Schrader and Edwards
racing: The third annual American Short Track
Nationals, with special appearances by NASCAR Nextel Cup
Drivers Carl Edwards and Ken Schrader, is Tuesday at Lee
County Speedway. Special guests include Kenny Edwards,
who will be competing in the 4-cylinder Wild Things and
Ramo Stott, the 1976 Daytona 500 pole sitter.
Hospitality tickets are available. The price of the
hospitality ticket includes a meet and greet with
Edwards and Scrader, dinner, drinks, race ticket, pit
tour, autographs and photo session and more. Racing
includes Late Models, Hobby Stocks and Wild Things.
Tickets are $15 general admission and $13 for seniors
and students. Children 10-and-under get in free. VIP
tickets are $55, and a pit pass is $25. (Daily
Gate)
Vegas first day sales
up: A high volume of telephone ticket orders and an
equally heavy dosage of Internet orders kept Las Vegas
Motor Speedway’s ticket office working at maximum
capacity Monday as tickets went on sale for the 2006
NASCAR Weekend. “This was one of the busiest and most
successful first days of ticket sales since the
inaugural event,” said Chris Powell, LVMS general
manager. “We are very pleased with our first-day
results. This also is our first year using Ticketmaster,
and we believe that has helped us fill orders more
efficiently.” LVMS also has processed a record number of
renewals from last year’s event. “Today’s tremendous
number of ticket sales is a direct result of the appeal
of our facility and our great city,” Powell said.
“Combine that with the momentum NASCAR is carrying
nationwide and it should come as no surprise that ticket
sales are way ahead of any previous pace. We also have
seen an increased amount of interest in the
now-under-construction Richard Petty Terrace. Those
seats, as well as the seats in the Dale Earnhardt
Terrace, have proven to be the most popular seats in the
facility.” First-day sales of weekend pit passes and
pre-race activities passes also saw increases over last
year. Race fans can purchase tickets to the March 12
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and March 11 Sam’s Town 300 by
calling 1-800-644-4444 or by logging on to
www.lvms.com. (LVMS
PR)
Sep. 12, 2005:
Dale Jr. and Eury Jr.
back together this week: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
and former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. will be reunited in
time for Sunday's race at New Hampshire. Eury has been
Michael Waltrip's crew chief this season. Tony Gibson,
Waltrip's car chief, is likely to succeed Eury as crew
chief and stay with the No. 15 team for the remainder of
the season. Waltrip is leaving with NAPA at the end of
the year to drive the No. 23 car for Bill Davis Racing.
(Sporting
News/Lee Spencer)
Stewart to appear on
Late Show with David Lettermen: CBS says Nextel Cup
points leader Tony Stewart is scheduled to appear on the
"Late Show With David Letterman" Wednesday. The show
airs at 11:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time.
(Scene Daily Newsletter)
Lane expected to be
named driver of Team Wayans: In Living Color meets
NASCAR -- that's the race plan for Star Motorsports'
partnership with the entertainment world's Wayans
brothers. The Star-Team Wayans car will run in the
Nextel Cup Series next season. The Wayanses have pledged
their support of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program
and plan to eventually field entries in Cup, Busch and
Craftsman Truck Series. Evernham Motorsports' Tommy
Lane, who is black, tops the list of potential Star-Team
Wayans drivers. (Yahoo!)
