NASCAR News Oct. 25 - Nov 10. 2004

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November 10, 2004:

• Hard Liquor Allowed: NASCAR returned to its roots Wednesday by lifting a ban on liquor ads on cars, opening the door for teams to be sponsored next season by distilled spirits. "We felt the time was right," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "Attitudes have changed, and spirits companies have a long record of responsible advertising." NASCAR already allowed beer and malt liquor sponsorships. Budweiser sponsors Dale Earnhardt  Jr.'s car, for example, and Busch sponsors a lower-tier racing series.  But NASCAR restricted what liquor companies could do since the sport's modern era began in 1972, most recently denying a bid from Roush Racing in June to put a liquor company on the car that Jeff Burton drove. International Speedway Corp., a sister company also controlled by NASCAR's founding France family, has agreements with Crown Royal, however.  (AP)

• Waltrip to Hall of Fame:  Three-time NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip heads the latest class of inductees into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Waltrip is joined by longtime drag racing stars Joe Amato and Bob Glidden, powerboat champion Chip Hanauer and Formula One and CART champion Nigel Mansell.  ``This is a powerful class, one in which each member had a significant impact on the history of his particular form of racing,'' Jim Freemand, executive director of the Hall of Fame, said Wednesday. ``All five of them have won multiple championships. It is quite a group.''  (Yahoo/ AP)

• Kahne in Chilli Bowl:  NASCAR Nextel Cup rookie sensation Kasey Kahne will shift his attention from the nation’s Super Speedways to Tulsa Expo Raceway’s quarter-mile dirt oval for the 19th Annual O’Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals on January 5-8, 2005.  Kahne won’t be out of place at all however, as he cut his racing teeth in the open wheel ranks, frequently gracing victory lane whether it be in Sprint Car, Midget or Silver Crown competition. Among his Midget racing credits is the 2000 USAC National Midget championship.  After a partial slate of NASCAR Busch series action in 2002, Kahne wrapped up the 2003 season on a strong note by capturing his first Busch series win and was named the successor to Bill Elliott in Ray Evernham’s Dodge Dealers/UAW No. 9 Dodge. (WhoWon)

• Earnhardt's Windshield too thin: UPDATE:  Tony Eury Sr., crew chief for the #8 Chevrolet of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., was fined $2,500 for violating Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules) for having a windshield on the car that was not an approved part and also did not meet the minimum required thickness of one-quarter inch. The infraction was discovered by NASCAR officials during opening-day inspection.(NASCAR PR)

• NASCAR Notes: NASCAR officials plan to review a postrace incident that saw the cars of rookie Kasey Kahne and Kevin Harvick come together at the entrance into pit road. NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said the sanctioning body will review videotape for "aggressive behavior" leading to the incident and determine if penalties are required. "It wasn't quite as big a deal as it turned out to be," said Kahne, who finished fifth. "I was on the outside of him, and he pushed me a couple of times in Turns 3 and 4. And then the race was over ... when we went down in Turn 1, I rubbed him a little bit and just gave him a normal after-the-race thing, and he just started blasting me".  (Star-Telegram)
  UPDATE: Drivers Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne were fined $10,000 each and placed on probation for their actions during an on-track incident that occurred after the conclusion of Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, NASCAR officials announced today. Harvick, driver of the# 29 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, and Kahne, driver of the #9 Dodge for Evernham Motorsports, were penalized for violating Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Rule Book when the two made deliberate contact with each other following the conclusion of the race. Both drivers’ probation periods will extend to Nov. 30.(NASCAR PR)

• Overnight Phoenix TV Ratings up 2.3%: NBC's broadcast of Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 from Phoenix International Raceway earned a 4.3 overnight rating and an 8 share from Nielsen Media Research, today's Sports Business Daily reports. The 4.3 represents a 2.3 percent increase over last year’s 4.2 overnight figure.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)
  UPDATE: NBC got a 4.9 rating for Sunday's race at Phoenix, up 4 percent over last year. NBC and TNT are up 5 percent this year from last year in their ratings for the second half of the season. NBC is also up 5 percent in the eight Chase for the Nextel Cup races it has aired, despite losing a portion of its audience to hurricane coverage and damage in the first two weeks of the 10-week "playoff."(ThatsRacin.com)

