NASCAR News Nov. 29 - Dec. 6 2005

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Dec. 6, 2005:

• Pocono Speedway has no plans for slot machines: Pocono Raceway is out of the running for a slots license. Joseph Mattioli, chief executive of the family-owned racetrack, announced Monday that he has decided against applying for a license to operate a slot-machine parlor at the track. Pocono Raceway had previously announced plans for a $300 million slots/hotel complex at the site. Mattioli said in a statement that the project "would have to depend on many outside professionals and that our family would have little or no involvement. To invest $300 million in a project, no matter how lucrative, would be contrary to all our family investment models that have been so successful for 45 years. (Penn Live)

Dec. 5, 2005

• Penske Racing and Newman receives 100K for Checkers Drive-Thru Challenge: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.  presented a check for $100,000 to the No. 12 Penske Racing Team with Driver Ryan Newman for winning the Checkers/Rally's NASCAR Nextel Cup Series contingency program with the most Double Drive-Thru Challenge wins this season. Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the parent company of Checkers(R) and Rally's(R), and the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR(R). "The pit crew is truly the backbone of the team on race day," said Ryan Newman. "Penske Racing South has worked hard to find the best over-the-wall guys and put them together to form the best crew possible. Obviously, they've done that with the Alltel(R) team winning the 2005 Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge. I also want to thank Checkers and Rally's for recognizing and honoring what a tireless, and often times thankless job, these crew guys have all season. It's nice to see them rewarded for what they do." "I couldn't be prouder of the job the Alltel pit crew has done all season long," said Crew Chief Matt Borland. "I personally witnessed the hard work and effort that these guys put into, not only race day, but every practice as well. Each of the over-the-wall members -- Trent, Joe, Britt and Mitch, Dennis, Scott, George and Steve -- push this team to the finish line each weekend. They really wanted to win this award, so I'm very happy for them, and thankful that Checkers and Rally's have created this award to recognize the Alltel pit crew's accomplishments." Checkers/Rally's has recognized the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team with the best pit road performance each week with a $10,000 prize. The No.12 Team had taken home $80,000 in prize money already for its eight Checkers/Rally's Challenge wins this season. Checkers/Rally's awarded the $100,000 grand prize to the No. 12 Team during Friday's Myers Brothers Breakfast, part of NASCAR Champions Week activities in New York City. (Checkers/Rally's PR)

• Rookie Edward's Speed Channels Driver of the Quarter: In a tight race Carl Edwards, a breakout driver NASCAR Nextel Cup series, was voted Speed Channel Driver of the Year presented by Gillette M3 Power Nitro fourth quarter 2005 by a panel of experts and one combined fan ballot. "The neatest thing about the Speed Channel Driver of the Year is that I've been nominated twice," said Edwards in New York for the Annual NASCAR Awards Banquet. "Just to see those commercials, seeing my name on the television with all those drivers from all different series, it's so amazing to be considered for it." In his first full season in the #99 Office Depot Ford Edwards scored one pole and two straight victories, in the final quarter, during the intense Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and included a win from the pole in the #60 World Financial Ford in the Busch Series. Edwards took four first-place votes and tallied 81 points. While NHRA's Tony Schumacher earned five first-place votes, including and totaled 79 points. Tony Stewart also scored five first-place votes and finished third with 69 points. Schumacher, "Sarge" had a perfect quarter winning all five of his events, resulting in his second-straight POWERade Series title driving U.S, Army Top Fuel dragster. Third place Stewart, winner of the third quarter 2005 Driver of the Year, wrapped up his second Nextel Cup title with consistent finishes in the top ten. Also taking first place votes France's Sebastien Bourdais in the Champ Car World Series, Greg Biffle in NASCAR, and World of Outlaws Steve Kinser. Bourdais clinched his second-straight title and totaled 51 points fourth in the ballot. Biffle was runner-up in the Chase to the Cup and was fifth in the vote with 31 points. A total of 20 drivers scored points in the fourth quarter voting. Noteworthy, NASCAR's Mark Martin took third place in the fan vote behind Stewart and Edwards on the www.speedtv.com website. In its' 39th year, the Speed Channel Driver of the Year presented by Gillette M# Power Nitro title is unique because it is the only award that encompasses all of the racing series in the United States and fan participation. A panel of 18 leading journalists and broadcasters from across the U.S. and a fan vote on Speedtv.com determine the winner. In quarterly voting, points are awarded on a declining 9,6,4,3,2,1 basis. Edwaards will receive a trophy and a Maurice Lacroix, wristwatch at a date to be announced. (DOTY PR)

