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NASCAR
NEXTEL
NEWS & Rumors
November
28, 2004:
Plane Crash, NBC Sports
President Dick Ebersol
Crashed:
A charter plane carrying
NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol crashed and burst into
flames during takeoff Sunday, killing at least two people
and seriously injuring Ebersol and one of his sons. Rescue
crews were searching for another son. Dick Ebersol and
son Charles Ebersol survived the crash at the Montrose
Regional Airport outside this southwest Colorado town, NBC
said in a statement through its Denver affiliate KUSA-TV.
The station said crews searched for Teddy Ebersol by
helicopter and on the ground. NBC said the seat was missing
from the wreckage. Eyewitness Chuck Distel told KUSA-TV
that one of the wings and the cockpit was ripped off the
plane after it skidded sideways. "There were two people
outside the airplane when we pulled up. Both of them pretty
much were in shock," he said. (Dick Ebersol, is key figure
in
NASCAR On NBC)
(Yahoo/AP)
Washington Not Done With NASCAR Track?
The welcome news that the county, along with
Marysville, is "backing away from the table" on the proposed
NASCAR track there, raises some troubling questions.
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon gave some totally
credible and convincing reasons for his change in position,
after many months of openly and actively promoting the
venture. My problem with this is, all of these reasons he
now cites were blatantly obvious to hundreds, if not
thousands, of citizens long ago. Does the man
have a hearing problem and didn't hear us? Or does he really
have other reasons, which he isn't sharing with us? Or does
he suffer from a disconnect between the empirical evidence
in his hands and the unavoidable conclusion that the track,
even if ecologically and economically desirable, would cost
too much public money in exchange for too little from the
International Speedway Corp.? (Marysville
Herald)
NASCAR TV Talks: When
NASCAR holds its award banquet in New York City this week,
there will be plenty of behind the scenes deal making. One
of the biggest discussions will be over the future of
NASCAR's television contract. In 1999 NASCAR inked a $2.4
billion deal with FOX and NBC/Turner, which gobbled up TV
rights through the 2006 season. FOX has a two-year option
through the 2008 season. So up for grabs is the second half
of the Cup season beginning in 2007, a position NBC/Turner
has enjoyed since the 2001 season. NASCAR brass will sit
down with its current television partners this week to
review the 2004 season, look ahead to next year and begin
talks about a contract in 2007. NASCAR would prefer to
retain its current dance partners. "Clearly, from our
perspective, we are very happy with our current partners,"
Dick Glover, NASCAR's vice president of broadcasting and new
media said. "We would love to extend and be in business with
them for a long period of time." But as the rights for 2007
and beyond go on the auction block, there are two
interesting factors to consider: The NFL's newly inked $11
billion television contract and the ABC Sports/ESPN group
waiting in the tall weeds to make a bid. ABC Sports may be
saving up to increase the ante on NBC/Turner. ABC pulled out
of extending its BCS contract in college football, which
would have cost $80 million a year in broadcast rights fees.