• Nextel Drivers testing at Homestead: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing continues at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a two-day session on Tuesday, November 9 and Wednesday, November 10 featuring seven out of the top-10 drivers competing in the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. A total of 28 drivers are scheduled to test in preparation for the upcoming Ford Championship Weekend, the season-finales for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, Nov. 18-21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Drivers scheduled to participate on Nov. 9-10 include Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup contenders Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Elliott Sadler, and Jeremy Mayfield. (WhoWon)  UPDATE Jeff Gordon fastest in Homestead testing: Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon set the fastest lap of the day Tuesday as a total of 35 racecars took laps in preparation for Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov 18-21. Eight NASCAR Busch Series drivers also took laps in preparation for the Ford 300 NASCAR Busch Series finale Nov. 20. NASCAR Busch Series points-leader Martin Truex Jr. was quickest among the Busch Series drivers with a lap of 171.320mph. Testing continues Wednesday with all 35 drivers that participated Tuesday expected to again turn laps. Testing is open to the public free of charge.
  Unofficial times and speeds for selected drivers during NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Testing and NASCAR Busch Series testing November 9 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway:
  NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series:
  1. 24-Jeff Gordon- 31.00 sec, 174.194mph
  2. 8- Dale Earnhardt Jr- 31.01 sec, 174.137 mph
  3. 6- Mark Martin- 31.09 sec, 173.689 mph
  4. 48- Jimmie Johnson- 31.26 sec, 172.745 mph
  4. 42- Jamie McMurray- 31.31 sec, 172.467 mph
  6. 30- Jeff Burton- 31.38 sec, 172.084 mph
  7. 21- Ricky Rudd- 31.40 sec, 171.975 mph
  8. 18- Bobby Labonte- 31.42 sec, 171.865 mph
  9. 20- Tony Stewart- 31.47 sec, 171.592 mph
  10. 38- Elliott Sadler- 31.58 sec, 170.994 mph.

• Ward Burton Out:  Mike Bliss has replaced Ward Burton in Haas CNC Racing's #0 NetZero Chevrolet for this weekend's Nextel Cup Series Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Owner Gene Haas released Burton after last weekend's Checker Auto Parts 500, a Burton spokesman said, ending negotiations with Haas for Burton to continuing as the team's driver. Bliss has 33 career Cup starts and two top-10s, including a career-best fourth at Richmond in September 2004.(NASCAR.com)

November 9, 2004:

• Earnhardt Gets Invite to Cali:  Kerry Earnhardt has received an invitation to race in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown on Saturday at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. Earnhardt, who drove in eight races and finished 17th in the Grand National Division West Series while also participating in Nextel Cup and Busch series races this season, was extended the invite after two of the top 15 drivers were unable to attend.  (NASCAR)

• NASCAR backs Toyota to Stay in IRL:   NASCAR executives are reported to have persuaded Toyota not to withdraw from the Indy Racing League, as Toyota had planned for a year or so down the road. That NASCAR move is because so many International Speedway Corp. tracks need IRL races, and because NASCAR's truck series also plays on those IRL weekends. So Toyota, it is reported, is investing $50 million in a new Indy-car engine. Toyota is expected to join NASCAR's Nextel Cup series in a year or two.  (Winston Salem Journal)
   

• Nextel Cup to Mexico maybe? NASCAR is coming to Mexico next year and had to be impressed with the 300,000 spectators who turned out over the weekend. The Busch series is set to run the 2.7-mile road course in March, while Grand Am is looking at running with Champ Car as part of a doubleheader next November 6. Grand Am currently has its season finale set for early December. Gerald Forsythe, who spent millions restoring the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez into one of the finest road courses in the world, said he was interested in bringing Nextel Cup to Mexico City, possibly as early as 2006.(Speed Channel)

• Gearing up for Track proposal: State economic development officials expect 300 Snohomish County citizens to show up in Marysville Wednesday for a public work session about a proposed NASCAR racetrack.  Groups that will make presentations opposing the project are Snohomish County Citizens Against a Racetrack, Gleneagle Homeowners Association, Arlington Airport Pilots Association and the Berry Farm Homeowners.  Supporting statements will be made by Fans United for NASCAR, Snohomish County Labor Council, Snohomish County Economic Development Council and the Tulalip Tribes. (BizJournal)

• Cup Finale Sold Out at Homestead:  For the first time, NASCAR's season-ending Nextel Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway has sold out before race day. Speedway president Curtis Gray announced Monday that no more tickets are available for the Ford 400 on Nov. 21.  ''I think it's the combination of the new banking, with the word spreading of how exciting the race is down here, and the new Chase for the Nextel Cup,'' Gray said. ``Since the day they announced the Chase [in January], I thought it would due more for our racetrack than anything we've ever done.  (Miami Herald)