• Kodak leaving #77 team and being dismantled? Despite repeated denials from Penske Racing, Kodak is pulling its sponsorship, and the #77 team is being dismantled. This is a sticky situation because Doug Bawel entered into a partnership with Penske Racing two seasons ago, and now he's on the outside looking in. The move comes on the heels of a major restructuring at Penske's Mooresville, N.C.-based campus. (Sporting News)

• Atlanta Speedway Children’s Charities To Donate: The Atlanta chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charities Foundation is spreading the holiday spirit this year in a big way. More than $180,000 will be presented to 23 area charities at the annual holiday celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Despite losing valuable fundraising time because of a mid-summer tornado, this year’s total is an increase of more than $7,000 from last year. Representatives from each charity, including children who benefit directly from the Speedway Children’s Charities’ year-round diligence, will attend Tuesday’s events, which begin at 6:00 p.m. The program will be held in the Atlanta Motor Speedway ballroom and will feature a performance by the Mt. Carmel Elementary School Choir, as well as a special visit from Santa Claus and Atlanta Motor Speedway’s mascot, Monkey Wrench. Speedway Children’s Charities works year-round to raise money for local children’s organizations through special charity auctions, raffles, receptions, and donations from race fans. The culmination of their efforts is the actual check presentation to each organization, which occurs during this holiday celebration. “It’s an honor to give back to these organizations, and I’m privileged to be able to stand in front and represent the Atlanta Chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charities,” said Steve Roberts, 2005 chair. “We think we work hard, but these organizations really work, they are really committed.”  (AMS PR)

Dec. 4, 2005

• More on FL. Hof and Tags: Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a plan aimed at creating a NASCAR license tag to help pay for a stock-car hall of fame in Daytona Beach. Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, and Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, filed bills Thursday to create the tag and will seek to take up the issue during a special legislative session next week. Supporters hope to use money from sales of the tag -- estimated at as much as $1.5 million a year -- to help finance the hall of fame and bolster Daytona Beach's effort to outbid four other cities for the tourism draw. Daytona Beach also proposed the sale of NASCAR license tags during this year's regular legislative session, but the proposal died after it became tangled in a broader dispute about whether the state should subsidize stadium projects for the Florida Marlins and Orlando Magic. (Daytona Beach News Journal)

Dec. 3, 2005

• Stewart gets a big check at Banquet: Tony Stewart's best year in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series reached the bottom line Friday, with the two-time champion setting a record for single-season earnings. He picked up $6,173,633 from the points fund set up by series sponsor Nextel and NASCAR, and added $517,000 in contingency awards from sponsors. Combined with the prize money earned during the 36-race season, Stewart's total of $13,578,168 breaks the previous mark of $10,979,757 by Jeff Gordon in 2001. Stewart, who earlier in the day had a migraine headache that caused him to miss a breakfast at which he was to collect several checks from sponsors, was feeling a lot better on stage Friday night during the formal awards ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Stewart is a lifelong racer, a driver who ranks making money below winning races, winning championships and just driving the car. When told he has now earned $48.4 million in his Cup career, Stewart rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'm not going to give the checks back," he said, grinning. "But we didn't start racing because we thought we'd be collecting a big check at the end of the season. We did it for the thrill of winning races and, at the time I started racing, wanting my trophy to be bigger than the next guy's trophy." (Detroit News)

• Surprise Earnhardt, Jr. wins most popular driver of the year award again: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won his third straight Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award. The announcement was made today during the National Motorsports Press Association’s (NMPA) Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City that a record number of fans nationwide have again voted the North Carolinian as the most popular driver in the most popular form of motorsports in the United States. "It's a huge honor to win the Most Popular Driver award just one time, but to win it three times in a row is pretty overwhelming. I just want to thank the fans, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for the award,” Earnhardt said. “This one probably means more to me than the others because of the kind of year we had. It's one thing to have fan support when you're riding high and winning races. It's another thing to have it during the rough times,” he continued. “No matter what we went through this year, I never once felt like my fans were turning on me and the Budweiser team. It's amazing to have that kind of support. It makes the team want to work that much harder and me drive that much faster. I can't thank the fans enough for what they've meant to me in my career." A record 4,157,443 votes were cast in 2005, a huge jump for an award which never had more than 400,000 votes in a year prior to General Mills sponsorship. Chex began sponsorship of the award this season, replacing Grands! Biscuits, which had sponsored it since the beginning of the 2002 season. Earnhardt, Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2003 season, and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2005 year to again win the award. He finished with 1,403,544 votes, which is also an all-time record. “The fans have pretty well made a statement in regards to their favorite driver in this era,” said Kenny Bruce, president of the NMPA. “They have also made a statement as to the importance of this award. We appreciate every fan who voted, and we really appreciate Chex for its sponsorship.” “On behalf of Chex and General Mills, I want to congratulate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on winning this award for the third straight year,” said Chex Marketing Manager Trevor Bynum. “We also want to thank the millions of fans who voted and made this award possible with their continued strong support.” Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting at www.mostpopulardriver.com with 594,434 votes. Kasey Kahne was third with 343,154; 2005 Champion Tony Stewart fourth with 246,026; and retiring Rusty Wallace fifth with 214,026. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson.  (Williams Co., Of America PR)