Back in 1999, ESPN was the big loser in the NASCAR TV wars,
after spending nearly two decades broadcasting stock car
races and building the sport on a national scale. The
starting line for 2007 TV rights is New York this week as
the NASCAR community gathers to honor Nextel Cup champion
Kurt Busch. "During banquet week we sit down with them
(broadcast partners) and review the year and look forward to
the year coming," Glover said. "We'll start talking to them
about opportunities going forward. Our goal is to work with
them to find some kind of agreement to go forward for the
longer term. When we're ready to announce it, we hope they
will have a big smile on their face and we'll have a big
smile on our face."(Daytona
Beach News Journal)
Schrader back in ARCA:
Ken Schrader, driver of the Nextel Cup #49 BAM Racing Dodge,
will also run five ARCA RE/MAX Series events in 2005. If
Schrader is able to make all five events, the season will
mark his most ARCA Series starts in any given year since the
Fenton, Missouri native first raced with the series at
Daytona in 1981. Schrader, with sponsorship from Federated
Auto Parts, has plans to enter RE/MAX Series events at Salem
Speedway, Toledo Speedway, Gateway Int’l Raceway, Michigan
Int’l Speedway and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile-dirt
track. Schrader, in 34 career ARCA RE/MAX Series starts, has
11 wins, 11 Pork pole awards, 22 top-5 finishes and 25
top-10s. In addition, Schrader has led 1,417 laps in 20
races. Other events on Schrader’s 2005 calendar under the
Federated Auto Parts banner include at least nine NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series races and at least 20 dirt late model
events spread out across the country with the possibility of
adding more in each category. In 2004, Schrader raced in
over 40 short-track races on dirt in a combination of late
models and UMP modifieds. Veteran crew chief Donnie Richeson
is slated to crew chief Schrader’s RE/MAX Series cars as
well as his Craftsman Truck Series machines.(ARCA
Racing site)(11-28-2004)
November
27, 2004:
NASCAR holding back
Toyota: Sources say NASCAR wants Toyota to
spend a year in the Busch Series, perhaps as early as 2006,
before making the jump to Cup. To prepare for Toyota's
arrival, Ford has stepped up factory backing, including
adding Brewco Motorsports and driver David Green to the
family. A second driver in the No. 27, possibly former Busch
and trucks champion Greg Biffle, could race a partial Busch
schedule in 2005. Biffle wants to scale back his Busch
schedule and is also considering a Ford ride at ppc Racing.
Carl Edwards will take Biffle's vacated No. 60 Roush ride.
(Fox Sports)
November
26, 2004:
Odds for 2005: Nextel
Cup odds have already been established for the 2005 season.
Jimmie Johnson is a 9-2 favorite of one Internet site, with
Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon second at 6-1. Kasey Kahne was the
No. 5 favorite with the same odds as 2004 champion Kurt
Busch -- 8-1 -- and lower odds than former series champions
Stewart (10-1), Matt Kenseth (10-1), Bobby Labonte (30-1),
Dale Jarrett (40-1) and Rusty Wallace (50-1).(Indianapolis
Star)
November
25, 2004:
Penske Says No to Jack Daniels:
Some within the Penske has family has
rejected the Jack Daniels Sponsorship of the 4th cup car of
Travis Kvapil (NASCAR Scene)
Tony Stewart Named
Fourth Quarter NASCAR USG Person of the Year: It’s not
often that an event can benefit so many people, but that’s
exactly what a benefit concert hosted by the Tony Stewart
Foundation did this summer, raising over $270,000 for the
Victory Junction Gang Camp, the Easter Seals West Kentucky,
the Dream Factory-Paducah Chapter and the Luther F. Carson
Four Rivers Center. For his efforts, Stewart has been named
the 2004 Fourth Quarter NASCAR USG Person of the Year.
"It's an honor to be selected as the fourth-quarter winner,”
said Stewart. “This is a special award, because it's not
about what you do on the race track, it's about what you do
with your heart. I know that the previous winners of this
award were some very deserving people, and to join them
means a tremendous amount to me." Stewart created his
Foundation in 2003 to assist groups caring for chronically
ill children and drivers injured in motorsports, as well as
to support other charitable organizations in the protection
of animals. Other charities the Foundation supports include
the Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Indiana
Special Olympics, Greyrescue (Greyhound Rescue Organization)
and Charlotte (N.C.) Metropolitan Zoo. USG (United
States Gypsum), a promotional partner of NASCAR, is in its
second year as sponsor of the NASCAR USG Person of the Year
program. The award is designed to honor drivers not only for
their accomplishments on the track, but for their community
service contributions and charitable efforts. To
determine the NASCAR USG Person of the Year Award winner,
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season is divided into four quarters
in which drivers are nominated for their off-track efforts.
A select group of panelists chooses one of the four
quarterly finalists as the NASCAR USG Person of the Year.