Imus to air from New
Hampshire: New Hampshire International Speedway says
Don Imus' nationally syndicated "Imus In the Morning"
radio show will air from the track on Friday. The
show, which runs from 5:30 to 10 a.m., is also carried
on the MSNBC cable television station. Tickets,
which are $20 each, are available through NHIS Guest
Services at (603) 783-4931 or through The Wolf 93.3 FM
radio station at (603) 228-9036. All proceeds go to the
Imus Ranch in New Mexico for children with serious
illnesses. (Scene
Daily Newsletter)
Hmiel to work on car
of tomorrow: With Tony Eury Jr. moving back to the
No. 8 team, Steve Hmiel will return to his previous post
as head of DEI's research-and-development operation and
concentrate on building the intermediate-track version
of "the car of tomorrow (COT)" for 2007. Hmiel says that
several organizations are participating in the process,
but it was important for DEI to get a head start, "since
this will be the biggest change to come along in Cup
since NASCAR moved to smaller cars in '81." (Sporting
News/Lee Spencer)
32 team not in
trouble: Bobby Hamilton Jr. yesterday denied reports
that his Nextel Cup team is about to fold. "I know
that's been going around but there's nothing to it,"
Hamilton said of reports that began circulating during
last week's race at California and continued in the days
leading up to last night's race at Richmond
International Raceway. "We've been hiring some new
people and making plans and I expect to be back next
year." Hamilton, a Nashville native and
fourth-generation racer, joined Cal Wells' PPI
Motorsports team around mid-season last year, replacing
Ricky Craven. He signed a three-year contract. (The
Tennessean)
Team Cap on Chase?
NASCAR is looking at putting a cap on the number of
Nextel Cup teams that can be owned by one organization,
chairman Brian France said Saturday. France said the
consideration was not prompted by the fact Roush Racing
has five drivers inside the top 10 heading into Saturday
night’s race at Richmond International Raceway. France
said he is more concerned new owners won’t be able to
break into the sport if they feel it’s impossible to
compete without a minimum of three teams. “If it gets to
that situation, we’ll have to do something,” France
said. “We’ll have to cap. We’ll have to look at ways to
phase in a cap rule.” France did not indicate what the
cap number might be, but he said existing teams would
not be penalized “for operating within the rules.” (The
State)
Raabe Racing in
Daytona? Edward Raabe won't say yet who his race car
driver will be, but Raabe Racing Enterprises is speeding
ahead with an $8 million Nextel Cup race team in Daytona
Beach. It's a venture local business planners hope will
lead to other teams moving here. The team is based out
of a 6,000 square-foot facility at 1870 Mason Ave.,
formerly home to a plastics manufacturing company. The
building has been refitted with everything from
fabrication equipment for sheet metal and heavy steel,
to a chassis dynamometer for engine tuning, to tooling
needed for engine modifying. The facility also is home
to a graphics operation that can wrap a race car or an
18-wheeler with race-team logos. Raabe Enterprises has a
lease with the option to buy the building "but
everything else is debt free. We have $8 million
invested. It takes in the neighborhood of $10 million to
$15 million a year to operate," the owner said. (More at
Daytona News Journal)
Sep. 11, 2005:
Ince in Charge at Cal
Wells? James Ince, the irascible crew chief whose
energy sometimes seems boundless and whose intensity can
be frightening, is back on the NASCAR Cup tour. Car
owner Cal Wells has put him in charge of repairing and
rebuilding a team that has been struggling mightily this
season. And Ince has a new running buddy on the
job site - Eddie Dickerson, a veteran car builder and
shop foreman whose behind-the-scenes work at Hendrick
Motorsports for the past decade has made him a legend.
"Cal told me, 'Fix it,'" Ince said. "So I asked him
again, just to make sure: 'When you tell me to 'fix it,'
you know what that means?' I've only got one speed." So
Ince is Wells' new general manager, on the job observing
for 10 days now. How driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. might fit
into all this is unclear. Hamilton hasn't said much
about his plans for 2006, and has been dodging questions
on the issue for the past month. (Salem-Journal)
Wallace honored,
Rusty Wallace day yesterday: Gov. Mark Warner
proclaimed yesterday Rusty Wallace Day, surprising
Wallace with the news in the pre-race drivers' meeting.