Dec. 2, 2005

• Wallace receives award:  Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Cup champion who won 55 career races and the hearts of millions of fans, has been named the recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s 2005 Myers Brothers Award. The award was presented during the NMPA’s annual Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast, held at the Waldorf-Astoria. Wallace, 49, started 706 Cup races, amassing 202 top-five and 349 top-10 finishes in addition to his 55 victories. He was the series’ 1984 rookie of the year, as well. Perhaps not since Richard Petty walked away from the sport in 1992 has a driver with such a fan following stepped away from the sport of his own will. And Wallace did it while at the top of his game, his Penske Racing South team qualifying for this year’s Nextel Chase For The Nextel Cup and finishing eighth in the final standings. Wallace will remain involved in the sport, once again fielding a NASCAR Busch Series team in 2006.  (NMPA)

• Shareholders approve sale:  Shareholders of Action Performance Cos. have approved the company's acquisition by Motorsports Authentics, a joint venture between Speedway Motorsports Inc. and International Speedway Corp.  The transaction is slated to close Dec. 9. Action, which is based in Tempe, Ariz., markets and distributes licensed motorsports merchandise, including collectibles, apparel and other memorabilia. About 70% of the company's 2004 sales related to NASCAR through licensing deals with many of the sport's teams and drivers. When the deal was announced in August, the companies said Motorsports Authentics would pay $13 per share for Action Performance. That was an 8.4 percent premium on Action's closing price the day before the deal was announced. On Thursday, Action closed at $12.76 per share. (Charlotte Business)

• Motocross Champion Carmichael looking at NASCAR: You start thinking about racing in NASCAR. That's what Ricky Carmichael says he hopes to do someday. Carmichael, a six-time AMA 250 motocross champion and the winningest rider with 129 victories, has already tested with one NASCAR team and is making inroads with others. His contract with Suzuki expires in 2007, and Carmichael plans to honor that commitment. "Definitely, I'm interested in NASCAR," Carmichael said in a telephone interview earlier this week. "I've had a good opportunity to talk to some folks and it's something I'd like to try." Carmichael has never sat behind the wheel for an auto race. He did, however, test a Late Model, a stock car often used as a steppingstone to NASCAR's top circuits, for Ray Evernham in August. The transition from two wheels to four was an adjustment. "It did feel fast," said Carmichael, who is more accustomed to launching motorcycles into the air on man-made dirt tracks than he is at turning left around oval tracks in cars. "It was just fun. It was challenging for me. It was a lot harder than people think. People say, 'Oh, you just get in and turn left.' But it ain't that way, let me tell you." (USA Today)

• Tracy still looking at NASCAR: Paul Tracy hasn't given up on his NASCAR hopes despite re-signing with Forsythe Racing for the 2006 Champ Car season. The soon-to-turn-37-year-old from Scarborough says he's in negotiations that might still result in a partial NASCAR ride in 2006. Forsythe, for the first time, has given him permission to try other forms of racing when it doesn't conflict with Champ Car events. Tracy finished fourth in this year's Champ Car series. "I don't know what I'm going to do with the NASCAR thing," he said. "It would be crazy, when I have a contract with Gerry (Forsythe) until I want to stop racing open wheels, to dive into something head first not knowing whether the water's six inches or 20 metres deep. My goal is to get some experience and see if that's what I want to do." Tracy, who was in town to help launch the re-named Grand Prix of Toronto (formerly the Toronto Indy), will test with the Kodak Grand-Am team Monday in anticipation of driving again in this year's Rolex 24-Hours race at Daytona International Speedway Jan. 26-29. He also has an option of driving for two other teams. (Toronto Star)