This award will be presented the week of the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup Series Awards Ceremony in New York City, along with a
prize of $100,000. The prize will be divided evenly between
the driver and the charity of his/her choice. Other
notable nominees were Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Jeff
Burton. Gordon was the first quarter nominee, Elliott Sadler
the second quarter nominee and Dale Jarrett was the third
quarter nominee. In addition to the NASCAR USG Person
of the Year, USG also sponsors the Driver of the Race Award,
which goes to the eligible winning driver of each of the 36
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship events. Each USG
Driver of the Race Award winner receives $2,500 with an
additional $2,500 going to the charity of his/her
choice.(NASCAR PR)
Tornado Hits Talladega:
A line of tornadoes Wednesday that destroyed dozens of
Alabama homes, killing one woman and injuring at least two
other people, left survivors to rummage through the
destruction on Thanksgiving Day. Scattered damage also was
reported in Dallas, Clay, Etowah and Talladega counties. A
huge scoreboard was flattened at the Talladega Superspeedway,
and three airplanes were blown over at the adjacent
Talladega Municipal Airport. The storms, spawned by an
advancing cold front, also caused flooding and power outages
from central Alabama north to the Tennessee Valley region of
north Alabama. On the coast, a water spout was reported over
Mobile Bay.(Alabama
Live)
November
24, 2004:
Las Vegas to honor NASCAR
champion Kurt Busch on Dec. 5: Local race fans will get
an opportunity to welcome hometown hero and newly crowned
NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch back to Las Vegas
during a special celebration at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5 at
the Fremont Street Experience. "It's an honor to be
recognized by the people of Las Vegas for what we have
accomplished," Busch said. "I'm looking forward to having an
opportunity to celebrate and share this championship with
everyone in my hometown." Officials from local, state and
federal offices will be on hand to make special
presentations to Busch, a graduate of Durango High School.
The ceremony, which will be held on the First Street Stage
near the Golden Nugget, will be free of charge and open to
the public. Busch will be on hand to address the crowd -
only 14 days following his clinching of one of motorsports'
most coveted titles. "It's hard to believe that just five
years ago we were watching Kurt race Modifieds and Legends
at the Bullring," said Chris Powell, Las Vegas Motor
Speedway general manager. "His rise to the top of NASCAR's
premier series has been phenomenal. It's a special time for
our entire community to have a local product like Kurt win
NASCAR's biggest championship. This puts him in an elite
group with Greg Maddux and Andre Agassi as one of Las Vegas'
biggest sports heroes. "We're happy that we can do our part
to recognize his outstanding accomplishments, and we invite
everyone in the Las Vegas area to join us on Fremont Street
Dec. 5 to show Kurt how much we appreciate what he has
done." For more information on this event, please contact
Las Vegas Motor Speedway's public relations department at
(702) 632-8266.(LVMS PR)(11-24-2004)
Gaughan Dispute's reports:
Brendan Gaughan told Sirius Speedway, Tuesday that, contrary
to published reports, he has not been told whether he will
return to the #77 Kodak Dodge next season. "They haven't
told me anything," said Gaughan. "But then again, I haven't
asked. I'm working on some things for myself next year,
including a minimum 18-race Truck Series program at Orleans
Racing. I have also had quite a few team owners approach me
about possibilities for next year; people who obviously
don't think the driver was the problem (with the #77) this
season. I'm not too worried about it. If they decide to ask
me back, we'll deal with it then." Gaughan said he enjoyed
his relationship with co-owner Doug Bawel and sponsor Kodak
this season, calling them, "super people to work with."
However, he added that he was disappointed with the team's
poor performance, saying, "I'm in racing because I love it.
It's not about the money for me. I'm a competitor, and I
want to run up front and contend for wins. If I'm not doing
that, I'm not happy." The Las Vegas native said he would not
necessarily return to the #77 next season, even if asked. "I
would have to give it some thought," he said. "I think the
world of Doug (Bawel) and Kodak, and Roger Penske is a very
difficult man to say no to. But another year like we just
went through? I don't know. I guess I'll just wait and see
if an offer is made, then see what's in my heart at that
time."(MRN Radio/Sirius
Satellite Radio))
Stewart's Pit Crew Edges
Earnhardt Jr.'s Crew For Season Title, $200,000 Champion's
Bonus: The pit crew for Tony Stewart captured the season
title in the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled
by POWERade. The #20 Home Depot/Joe Gibbs Racing crew will
collect a $200,000 champion's bonus from McDonald's/POWERade,
Dec. 3 in New York City. By winning the weekly competition
three times and earning $20,000 for each victory, the total
prize money earned in 2004 by Stewart's crew was $260,000.
