when pressed on the issue. Labonte is being actively wooed by both Bill Davis and Kyle Petty for 2006, and Joe Gibbs, Labonte's current car owner, has been told that Labonte won't be back, according to sources. Gibbs has tentatively set a press conference for next week at Phoenix to announce J. J. Yeley as Labonte's replacement, regardless of which direction Labonte takes. (Winston Salem Journal)

• Brown looks to start in '06: Former WR (Tim) Brown said he could run a Nextel Cup team next year, Cup and Busch series cars next year, or, if delayed until '07, he could campaign a Craftsman Truck entry in addition to the Cup and Busch cars. "We think we'll be there (in 2006), but when you're talking this kind of (sponsorship) money, you never know what's going to happen. But hopefully the next couple of weeks one way or another whether we'll be on track or not." Brown said he and the Roush organization are talking with sponsors "who are looking at doing both" the Cup and Busch cars next year. "I understand we're running out of time, and everybody has to make a decision here." The former football star added that he initially planned the team for '07, but "we just got a little greedy and little aggressive and decided to try to make something happen for '06. We're close. We think we can still get it done." (Speed Channel)

• NBC to sell final year NASCAR television rights? NBC might be interested in selling the final year of its NASCAR Nextel Cup contract (2006) to TV partner Turner (TNT), according to television sources. That could be seen as a blow to the sport. NBC's new National Football League contract kicks off next season, and NBC wants its Sunday night coverage to start a 7 p.m., which conflicts with some of NASCAR's weekend time-window desires. However, according to other reports, Brian France could be prepared to announce a new TV contract for 2007 through 2112 for as much as $4 billion. France said in late September he would probably make a TV announcement within four to six weeks. Turner officials say they want "as many (Cup) races as we can get." Turner currently splits the second half of the NASCAR season with NBC, though NBC carries the year's final eight events. (Winston Salem Journal)

• Sponsor wants rebate? (#7) sponsor Jim Beam is asking Robby Gordon for a "rebate," after 13 DNF's this season. (RacingOne.com)

Nov. 6, 2005:

• Edwards wins in TEXAS: In a flashing finish under the lights, Carl Edwards blazed to his second consecutive Nextel Cup win Sunday at the Dickies 500, edging veteran Mark Martin. The crowd roared as Martin took the lead late in the race at an illuminated Texas Motor Speedway. But Edwards, Martin's teammate who celebrates victories with back flips, drew his share of the cheers when he passed Martin with two laps left and held on to take the checkered flag. Edwards' dramatic fourth victory this season seemed to surprise the 26-year-old, who admitted he woke up in the middle of the night with nerves.  "This whole deal is a dream come true," he said. "This is not supposed to happen." The top three finishers were Roush Racing drivers. Matt Kenseth finished third. Jimmie Johnson finished fifth, with points leader Tony Stewart in sixth. The two drivers are tussling for the season lead with two races to go. For TMS fans, it was their first chance to witness a second Nextel Cup race in the same season at the mammoth track. An estimated 195,400 spectators turned out for the rare late afternoon start. (Dallas Morning News)

• Hamlin named driver of #11 FedEx Car: The #11 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has named Denny Hamlin as the driver for the remainder of the 2005 season and all of 2006. After a successful four-race tryout in the #11 FedEx Chevrolet where Hamlin scored two top-10 finishes and two top-10 qualifying efforts, the 24-year-old from Chesterfield, Va., has essentially been promoted from within the Gibbs organization. Hamlin is the regular driver for JGR's #20 NASCAR Busch Series team, where he is currently fifth in the championship point standings. Jimmy Makar, a veteran crew chief who now serves as JGR's senior vice-president of racing, concurs. "Denny is ready for Nextel Cup. Each step he's taken to get to this point, he's excelled. Last year we put him in a few Craftsman Truck Series races and he always seemed to qualify and finish in or near the top-10. In his Busch debut, it was more of the same. He's run very well this year in his first full season of Busch, and if it weren't for some bad luck here and there, he'd probably have a win or two. We'd be holding Denny back if we didn't give him this opportunity." Hamlin will run for Rookie of the Year honors in 2006, as his Nextel Cup rookie status will be preserved this year by running only seven races. Hamlin will continue to drive the #20 car in the Busch Series full-time in 2006, getting as much seat time as possible at Nextel Cup venues where the Busch Series runs companion races. For the handful of race weekends where the Nextel Cup Series and the Busch Series race at different venues, Hamlin will follow a schedule similar to the one used this year by Carl Edwards, who is campaigning a full Nextel Cup and Busch Series schedule for Roush Racing. (True Speed Communication)

Nov. 5, 2005:

• Bliss takes NetZero back to the trucks: Mike Bliss will leave the #0 CNC-Haas NEXTEL Cup ride and return to the Craftsman Truck Series full-time in 2006. The former series champion will bring current Cup sponsor NetZero with him to the #16 truck ride for XPress Motorsports. (RacingOne)

• Record voting for NASCAR's favorite driver: NASCAR fans have broken their own mark, voting in record numbers for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver award. A total of 3,900,523 votes have been cast so far this season (as of end of the day Thursday, Nov. 3), topping the previous mark of 3,852,309 votes cast in 2004. Race fans have been voting at www.mostpopulardriver.com, the official voting site, since February 1. Since General Mills began sponsoring the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award at the beginning of the 2002 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, nearly 14 million votes have been cast by fans throughout the world. Fans vote at www.mostpopulardriver.com for the only fan-based official award in motorsports. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. continues to lead in the voting but is some 200,000 votes behind his pace of last season, when he won for the second straight year. Behind him in the current voting are Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson. Voting for the more than 40 drivers eligible for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award continues through 11:59am.ct, Monday, Nov. 21. Fans may vote once each day at the site.(Williams Company PR)

• No deal yet for Busch and McMurray: Jack Roush said yesterday afternoon that an agreement still hadn't been reached in the three-way negotiations to move Jamie McMurray to Roush Racing and Kurt Busch to Penske in 2006. The deal, which also would send an unnamed driver to Chip Ganassi Racing to replace McMurray, has been in the works for weeks and was reported done by ESPN on Monday. Roush Racing President Geoff Smith recently said the trade's deadline is this week. (Times-Dispatch)

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