• Hall of Fame bid announcement likely in weeks maybe months: When the balloons drop from the ceiling of the famed hotel's grand ballroom, a $100-million prize still will be up in the air, and unexpectedly so for many who have followed the yearlong saga of the five cities vying for the sport's first officially sanctioned Hall of Fame. The Nextel Cup awards ceremony long had been rumored to include the revelation of a winner in the fiercely contested quest to land the shrine. Instead, Richmond, Atlanta, Charlotte, Daytona Beach, and Kansas City likely will wait weeks (and perhaps months) before they learn NASCAR's choice. (Salem-Journal)

• TV Deal near: NASCAR CEO Brian France said Thursday that NASCAR was on the "final lap" of its TV deal, in which ESPN is expected to replace NBC for 2007 and beyond. An announcement is expected before the end of the year. (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Dec. 1, 2005:

• Earnhardt, Jr. cousin dies: Orange County (FL) Deputies tased a man on the West side, who later died. They say he was likely high on drugs and running into traffic early this morning. Barbara Miller with the Sheriff's Office says the first deputy on scene couldn't calm him down, so he tased Jeff Dean Earnhardt. "He tried it a second time and again it had no effect on the subject. Unfortunately when more deputies arrived, they were able to restrain the subject and he was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but he died at around 7:25 this morning." WDBO has now confirmed Jeff is the first cousin of Dale Earnhardt Junior. (WDBO)

• NASCAR seeks to move antitrust suit:  A federal judge should decide soon whether to transfer Kentucky Speedway's $400 million antitrust case against International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and parent company National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to a Florida federal court. U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman heard oral arguments from both sides Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Covington, KY. between NASCAR and Kentucky Speedway representatives. NASCAR, which filed the motion to change the venue, argues that Kentucky Speedway agreed to litigate all disputes in the U.S. Middle District of Florida when it signed 11 different contracts with the Florida organization from 1999 to 2005. Kentucky Speedway, however, argues that the consequences of NASCAR's alleged antitrust activity directly affect Kentucky Speedway and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which has also spent money on infrastructure near the park. The case should remain in the Eastern District of Kentucky because the preference of the plaintiffs should have more weight than the choice of the defendants, said Arthur Miller, a Harvard law professor and one of Kentucky Speedway's lawyers. (GNEXTINC.com)

• TMS builds new media center: Texas Motor Speedway has embarked on an innovative project designed to further attract and expand the scope of local, regional and national television and radio coverage of motorsports with the construction of an ultra-modern media broadcast center. The media broadcast center, which will encompass the speedway's Victory Lane on the frontstretch, will be a two-story multi-purpose facility for both television and radio media outlets covering events at "The Great American Speedway." The Victory Lane Broadcast Center will consist of seven media suites overlooking Victory Lane that will serve as sound-proof studios for both television and radio, two raised outdoor platforms for live stand-ups, a "deadline" work room for television and radio outlets only, an interview room/edit bay area and a conference room. Television outlets will have use of five of the studio suites, four of which measure 11'x11' and one 7'x11', and each offering a dramatic backdrop of the speedway's frontstretch, grandstands and luxury suites. The studio suites can cater to pre-race shows for the network broadcasters as well as local morning and sports shows seeking a studio environment. In addition, television outlets will have use of two 11'x11' platforms on each side of the suites for those interested in live, outside stand-ups that will feature Victory Lane and the frontstretch as a backdrop. Texas Motor Speedway also is attempting to enhance the production side for television outlets with plans to install multiple fiber lines. The fiber lines will give television outlets the ability to feed live interviews or footage directly to their studio and eliminate the need for a satellite truck. Radio outlets will have access to two 7'x11' suites on the upper level, but also will have additional accommodations on the lower level. Four radio rooms, which are 6'x7' in size, will be on the lower level of the compound, giving them six broadcast booths overall. Similar to the print media, the television and radio media will have their own "deadline" room on the lower level. The work area will be 28'x18' and include high-speed Ethernet, wireless capabilities and multiple televisions to monitor the racing action. There also will be a prep room that adjoins the deadline room and can be used as an interview room or edit bay. The lower level also will house a conference room for Texas Motor Speedway officials that can double as an interview area if needed. Stuckey Architects, of Weatherford, Texas, is handling the project and already has completed the construction blueprints. Initial construction began this week. The upper level of the Victory Lane Broadcast Center, which includes the media suites and raised platforms, is scheduled to be completed prior to the Samsung/RadioShack 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series/Busch Series race weekend set for April 6-9. The lower level is scheduled for completion prior to the Dickies 500 NASCAR triple-header weekend set for Nov. 2-5. (TMS PR)