In the 36-race competition, Stewart's crew defeated the pit
crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr. by a mere four points - 1262 to
1258. Earnhardt's crew won the inaugural McDonald's/POWERade
championship in 2003. Elliott Sadler's crew, a seven-time
weekly winner, finished third with 1248 points. The crew for
Nextel Cup champion, Kurt Busch, was fourth (1240) and Kevin
Harvick's crew rounded out the top five (1222). "I think
it's awesome that my guys won the McDonald's/POWERade pit
crew championship," said Stewart. "They've worked hard all
year, in the gym and at the race track. And when track
position was tough to come by, they gave it to me with fast
pit stops. My guys definitely earned this championship."
Stewart's over-the-wall crew consists of: Chuck White (jackman),
Tom Dean (front-tire carrier), Mike Lingerfelt (front-tire
changer), Jody Fortson (rear-tire carrier), Todd Foster
(rear-tire changer), Jeff "Gooch" Patterson (gas man) and
Brian Larson (catch can). The team's crew chief is Greg
Zipadelli and the pit stop coordinator is Paul Alepa.(DMF
Commincations PR)(11-24-2004),
Docs not happy with NASCAR's
hard liquor decision: Backed by poll results it claims
show a majority of Americans believe sports leagues should
reduce the amount of alcohol marketing, the American Medical
Association [AMA] on Tuesday called on NASCAR to reverse its
recent decision to recind its long-standing ban on
sponsorships from hard liquor companies. "We believe
(NASCAR) should use its new-found marketing and cultural
influence to be a positive role model, not to endanger the
lives and health of youth through the glamorization of
liquor," said Dr. J. Edward Hill, president-elect of the
AMA. "Alcohol is involved in a third of all automobile
accidents that kill teenagers, so advertising liquor on the
actual race cars that youth idolize sends the wrong
message." In its statement calling for NASCAR to reverse its
stance on hard liquor sponsorships, the AMA cited a recently
completed study by The Mellman Group, which polled 1,000
adults 18 years old and older. Sixty-nine percent of those
participating agreed sports teams and leagues should reduce
the amount of alcohol marketing underage fans are exposed
to. In addition, 44 percent said NASCAR should reverse its
decision on hard liquor, while 30 percent agreed with
NASCAR's decision and 25 percent had no opinion. "NASCAR -
already a billion-dollar industry - is clearly willing to
trade the health and safety of its young viewers for more
profits.," Hill said. NASCAR officials could not be reached
for comment on Tuesday.(ThatsRacin.com)
November
23, 2004:
Pit Bull gone: 'Pit
Bull,' the weekly NASCAR discussion show on Speed featuring
a panel of print reporters, will not return for 2005. In an
e-mail to the show's participants sent Tuesday, Speed
Channel president Rick Miner said "we live by ratings and
'Pit Bull' did not make the cut for 2005."(ThatsRacin.com)
Kahne Rookie of the
year:
Kasey Kahne,
who narrowly missed out on his first victory five times this
season, was selected NASCAR's Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year
on Tuesday. Kyle Busch, younger brother of Nextel Cup
champion Kurt Busch, was the top rookie in the Busch Series.
David Reutimann earned top honors in the Truck Series. Kahne,
24, is the youngest rookie winner in NASCAR's top series
since Jeff Gordon won it as a 22-year-old in 1993. Kahne
finished the 2004 season with 13 top-five and 14 top-10
finishes in 36 starts, and was the highest scoring rookie in
19 events. He beat Brendan Gaughan by 120 points for top
rookie honors. (Yahoo)
No NASCAR in Washington
State: Plans for taxpayer support
of a motorsports facility in Snohomish County were called
off Monday when local leaders advised International Speedway
Corp. that the proposal posed too great a financial risk.