• World Financial Group returns as Sponsor of the #99: Roush Racing announced that World Financial Group, Inc. (WFG) will sponsor Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Racing Ford once again this coming weekend at Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500. World Financial Group will appear as the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford for the second time in three weeks. In their first outing with the No. 99 team, Edwards and the #99 team gave WFG the ride of their life including a run for the win, never racing below sixth place in 325 laps. The #99 team's showing at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a successful outing for first time sponsor World Financial Group, one that the company is using to their advantage. To date Edwards has accrued one top-five and four top-10 finishes in the NEXTEL Cup series in just 12 starts.(Roush Racing PR)

• Emmy Award Winning NASCAR In Car Back:  OpenTV Corp. (Nasdaq:OPTV), one of the world's leading interactive television companies, and iN DEMAND Networks, the nation's leading PPV/VOD provider, have renewed their agreement to produce the Emmy(R) Award-winning "NASCAR in Car" for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. This extends the successful OpenTV, iN DEMAND and NASCAR arrangement that has offered viewers the ultimate flag-to-flag race experience consisting of seven drivers, seven in-car camera channels, and live team audio, data and driver statistics.  "We are delighted that iN DEMAND has decided to renew our agreement to produce the innovative Emmy(R) Award-winning 'NASCAR in Car,'" said James A. (Jim) Chiddix, chairman and CEO of OpenTV. "This renewal shows the value of our entertainment applications and the compelling interactive television that our technology enables. These applications appeal not only to cable operators, but also to programmers who are beginning to see the value that interactivity can offer to them in differentiating their product and engaging the viewer."   (Biz Journal)

November 8, 2004:

• Newman in Window: Ryan Newman had been taking heat for failing to turn his previous three consecutive poles into victories. Newman's second-place finish was his best since winning Round 2 of The Chase at Dover (Del.) International Speedway on Sept. 26. Newman, who began the day seventh in points and 186 behind leader Kurt Busch, remained in seventh after Sunday's race but only 150 behind Busch. That is within the 156-point window that would allow Newman to take the lead at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway next Sunday. (Star-Telegram)

• Still On Hold: There is still no official word from NASCAR executives about lifting the ban on hard liquor sponsorships on Nextel Cup cars, but an announcement is expected shortly, to come with Richard Childress' expected announcement of Jack Daniel's as a sponsor, apparently to replace AOL [or does it go to #7-Robby Gordon?]. NASCAR's announcement could open the door for Smirnoff to put its vodka brand on Matt Kenseth's car, replacing Smirnoff Ice [which moves to the #97 in 205], and for #99-Carl Edwards to get a Crown Royal-Diageo sponsorship, too.(Winston Salem Journal) AND NASCAR officials are expected to announce this week that they will lift their long-standing ban on hard liquor sponsorships for next season. Several teams are hoping to court hard liquor companies, including Roush Racing and Richard Childress Racing. Under NASCAR's current rules, teams are allowed to advertise beer and so-called "malt beverages" such as Smirnoff Ice.(USA Today)

• Lopez to who: Philippe Lopez, a crew chief who has been working in research and development at Joe Gibbs Racing since August, was missing in action at Phoenix. Several possible scenarios were presented by garage sources: Lopez was offered the crew chief job on Gibbs' #18  but turned it down, Lopez has discussed the #22  crew chief job with Bill Davis Racing, and Lopez could be reunited with Dave Blaney at Richard Childress Racing. "It's a possibility," Richard Childress says. (FoxSports)

• Earnhardt's Windshield too thin: NASCAR officials confiscated the windshield from Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #8 Budweiser Chevy over the weekend. According to spokesman Mike Zizzo, the windshield was too thin and not approved. A penalty is likely, but to what extent will be determined by Nextel Cup series director John Darby, Zizzo said. The penalty should be announced this week.(ThatsRacin.com)

November 7, 2004:

• Hendrick at shop: Hendrick Motorsports had a welcome visitor to its sprawling complex earlier this week. Owner Rick Hendrick, who lost his son, his brother, two nieces and two key employees in a plane crash two weeks ago, showed up at the team's race shop to meet with Hendrick employees. His wife Linda and his daughter Lynn also came to the shop to address Hendrick staffers.(NASCAR.com)