• Sad news for Wheeler family: A funeral service for Kathleen Wheeler, mother of H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, and David Wheeler, the track's director of interior maintenance, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at The Basilica at Belmont Abbey in Belmont, N.C. Wheeler, 95, a Belmont native, passed away Wednesday night, Nov. 30, at the Courtland Terrace assisted living center in Gastonia. A visitation and rosary for Wheeler will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at McLean & Sons Funeral Home, 515 N. Central Ave., in Belmont. Wheeler is survived by four children, H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, David Wheeler, Mary Plexico and Angela Wheeler; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her husband, Howard A. Wheeler, passed away in 1968. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations in memory of Kathleen Wheeler be made to the Belmont Community Organization, P.O. Box 1248, Belmont, N.C. 28012. (Lowe's Motor Speedway PR)

• Blaney signs w/BDR officially: Bill Davis Racing confirmed its future plans for the #22 team Thursday, announcing that Dave Blaney has returned to the racing organization to drive the #22 Caterpillar car in the Nextel Cup Series, with Kevin Hamlin joining him as crew chief. "In the last couple of years, we just haven’t seen the performance we know the #22 CAT Racing team is capable of, so change was not a choice—it was a necessity,” said Bill Davis, team owner and president of Bill Davis Racing. “Dave is not only a talented and consistent driver, but he is someone I respect and have always enjoyed working with in the past. This will be my first time working with Kevin Hamlin, but I have long admired his work and accomplishments in this sport.” Blaney, a Hartford, Ohio, native, first drove for Bill Davis in 1998 and 1999, when he piloted the #93 Pontiac in the NASCAR Busch Series. After running a part-time NASCAR Cup schedule in 1999, the team decided to turn its focus to running full-time in the Cup Series in 2000 and continued the effort through 2001. Sponsorship changes and the development of other opportunities led to Blaney’s first departure from BDR in 2002. “I have always understood Dave’s need to pursue other avenues in this business, but it also was understood there were never any bridges burned between us,” Davis said. Blaney returned to Davis’ High Point operation in 2004 to drive part-time in the Nextel Cup Series, along with a Craftsman Truck Series start at Dover in early June. However, the partnership was interrupted once again in late June 2004 when Blaney received an offer to drive full time for Richard Childress Racing, which also marked the first time he drove under the direction of Hamlin. Later that same year, Blaney was named the driver of Childress’ #07 Nextel Cup team for the 2005 season. “I have been very fortunate to have driven for and with some of the best in this business,” Blaney said. “I enjoyed racing for the Davis’. Bill and Gail have not only been business partners, but they’ve been good friends to me. I’ve spent the majority of my NASCAR career as a BDR driver, so it’s always nice to be able to return to your roots." Hamlin joins BDR following a long and successful career at Richard Childress Racing, where he served as crew chief for various drivers including Mike Skinner, Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Jeff Burton, and most recently, Blaney, after RCR revised its crew chief assignments in early November.(Bill Davis Racing PR)

• Petty to leaves NSL: Richard Petty Driving Experience announced that it has withdrawn its support of the National SprintCar League effective immediately. "We formed this series with the intention of rebuilding and growing winged sprint car racing," said Kyle Petty. "We had a clear vision about how to undertake this. Unfortunately, our vision for the future of sprint car racing was not shared by all of the key stakeholders in the sport. We believe that a prolonged battle over control of the sport is not in the best interest of anyone involved. Hopefully, by stepping aside at this point, there is time for a common vision to emerge. We still believe that sprint car racing can thrive in the United States and we hope that the tracks, drivers, teams and sanctioning bodies will put their individual interests aside and work towards some common ground to unify this great motor sports platform. We appreciate everyone who supported us in this endeavor." (Williams Company PR)

Nov. 30, 2005:

• NASCAR and ABC/ESPN/TNT reaches deal: NASCAR has reached separate, eight-year TV rights deals with ABC Sports/ESPN, and Turner Broadcasting, under which ABC/ESPN would pay $270 million per year and Turner's TNT would pay $80 million per year. The terms of the deal was first reported by SportsBusiness Journal and confirmed by Mediaweek through its independent sources. NASCAR has not officially announced the deal, apparantly wanting to wait until it finalizes a deal with Fox for the remainder of the race telecasts. A Fox official said the network is continuing to negotiate and expects to reach an agreement with NASCAR, but said nothing has been finalized. Under the new deal, ABC/ESPN will televise 17 Nextel Cup races during the second half of the season [previously part of the NBC/TNT combined package] and all of the Busch Series races [which were previously part of the previous Fox package]. Among those 17 will be 10 "Chase for the Cup" races, which will all air on ABC. Most of the Busch Series races will air on ESPN2. Turner's TNT will air six Nextel Cup races, three from the previous Fox package and three from the previous NBC/TNT package. Those races will air between the first half package, expected to be Fox's, and the new ABC/ESPN package. ESPN and Turner/TNT officials would not comment on the deals, and NASCAR officials could not be reached for comment.  (Media Week) Deal is expected to be announced Thursday in New York NASCAR Champions Press Conference.