Snohomish County and the City of Marysville are withdrawing
from further negotiations on the proposed track, County
Executive Aaron Reardon and Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall
said in a letter sent to a top ISC official. (Yahoo)
Crown Royal to be Primary
Sponsor in Selected races on the #97: Diageo, the
world's leading premium drinks business, today announced its
Crown Royal brand will become a primary sponsor of 2004
NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch and the #97 Roush
Racing Sharpie/Irwin car for select races throughout the
2005 season. Crown Royal becomes the first spirits brand to
enter the sport since NASCAR recently announced that spirits
companies would be allowed to participate as team sponsors.
The Crown Royal sponsorship will be built around Diageo's
existing relationship with Roush Racing, which started in
2003 with a primary sponsorship of Matt Kenseth and the #17
Roush Racing car for Diageo's flavored malt beverage
Smirnoff ICE. That sponsorship continued for part of 2004
before switching to the #97 car late in the season. Diageo
will utilize the Crown Royal brand's new association with
NASCAR to promote responsible drinking with millions of
NASCAR's adult fans. "We're excited that Crown Royal will be
entering NASCAR so prominently with a sponsorship of the
sport's newest champion, Kurt Busch and Roush Racing," said
Mark Waller, Executive Vice President, Consumer Strategy and
Marketing, Diageo. "Our association with this world class
racing team gives Diageo the opportunity to connect with
millions of adult NASCAR fans, and remind them about the
importance of responsible drinking. A multi-million dollar
marketing budget supporting this sponsorship will include
dedicated social responsibility messaging." Busch, 26,
captured his first NASCAR championship on Sunday, November
21 by rallying to finish fifth in the Ford 400 at
Homestead-Miami Speedway. NASCAR's newest champion won three
races during the 2004 season to increase his career total to
11 NASCAR victories. The championship season marks the
second in a row for Roush Racing following last season's
championship with Matt Kenseth and the #17 car."I'm thrilled
about the opportunity to continue the partnership with Crown
Royal as they further commit to our sport," Busch said. "I
know that as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion I am in a great
position to help Crown Royal reach our fans with the
importance of responsible drinking." Crown Royal's
integrated motorsports marketing plan will include primary
sponsorship of the #97 car at select races during the 2005
season including the Brickyard 400. When Crown Royal is not
a primary sponsor, the brand will support Kurt as an
associate sponsor of the #97 car during the 2005 season.
Crown Royal will also continue to engage race fans across
the country to "Be a Champion. Drink Responsibly." with its
2005 title sponsorship of the Crown Royal International Race
of Champions.
For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and
performance, visit us at
www.diageo.com. For more information on Crow Royal,
visit
www.crownroyal.com/racing.(Alan
Taylor Communications PR)
November
22, 2004:
Crew
Chief Changes Coming To Hendrick Motorsports:?
Although Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon finished second and
third in the points standings, expect musical chairs among
other crew chiefs at Hendrick Motorsports. After a
lackluster rookie year in the No. 25 car, Brian Vickers will
be reunited with his Busch Series crew chief, Lance McGrew.
They won the Busch title in 2003, and some were surprised
when McGrew didn't join Vickers during his rookie year in
Cup. Vickers' current chief, Peter Sospenzo, will join Terry
Labonte's limited run in 2005, and Jim Long, who was crew
chief for Labonte's No. 5, will work on the NBS program with
rookies Boston Reid and Blake Feese and possibly a driver or
two from the Cup stable. Alan Gustafson, who previously was
the team engineer for the No. 25, will be Kyle Busch's crew
chief on the No. 5 (Fox
Sports)
Hendrick honored by
NASCAR: Car owner Rick Hendrick was honored by NASCAR
drivers and officials Sunday afternoon, one day after he
returned to the track for the first time since four family
members and several employees were killed in a plane crash.