• Dale Earnhardt, Jr. takes security concern to truck: NASCAR's garage security has been terrible this season on the Nextel Cup tour, forcing drivers back into hiding in their motor coaches, to avoid being mobbed by the hundreds of fans swarming through the working areas. Yesterday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally had enough, and to make a point with lackadaisical NASCAR officials, Earnhardt took a page from his late father's book. He sat down on the rear deck of the NASCAR trailer and signed autographs for the crowd that quickly packed the area, making it impossible for officials to enter or leave.(Winston Salem Journal)

• Yellow in Question? NASCAR's late yellow at Atlanta has provoked questions in the Cup garage about the inconsistency in NASCAR's reaction to such situations. The caution was put out for Kevin Harvick's stalled car on pit road. Jack Roush, car owner for Mark Martin, who lost the race in part because of that yellow, questioned the call. Now others in the Cup garage are also questioning the call, pointing to a similar situation earlier in that race where NASCAR officials let teams pit while Elliott Sadler's crew had his car up on jack stands on pit road for repairs.(Winston Salem Journal)

November 6, 2004:

• NASCAR to Slow it Down? NASCAR wants to slow pit stops next season on the Nextel Cup and Busch tours, and officials are considering a drastic change in the fuel-dump cans. Now a gas man can dump two 11-gallon cans in a car in about 11 seconds, and that has put a remarkable premium on car owners putting together a pit crew fast enough to change four tires in that brief time span. By ordering teams to use fuel cans with smaller spouts, NASCAR officials hope to slow the dump time to 19 seconds. In turn, that would lessen the need for lightning-fast pit crews. But some top pit-crew men are upset with NASCAR's plans, saying NASCAR is playing to car owners, who have been complaining about the rising cost of hiring fast pit-crew men.(Winston Salem Journal)

• New Qualifying in 05: New qualifying procedures will likely be in place at more than half the races on the 2005 Nextel Cup schedule, including a guarantee that the top 35 teams in the car owners' points would get a starting spot in each week's event. Nextel Cup Series director John Darby confirmed Friday that Nextel Cup is heading toward a process used several times this year in the Busch Series, where cars are impounded by NASCAR after qualifying and would then start the race with the same set-up they had for the time trials. "That would allow the teams to have one focus per weekend," Darby said. "They would leave the shop in race set-up, then unload at the track and qualify and race with the car in race trim." Currently, Nextel Cup teams practice and then make two-lap qualifying runs on Fridays in a typical race weekend. They then change their cars dramatically before a running a pair of Saturday morning practices the way their cars will be for Sunday's race. Darby said the "ideal" schedule for 2005 would be Friday afternoon practices with Cup qualifying at midday Saturday preceding a Busch or Truck series support race. Cup cars would be impounded after qualifying and teams would be able to make only slight adjustments - air pressure in tires, for instance - before the green flag on Sunday.There other major change in qualifying rules would be in effect at all tracks, however. The top 35 cars in owner points would be guaranteed a starting spot to protect teams running full schedules from being bumped by part-time teams who show up in qualifying mode to make a race with no regard of how that car would do in the race. (ThatsRacin.com)

November 5, 2004:

• Toyota to Cup '07?: Toyota likely will spend its money on a NASCAR Nextel Cup program as early as 2007. This year, Toyota became the first foreign automaker to compete in a major NASCAR series when it joined Craftsman Truck. (Detroit Free Press)
   

• Dale Jr. Awaits Release of '3': An ESPN movie about Dale Earnhardt, who died in a crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, is scheduled for airing early next month. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is eagerly awaiting its release. "From day one, I've been pretty excited about it," said Earnhardt Jr., last year's Checker Auto Parts 500 champion at Phoenix International Raceway. "I really, really hope they did a good job. You know, the stuff that they've done in the past on that network has been pretty good. I've been pretty surprised actually by the quality of the films that they've had. I think there obviously will be a little bit of a Hollywood twist to a few things. I'm sure you can't expect somebody to tell the most accurate story unless you're going to write a book. You know, every film has a twist, a Hollywood flair to it. I'm sure this one will, too." The movie, titled 3, stars Barry Pepper, who also played New York Yankees outfielder Roger Maris in 61*.(Arizona Republic)