• NASCAR looks international in the future: NASCAR will steer a course overseas for growth since it cannot expand its 9-month U.S. season, the racing association's top executive said on Wednesday. "Where do you grow? Domestically, it's tough, super competitive out there. When you look around the world, auto racing is either No. 1 or No. 2 depending on where you are, behind only soccer," Brian France, chairman and chief executive of National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, said at the Reuters Media and Advertising Summit here. "Everybody understands auto racing," he said. NASCAR runs more than 100 races each year across the United States through three racing circuits -- its signature Nextel Cup Series, Busch and Craftsman Truck. Unlike some other U.S. sports leagues, NASCAR boasts rising television ratings as well as a fast growing, highly loyal fan base. France said its new TV contract, expected to be announced soon, will be "substantially better" than the current six-year $2.4 billion deal that expires after 2006. With a season that already runs from mid-February to mid-November, there is no room to expand in the United States. France said the sport looked into but dismissed the idea of splitting into divisions like football and baseball to allow more races and drivers. "We're in the early stages of outlining a long-range international strategy that could capitalize on an already existing appetite for auto racing all over the world," France said, citing NASCAR's Busch race in Mexico earlier this year. He said NASCAR would likely hold a Busch or Craftsman Truck race in Canada, given racing's popularity there. And he said NASCAR officials have met with people in Europe. "Europe has the greatest density of tracks and fan interest," he said. "South America has good auto racing interest, too." And he noted China's love of Formula 1 racing. (Reuters)

• ISC announces kitsap financial details: A Florida racetrack developer will ask Washington state taxpayers to pitch in 52 percent of the estimated $345 million cost to build a NASCAR speedway near Bremerton. International Speedway Corp. (ISC) Wednesday unveiled the financing proposal it will try to get lawmakers to agree to when the state Legislature convenes Jan. 9 in Olympia. Under the proposal, the state would borrow $166 million to help fund the track, ISC would pay $166 million and $13 million would come from a Kitsap County admissions tax on speedway tickets. The plan immediately drew skepticism from Margarita Prentice, chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and the state Treasurer Mike Murphy. Murphy has earlier said numbers ISC is using to calculate the track's economic benefits are "hokey." But ISC projections show the state general fund would pay nothing and reap $43 million after 25 years because of the additional tax money the track would bring in.  (Seattle Times) More Official Release: International Speedway Corporation  announced today that its subsidiary, Great Western Sports Inc.  has released its financing proposal for a $345 million motorsports facility in Kitsap County, Washington, approximately 20 miles outside downtown Seattle. The financing plan proposes a public-private partnership where GWS will pay $166 million, or nearly half of project costs, plus any construction cost overruns and costs related to the regular maintenance and operation of the facility. Kitsap, Pierce and Mason Counties will form a tri-county Public Speedway Authority (PSA), and will issue bonds to help finance construction of the track. The bonds will be repaid through a sales tax credit issued by the state to the PSA, and from a local tax on the facility. "The financing proposal is a major step forward in our efforts to develop a premier motorsports facility in the Seattle area," said Lesa France Kennedy, President of ISC. "This significant investment demonstrates our commitment to bring motorsports entertainment to this underserved market. We believe our proposal represents a win/win opportunity for all parties involved, including the local communities which stand to benefit from the economic gains associated with our project. We will continue with our project due diligence, including the introduction of necessary state legislation early next year, and we remain optimistic that we will be racing in Washington in 2010." GWS plans to introduce state legislation to create the PSA and authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to help finance the project. The Washington Legislature convenes in January and concludes in March 2006. (ISC PR)

• Stewart to get in shape:  Tony Stewart went on a shopping spree last week that he hopes will lead to a new and improved Nextel Cup champion. "I went out and bought $17,000 worth of exercise equipment for my house," Stewart said Wednesday as he prepared for yet another of the dozens of media events this week in New York, leading up to Friday night's NASCAR awards ceremony at which he will collect checks for more than $5.8 million. Most of that goes to his Joe Gibbs Racing team, but Stewart will certainly keep more than enough of it to consider his latest shopping trip pocket money. And, he said it will certainly be worth it as an important next step in his maturation process. The 5-foot-9 Stewart, who probably weighs at least 20 pounds more than the 185 listed in the NASCAR media guide, admittedly loves fast food and has often made himself the brunt of his own jokes about how out of shape he is. (FoxSports)