NASCAR president Mike Helton stopped the pre-race meeting to
welcome Hendrick, who received a standing ovation from
drivers, pit crew members and others. "We love you, it's
great to have you back," Helton said. (USA
Today/AP)
Newman not happy with dirty track: Newman's #12
Alltel Dodge appeared to cut a tire, one of several that
helped cause a track-record 12 cautions. "It was pretty
embarrassing that NASCAR didn't clean up the track when it was
in that condition," Newman said. "The track had a lot of
debris on it all day. Before the race even started it looked
like they couldn't even blow the debris off of it. They made
mention in the drivers' meeting that they were going to keep
everything clean. It's very disappointing, but it's pretty
convenient and on par for NASCAR." (Richmond
Times Dispatch)
November
21, 2004:
Popular in Canada: A
study of the popularity of NASCAR in Canada may be seen in
today's editions of the Toronto Sun. It's Gray Cup week, the
Argonauts are in the big game ... and the paper is devoting
two full pages to NASCAR's Homestead finale. It's little
wonder that NASCAR executives are studying the Canadian
market so intently. There has been speculation that
Montreal's Formula One road course could be the site of a
NASCAR Nextel Cup race eventually. (Winston
Salem Journal)
Robby to Ford? Robby
Gordon is ramping up his own NASCAR Cup tour
[#7]
team for 2005. While Gordon has strong NASCAR ties with
Chevrolet, Ford officials have reportedly made him a lavish
sponsorship offer to field a Ford next season on the NASCAR
tour, and it is unclear if GM executives are willing spend
what it would take to keep Gordon in the fold. Gordon,
though, said he would prefer to stay with Chevrolet.(Winston
Salem Journal)
Goodwrench Gone?
Richard Childress' sponsorship
announcements will apparently be postponed until NASCAR's
postseason New York City awards banquet. Childress is
expected to announce Jack Daniel's as a sponsor, with Dave
Blaney as the driver. And Childress is expected to announce
renewal of the long-running Goodwrench sponsorship. However,
there has been speculation recently that General Motors has
been reassessing its Goodwrench sponsorship because
Childress' operation hasn't delivered socko returns over the
past few years. But GM's Doug Duchardt said his company
understands the ups and downs of racing: "This business is
cyclical. One thing I see is that there has been some
stability since Jeff Burton has come. We've seen them start
to run better. How many times have we seen Robby Gordon in
the top-five and Kevin Harvick, only to have some issues? "I
expect Richard to get back. Kevin was fifth last year in
points. So those guys have the potential to do it; they just
have to get back on their game."(Winston
Salem Journal)
Hmiel escorted out; will not
spot for Dale Jr.: NASCAR officials confiscated Dale
Earnhardt Inc. Steve Hmiel's hard card on Saturday and
escorted him from the garage at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Hmiel was reprimanded in the trailer for inappropriate
language over the radio during the Craftsman Truck race on
Friday. In addition to Hmiel's position of technical
director for DEI, he is also Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spotter.
Earnhardt is currently fourth in the Chase, 72 points behind
Kurt Busch. Tony Eury Jr., car chief for the #8 Budweiser
Chevrolet, says Hmiel's absence is indefinite, and he will
not return on Sunday. When asked who will spot for Junior,
Eury Jr., replied, "Some guy named Danny." The Sporting News
has learned that Danny Culler, who used to spot for the late
Dale Earnhardt, will spot for Earnhardt Jr. in Sunday's Ford
400.(FoxSports)
UPDATE: Hmiel No respect: NASCAR said Hmiel, director
of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., made disparaging
remarks about series officials over the radio during
Friday's Truck Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Hmiel was spotting for his son, Shane, when he became angry
about a ruling against him. He was called in for a meeting
with NASCAR president Mike Helton Saturday morning and was
sent home. "It showed complete disrespect for NASCAR and its
officials, so after a meeting with Mike Helton, he was sent
home for the weekend," said NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo.(AP/ESPN.com)
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