• France on XM: NASCAR Chair and CEO Brian France joined Claire B. Lang [CBL] on "Dialed In" on XM Satellite Radio Wednesday. He answered questions from fans and CBL. Among the issues that came up were the upcomming TV contract and the Dale Junior point penalty for swearing.
  Question: With the TV contract coming up, are you looking to have more races on the network channels, or are you looking to expand it more onto cable?
  Brian France: Well, we like the current balance that we have now, so we wouldn't be interested in changing that around too much, but you know you have to see how things play out. And we also really like our partners, we think that that's our first goal is to renew with the group that we have now at Fox, and TNT/NBC, they do a really good job - they get it, the races are entertaining in how they present them, my hope is that we'll figure out a way to renew our existing agreements with our partners.
  Question: you fine these drivers, monetary amounts for swearing, and then deduct driver points and team points, my question is, why wouldn't you just go with the monetary fine, but make it, you know, their first offense around $50,000, and then up from there, because, $10,000 is nothing to these guys.
  Brian France: Yea, that's a good question, and matter of fact, I'm glad you asked that question, that's the most often thing, and I haven't addressed this, other than on this show, and I'll do it right now, I'm sure you're referring to the Dale Earnhardt Jr. penalty, right?
  Question: Drivers that were fined driver points.
  Brian France: Here's the problem. If we just went with a monetary penalty, many drivers will tell you, they don't care. Now, the drivers that are doing real well financially will say that. Now other drivers, a rookie driver, a Busch driver, who's just getting started, they would care. So the problem that we have is, on important matters that we want the drivers to conform to, we have to have a floating scale, we'd have to know your balance sheet - what's enough to make Dale Earnhardt [Jr.] think about it, and a Busch driver another. So what would we do? Have a floating scale based on your net worth? I mean, you can't do it that way. If it's a serious matter, then the only thing that all drivers understand are points. And we were consistently consistent when we told everybody at the beginning of the year we had an issue, that was right after the Super Bowl, under the backdrop of the FCC clamping down, our network partners called us and said you've got to - this is serious, you've got to help us, we're pumping racing into people's living rooms, and we're just not going to tolerate profanity and other things, and we understood that, and we passed it on to the drivers, and we told them, this is a serious matter, you're all aware of it, and then we were consistent. We have everybody the same penalty - the two guys that did it before Dale Jr - we had no other option but to do that. And that's why we don't have just a monetary fine. And I wish it weren't so serious of an issue, that the Super Bowl, and I wish that that incident didn't happen, the FCC and Howard Stern, and all the things that swirl around out there, that the FCC feels very strongly that has to be addressed - it's not my view, it's their view, and we have to conform to it.(XM Satellite Radio)

November 4, 2004:

• NASCAR Nation in? FSN's Totally NASCAR OUT: Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal reports that Speed Channel is planning to launch an hourlong show called "NASCAR Nation" to run Monday through Thursday nights next year. The story says Fox Sports' "Totally NASCAR" will be discontinued. Speed Channel is expected to spend as much as $10 million on production over 40 weeks on the show.(NASCAR Scene)

• Wallace Fined: Driver Rusty Wallace was fined $10,000 for his role in an incident at the conclusion of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race held Oct. 24 at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR officials announced today. Wallace, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge for Penske Racing South, was penalized for violating Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Rule Book when he made deliberate contact with the #12 Alltel car of Ryan Newman as the field returned to pit lane following the conclusion of the race.(NASCAR PR)
   

October Past News

• Truex Jr. limited Cup '05: Martin Truex Jr., leading in the race for this year's Busch Series championship with three races to go, will return to that series next year and move to Nextel Cup full time in 2006 with Bass Pro Shops as primary sponsor. Truex will run with that company's backing in all 35 Busch races and seven Cup races in 2005. His tentative Cup schedule next year is to run both Daytona and Talladega races as well as events at Michigan, Indianapolis and Homestead. Bass Pro Shops will then sponsor the #1 Chevy owned by Dale Earnahrdt Inc. in Cup in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.(ThatsRacin.com)

• PowerAde and Coca-Cola leaving NASCAR? NASCAR sources indicate that Coca-Cola / PowerAde may drop its NASCAR sponsorship at the end of the season. NASCAR signed PowerAde to a victory-lane sponsorship that has proven too hot to handle, according to NASCAR sources, who said the brand would like to get out of NASCAR because of the disputes and because business hasn't been that good lately.(Winston Salem Journal)

October 26, 2004:

• Study To Take Place in NYC: Nascar promoters have commissioned a study to determine whether buses or ferries could alleviate some of the traffic congestion that would result from a proposed Staten Island speedway, which could draw more than 80,000 fans to the borough on race days.Officials with International Speedway Corporation, the large motor sports operator that is backing the project, say that they expect to release the findings of the traffic study by early next month and that it could determine the fate of Nascar racing in New York City. (New York Times)