• Crown Royal on Busch: Crown Royal would have disassociated itself from Kurt Busch after his run-in with the law even if Busch had been leading the Nextel Cup standings with two races left in the season, a company representative said Tuesday. "Our position would not have changed," said Dan Sanborn, director of sports marketing for Diageo North America, the parent company of Crown Royal whiskey. "We do not condone that sort of behavior." Roush Racing subsequently suspended Busch for the season's final two races. In a Tuesday session about spirits sponsorships in NASCAR at the Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily Motorsports Marketing Forum, Sanborn and other liquor company representatives said Busch's reported behavior would have been sufficient for them to end a relationship with him. "We would have done exactly the same thing," said John Hayes, brand director for Jack Daniel's. "It would have been two-faced for us to be speaking about being responsible and then turn our cheek to that." (Charlotte Observer)

• Kitsap Track Press Conference: Great Western Sports will hold a news conference today to announce its proposal for financing the construction of a motorsports track in Kitsap County. The conference is planned for 3:15 p.m. at Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton.  Grant Lynch, project lead for the NASCAR track, and other representatives will be on hand to discuss the proposal that will be presented over the next few weeks to local and state elected officials. For details of the proposal, see www.kitsapsun.com this afternoon.

• Stewart honored by fellow drivers: Tony Stewart was unanimously chosen by his fellow drivers as the Sporting News NASCAR Nextel Cup Driver of the Year, the magazine said Tuesday. Stewart had his second NASCAR Cup championship in four years. He had five victories, three poles and 17 top five finishes. "That's the greatest honor that a driver could have in this sport is to have your peers vote for you like that," Stewart said in a statement. Kyle Busch was named Sporting News 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year. He edged out Carl Edwards who was technically ineligible for the ballot but was written in by nearly half of his competitors. (ThatsRacin)

Nov. 29, 2005:

• BDR's Blaney testing at Kentucky Speedway:  Veteran NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Dave Blaney will put his new car and team through their paces during a one-day test at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Blaney will drive the Bill Davis Racing No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge in 2006. He posted two top-10 finishes and closed out the season 26th in the 2005 series standings in the Richard Childress Racing No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet. He has earned nearly $14 million in 199 career series starts. Fans can view testing for free in the designated area outside the Kentucky Speedway Fan Center. Testing usually begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. Test times will vary based on team objectives. (BDR)

• Yates announces team changes: Robert Yates Racing (RYR) announced its lineup for the 2006 NASCAR season. The lineup includes the addition and reassignment of key team members for both the #88 UPS and #38 M&M’S® Chocolate Candies NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams, as well as the #90 CitiFinancial NASCAR Busch Series team. Effective immediately, Richard “Slugger” Labbe is the crew chief for the #88 UPS Racing Team and driver Dale Jarrett while Tommy Baldwin, Jr., becomes the crew chief for the #38 M&M’S Chocolate Candies Team and driver Elliott Sadler. Both Labbe and Baldwin bring with them experience and success that includes wins in the Daytona 500 (Labbe with driver Michael Waltrip in 2003 and Baldwin with driver Ward Burton in 2002). “Both Slugger and Tommy have had success in their past endeavors with other teams in the NEXTEL Cup Series,” said Eddie D’Hondt, general manager for RYR. “We’ve been aggressive in the off season. It is our goal to get both of our teams in the Chase for the Championship in 2006. We are really pleased with the staff we’ve put together and delighted to have Slugger and Tommy on board.” Labbe, a former RYR employee, returns after spending time serving in the crew chief role during the last few seasons for Michael Waltrip at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and most recently for Jeremy Mayfield at Evernham Motorsports. Baldwin also joins RYR from Evernham Motorsports where he led the team efforts for young driver Kasey Kahne since 2004. “This is a great opportunity for me to be able to come back here in this capacity,” Labbe said. “Robert (Yates) has been an incredible person to know and work with. I’ve known him and Dale (Jarrett) for a long time, and to have this opportunity is an important one for me personally. I am really looking forward to 2006.” “There is potential for great success next season at RYR,” said Baldwin. “Robert has built a strong foundation here and it’s exciting to be able to step in and work with Elliott and the #38 Team. I think we’ve only seen the beginning of what Elliott can accomplish behind the wheel and I look forward to the task of leading this team to the next level.” Kevin Buskirk, who has been serving in an interim crew chief role for the #38 M&M’S team, will become the Technical and Performance Director for all of RYR. Additionally, the team has added Ed Guzzo to the organization and he will serve as the Production and Operational Director. (Elevation Motorsports)