• Firestone in NASCAR 2007? Bridgestone/Firestone is planning to launch a bid to the right to supply NASCAR tyres when the current Goodyear contract runs out in 2007. The company is expected to start testing tyres in the course of 2005 and the suggestion is that the car will be supplied by Toyota, which is planning its own NASCAR bid in 2006. NASCAR has been a single tyre series since 1995 after a tyre war between Goodyear and Hoosier after which it was decided that it was the best course of action on the grounds of safety. This does not mean that NASCAR will not enjoy the benefits of a bidding war for the tyre supply as the coverage gained from NASCAR is very valuable to the tyre company involved.  It is believed that Michelin is also keen to bid for the NASCAR deal, probably via its BF Goodrich subsidiary.

• NASCAR Fans can get more personal: Digital Orchid Inc., an innovator in the development, management and distribution of branded wireless applications, and eMbience Inc., a leading developer and publisher of wireless software, today announced that NASCAR.COM TO GO wallpaper and ringtones were recently made available for QUALCOMM's BREW solution. NASCAR.COM TO GO wallpaper and ringtones enable fans to personalize their cell phones to reflect their passion for NASCAR, and connect them to their favorite sport. (Yahoo Tech)

• Navy Revs up for 2005: The Navy announced Oct. 22 that it will extend its partnership with NASCAR and the FitzBradshaw Racing Team for the 2005 racing season with a new driver, manufacturer and support team.“We are very excited to continue our relationship with NASCAR and the FitzBradshaw Team,” said Rear. Adm. Jeffrey Fowler, commander of Navy Recruiting. “There are a number of exciting changes in store next year, most notably Dodge as our new manufacturer, a new partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing and the welcome addition of rising star David Stremme.” (Press Release)

October 25, 2004:

• Rusy and Ryan: #2-Rusty Wallace bumped teammate #12-Ryan Newman after the race to show his displeasure over a lap 493 incident between the two that dropped Wallace from second place to 10th while Newman took third. "I told [Newman] to stay out of my way and I could win the race, but he didn't do it," Wallace said. Newman's reply: "I don't guess Rusty and I are on speaking terms right now. I was underneath him, and I know he came down on me. I wasn't going to give him anything, so he got loose and lost a bunch of spots. Our car was faster than his at the end. I'm not sure he's aware of that, but he will be."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

• Pit Bulls to be put down? NASCAR executives love the new television package that has boosted national coverage of their sport the past three years, but it's no secret they're not fond of one of the newest pre-game shows, Saturday night's Pit Bulls [usually 6:30pm/et, also known as Pit Hogs by Jimmy Spencer], on Speed, the Fox cable subsidiary. Pit Bulls is Fox' specialized version of The Sports Reporters, and its irreverent, politically-incorrect stance on many NASCAR racing issues has drawn a surprising following among stock-car crews [I never miss it], who sometimes express amazement that NASCAR officials have allowed the show to continue. Pit Bulls follows a distinctly different line from the typical NASCAR pre-game and post-game racing shows, which are frequently little more than public-relations showcases for NASCAR-approved themes, promoted by a bevy of drivers, some of whom, like Michael Waltrip [on Inside Nextel Cup, see next blurb], have lately increased their criticism of the show. Now it appears that the Pit Bulls show may be ripe for Brian France's axe at the end of the season, according to TV sources, who say the show could be sacrificed in post-season NASCAR-TV negotiations to appease Daytona executives.(Winston Salem Journal)

• Protested Canceled... Again: The National Association of Minority Race Fans said it had 75 protestors in place at Martinsville Speedway to continue its demonstrations against what it sees as unsafe conditions for minorities and women at NASCAR tracks. The protest was, however, canceled due to "wet, soggy conditions." NAMRF "decided its message would be muted given the dreary weather," it said in a statement.(ThatsRacin.com)

• Native American Driving School? A new racing school targeted at Native American youth could be in the works. Derrike Cope, NASCAR driver and winner of the 1990 Daytona 500, is looking to bring the idea to life. Cope said that the plans haven’t been finalized yet, but all parties involved are close to an agreement. “Right now, all indications are positive,” he said. Cope explained that he has spoken with several different tribes to get a feel for who might be interested in sponsoring his idea. Another possibility is an all-Native pit crew. “We’ve actually gone through a lot of scenarios.” Why? To create some diversity in NASCAR and, Cope told NAT, to “create a platform for young Native Americans to learn a trade around motor sports.” An all-Native racing school would likely be a first of its kind, said John Harrington, who is helping Cope with possible funding. Harrington is the President of Integrity Gaming.(Native Times)