• NASCAR television package near complete: NASCAR could announce as early as this week a TV rights deal that would see Fox broadcast the first half of the Nextel Cup season and TNT and ESPN/ABC sharing the back half starting in 2007, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal reports. The sanctioning body could get as much as $550 million a year from TV rights, a 38% increase over the estimated $400 million a year it gets under the current arrangement with Fox, NBC and TNT. The story says industry insiders say the ABC/ESPN commitment alone is expected to be about $270 million a year. TNT and ESPN are expected to air six races each, reporter Scott Warfield writes, and ABC will air the final 11 races, including all 10 events [and Indy] in the Chase For The Nextel Cup. (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

• International Motorsports Hall of Fame may move: Jackson County (MI) may soon be the new home for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Officials of the hall say they plan to leave their current home in Novi, and they are considering a move to Jackson. Twice a year, 150,000 fans pack Michigan International Speedway for Nascar. Add 60,000 people for the track's Indy race and thousands more for Raceweek events. In Jackson, Motorsports are already big business. Jim Jansen, Jackson Raceweek Festival President: "This is a place that has a lot of tradition, and I think it always will, and it's just going to continue to grow." Now the goal is to expand on that racing tradition. Local leaders want to bring the Motorsports Hall of Fame to town to a vacant building on the JCC campus. Jim Jansen: "The setup is ideal for them. This has great floor space." The building's the old space and science center. It has 15,000 square feet. Next year it could house cars, exhibits and a monument to racing legends.  (WLNS)

• Iowa track road on hold: Newton officials have put the brakes on a road to the 70 (m) million dollar Iowa Speedway. Last night, the City Council rejected a one-point-seven (m) million dollar contract for the road project. The council says it won't spend additional money without assurances that the developer, U-S Motorsports, has the money to finish the track. The group's Dennis Chalupa says he's confident the group will provide the information the city wants and that the road will be built in time for the racing season, which is scheduled to start in September. (WOI-TV)

Nov. 28, 2005:

• Earnhardt Foundation Tree planting: The first 50 trees for the Dale Earnhardt Forest Project have been planted about 10 miles from Mooresville off N.C. 150. But don't expect a forest to take root there at Sloan Park in Rowan County. The "forest" will stretch across 15 counties in the Charlotte region, wherever trees are needed most to restore areas damaged by natural disasters and development, or to protect wildlife. You can even plant a tulip poplar or sycamore seedling cultivated from seeds on the late racing legend's farm in your back yard. "The Dale Earnhardt Forest is not one piece of land ... as most people would think of a forest," said Dick Baker, executive director of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. "It's a large number of plantings collectively in a public area." The 77,000-tree effort is a partnership between the foundation and American Forests, a conservation group based in Washington. The foundation is a nonprofit that supports causes Earnhardt did, such as conservation and environmental education. (ThatsRacin)

• Speed Channel Championship Coverage: SPEED is adding a one-hour NASCAR Champions Week special Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. ET. Hosted by John Roberts, the special will include features from the week's activities in New York City and interviews on the yellow carpet -- everything leading up to the crowning of the new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion. "As the home to NASCAR TV, we will continue to find ways of elevating the sport's biggest events," said Hunter Nickell, SPEED Channel Executive VP and General Manager. "We are going to take all the energy from last week in South Florida and carry it right through next week in New York. The fans wait all season for these events and we don't plan on letting them down." Vicki Johnson, Craig Reynolds and Shannon Spake will be reporting from New York. (Speed PR)

• Earnhardt, Jr. and Schrader buys track: NASCAR Nextel Cup racers Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Ken Schrader along with well known Midwestern promoter Bob Sargent are now the proud owners of Paducah International Raceway. The trio recently finalized their purchase of the popular McCracken County, KY, venue that boasts a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval, 1/5-mile race track and a Motocross/TT run with grandstands that accommodate 5,000 spectators. Exciting changes are in store for Paducah International Raceway and the management and staff of PIR look forward to combining the fan-friendly, grassroots racing excitement of dirt racing with the entertaining atmosphere of NASCAR into a unique experience that fans will only be able to obtain at Paducah International Raceway. Schedules and additional plans will be finalized during the off-season and announcements will be made after the new year. (Paducah Speedway PR)

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