• Jeff Gordon leads contenders at Talladega : Joe Nemechek wasn't surprised to be back at the front of the field, just that it took so long to get there. ... (MLive.com, MI)

• Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 'I always got :One week shy of his 30th birthday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes into Sunday's EA Sports 500 thinking ... (That's Racing)

• NASCAR's plans for NYC area in trouble :NASCAR and the International Speedway Corp.'s plans to take racing to New York City have apparently hit a snag. ...  (Charlotte Observer (subscription), NC)

• Bodine Wins Thriller CTS Race:  Former Nextel Cup driver Todd Bodine raced to his first Craftsman Truck Series victory Saturday night, ending Ted Musgrave's three-race winning streak at California Speedway.  Bodine held off Musgrave by 0.049 seconds, with both drivers avoiding a crash on the final lap on the two-mile track. The winner averaged 127.141 mph in his Toyota in the 100-lap race that was slowed by only four caution periods. (Yahoo)

• Labonte to retire?  At least partial: Labonte said Saturday he will run a schedule of at least 10 races each in 2005 and 2006 for Rick Hendrick, his car owner since 1986 [actually since 1994]. A formal announcement will be made at an Oct. 12 press conference at the Hendrick shops. Labonte, who has driven #5 for Hendrick, will switch to car #44, the number he drove for Billy Hagan from 1979-1986.(High Point Enterprise)

• More of Earnhardt Jr. on Earnhardt Jr.:  "That was two seconds before I threw it away.". - On an article he wrote in the current issue of "NASCAR Scene" about things he would change in NASCAR. (Charlotte Observer (subscription), NC)

• Fisher In NASCAR?: Sarah Fisher, a 24-year-old Indy star on Chevrolet's NASCAR fast-track, will make her NASCAR debut at Phoenix Sunday in a 150-mile race that could be key to a Busch or Cup ride. Fisher will make her stockcar debut in the Subway 150, part of NASCAR's Grand National West series. Fisher's name has been mentioned as a candidate for a ride with car owners Richard Childress or Rick Hendrick. Fisher will tour the Hendrick shops in Charlotte next week with a potential sponsor, to study how much commitment it might take to mount a Busch or Cup effort. Fisher is a key part of Chevrolet's racing-diversity program, and that makes her a hot priority for NASCAR executives too, who might prod Chevrolet to push her up the ladder quicker than otherwise might be expected. There had been speculation that Fisher might run in next weekend's Busch race at Kansas. (Winston-Salem Journal)

• The New Dodge Charger will be in NASCAR: Fresh off a big product year, DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group is preparing for what could be another hit, a resurrected version of its classic muscle car, the Dodge Charger. The new Charger, which debuts at the Detroit auto show in January, arrives as other Detroit automakers are trotting out modern updates of old road kings like the Ford Mustang and Pontiac GTO in hopes of winning back the hearts of U.S. car buyers. The new Charger is crucial to the Dodge brand’s attempt to revive its passenger car lineup and the Chrysler Group’s nascent turnaround. But the car’s return is generating nearly as much debate as enthusiasm. Fans of the original street rocket say a four-door sedan does not deserve the Charger name. Others are happy just to see the badge back in the lineup after disappearing in the late 1980s. One unknown, however, is the boost Dodge could experience from reintroducing Charger to NASCAR racing next year. The Hemi-powered Charger of the 1960s was once the car to beat on the circuit and helped drive consumer demand. The new Charger debuts at the Daytona 500 in February, one of the biggest sporting events of the year, and could attract notice.( Detroit News)

• NC Governor's unveil results of motorsports impact study: Gov. Mike Easley will pay a visit to Mooresville next week for the annual meeting of the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA). Easley is expected to speak Tuesday about the results of an economic impact study for the motorsports industry in North Carolina. The yearlong study analyzed the financial benefits that auto racing has and could bring to the state. N.C. Rep. Karen Ray of Mooresville was instrumental in landing the annual meeting here for the first time. A representative for Iredell and Catawba counties in the N.C. General Assembly, she has brought auto racing, and especially NASCAR, to the forefront of initiatives in Raleigh. That includes sponsoring a bill for stock car racing license plates, helping form a racing caucus in the General Assembly to promote racing, and now, bringing the NCMA annual meeting to Mooresville. “A good cross section of motorsports industry people will be present at the meeting, from (NCMA Chairman) Richard Petty to small businesses,” Ray said. (Mooresville Tribune)

• Parts Seized at Talladega: There weren't many parts confiscated by NASCAR inspectors prior to Friday's Nextel Cup qualifying session, but what was found could be costly. The most serious infraction was the rear spoiler of the #9 Dodge driven by rookie Kasey Kahne, which was taken for its failure to meet the NASCAR template. The infraction is considered serious and will likely merit a significant penalty, NASCAR officials confirmed.(ThatsRacin.com)

• Steps to Avoid an April repeat: Talladega Superspeedway officials have taken quiet steps to quell the possibility of a riot such as occurred at the end of the April race here. Fans, frustrated by a confusing finish under caution (with Jeff Gordon beating local favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr.) erupted, throwing cans and garbage onto the track as the race ended. Track VP Rick Humphrey said two proactive steps had been taken. First, security will be increased, with added police and private security personnel, in uniform, in the grandstands. Second, the track sent out letters to all ticketholders noting that such behavior will not be tolerated and encouraging fans to report offenders.(Speed Channel site)

• More on "The Protest":  Track president Grant Lynch said the National Association for Minority Race Fans had sent a letter to Alabama officials "asking for assistance to hold a peaceful demonstration sometime this weekend." Lynch said he has been in contact by telephone only with the group's representatives and had no firm information about how many protesters might show up, how they might arrive or whether they would agree to stage their demonstration on a 7-acre site west of the track's main entrance as offered by officials. "The conversations have not been very informative," said Lynch, who said he had talked with an attorney representing the group along with its director, whom he identified at Gerard Brown, and another representative who apparently plans to be on site for the protest this weekend. "We are asking all of our fans to be respectful for this group and all of the other individuals who might be on our property this weekend," Lynch said. The National Association for Minority Race Fans first came to attention when a Clayton County, Ga., newspaper reported its plans to protest at Atlanta Motor Speedway on the final weekend of October. Its web site's home page featured a mission statement saying the group wanted "to create a safe race track environment while pursuing the political, social and economic equality of minority groups and citizens who desire to enjoy NASCAR events without racial bigotry." The password-protected site also featured a clock counting down to midnight Thursday, at which time the site was to open to the public. Just more than two hours before that point, however, the clock was stopped and the mission statement was replaced with another statement. It read: "In what we hope is a pivotal, positive step toward providing a safer haven for minority race fans, NASCAR has contacted NAMRF. The two organizations are currently in negotiations concerning a plan to resolve our philosophical differences and develop a more acceptable, comprehensive diversity plan." It also said a protest planned for Talladega this weekend would proceed. Ramsey Poston, NASCAR managing director of corporate communications, denied that NASCAR has negotiated any deal with the group. "We did call them," Poston said. "We want to speak with anyone who wants to talk about the issue of diversity or who wants to bring good ideas to the table." Maj. Patrick Manning, chief of Alabama's Highway Patrol division, said the suggested site for the demonstration is in a place that would be visible to fans arriving at the track without interrupting traffic flow into and out of the track.(ThatsRacin.com)

• Bestwick injured, will miss Talladega: NASCAR on NBC & TNT play-by-play commentator Allen Bestwick is scheduled to undergo surgery today to repair a broken leg suffered last night in a hockey game near his home in Coventry, R.I. and will not call Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race from Talladega, Ala. Pre-race host and lead pit reporter Bill Weber will fill-in for Bestwick calling the race from the booth with analysts Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach. "Our thoughts are with Allen for a speedy recovery," said Ken Schanzer, President, NBC Sports. "Having a multi-talented guy like Bill able to step in at a moment's notice is a real luxury. It's a benefit to have a deep and talented team and be able to adjust when unfortunate circumstances like this arise." Weber, who has provided play-by-play on NASCAR Happy Hour broadcasts on TNT and AFL games on NBC, will host the pre-race show from a specially designed desk on the roof of the broadcast booth instead of his usual perch atop the NASCAR on NBC & TNT Wagon on pit road. Following the pre-race show, he will move to the booth to call the race with Parsons and Dallenbach. Pit reporters Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Matt Yocum will handle reporting duties on all 43 teams from the pits.(NBC PR)

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