Wallace has won six races at RIR, more than any other
driver. "I think I took him a little bit by surprise in
the meeting," Warner said. "He said, 'Boy, that's pretty
cool. It's not real often you get a day named after
you.'" Warner also used the meeting to make another push
for Richmond to be awarded the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He
was introduced and welcomed everyone to the state of
Virginia, "hopefully the future home of the NASCAR Hall
of Fame." (Times-Dispatch)
Dale Jr. leads most
popular driver award: With voting now well past 3
million for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver
Award, smashing the record for total votes in a season
appears to be a foregone conclusion. A total of
3,119,000 votes have been cast, and the record of 3.8
million votes set last year should fall before fan
voting ends in 10 weeks. Race fans have been voting at
www.mostpopulardriver.com, the official voting site,
since February 1. Since General Mills began sponsoring
the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award at the
beginning of the 2002 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season,
well over 13 million votes have been cast by fans
throughout the world. Fans vote at
www.mostpopulardriver.com for the only fan-based
official award in motorsports. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
continues to lead in the voting. Behind him in the
current balloting are second-place Jeff Gordon, followed
by Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Rusty
Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, and
Jimmie Johnson. Voting for the more than 40 drivers
eligible for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver
Award, the only fan-based award in motorsports, began
Tuesday, Feb. 1, at
www.mostpopulardriver.com and continues through
11:59 a.m. CST, Monday, Nov. 21. Fans may vote once each
day at the site. - (Williams Co., Of America, Inc.)
Chase is set, Busch
Wins, Gordon Out, Roush All in: At the end of 400
harried laps under the lights at Richmond International
Raceway, nerves were frayed, egos were bruised, Kurt
Busch's car was in Victory Lane and the lineup for the
"Chase for the Nextel Cup" was set. But the whole
evening will be remembered as much for who did not
squeeze into the Chase as for who did. Carl Edwards,
Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman, in order, secured the
final three spots in NASCAR's equivalent of a
postseason, while Jeff Gordon, stock car racing's most
recognizable driver and four-time Cup champion, battled
a poor-handling car for most of the Chevy Rock & Roll
400 and wound up 30th, 83 points out of the Chase.
Gordon started sixth, but slipped to 28th after pitting
on Lap 115 for a loose lug nut. He continued to run in
the rear of the field until Lap 214, when he was forced
up too far up the track by Johnny Sauter in Turn 2 and
smacked the wall. "That's it; we're done," Gordon
yelled over the radio. (Washington
Post -
Results -
Points)
R. Gordon and Marlin
okay after wreck: Just 90 laps into the race,
Marlin crashed in Turn 2. He had help from Gordon's No.
7 Chevrolet. Gordon, running behind Marlin and
Scott Wimmer, went hard into Turn 1 and cut down in
front of Wimmer, but Gordon was carrying too much speed
and went up the track into Marlin, which resulted in a
trip to the wall. Revenge is a dish best served cold,
and Marlin let it cool off before returning the favor on
Lap 313 by turning dead right into the side of Gordon's
car in Turn 2. NASCAR responded by bringing Marlin to
pit road for a five-lap penalty. Gordon got his car
fixed in the pits. Then, as the caution waved for
Wimmer's spin, he charged up through the field to
Marlin's car and rubbed up against it. Gordon was
brought to pit road for his own five-lap penalty for
rough driving. Soon after that incident, NASCAR
made the announcement that both drivers and their crew
chiefs were expected in the NASCAR hauler forthwith
following the race. On his way out of the NASCAR
transporter, Marlin said "We're cool, everything is OK."
Gordon, back at his team transporter, was a little more
vocal. "I definitely got into him (on Lap 90), and I
apologize for that," he said. "I don't know if it was
payback for something else I did, but everything's cool.
We're good." (NASCAR.com)
Warning to drivers
that may try affect the outcomes: With concerns
throughout the garage for rough driving in last night's
race having an impact on the Chase, NASCAR President
Mike Helton made sure drivers knew it wouldn't be
tolerated. "Anyone who chooses to do anything that
alters the outcome of the positions in this race or in
the Chase, we will act quickly and severely," Helton
said. "If we see anyone attempting to manipulate the
outcome of this race, the Chase, or any race from here
on out, we will handle it. You've never seen that here,
and you never will." (Times-Dispatch)
Sep. 10, 2005
Brian France to open
restaurant: Brian France, chairman and chief
executive officer of NASCAR, has teamed up with
Concentrics Hospitality of Atlanta to launch an upscale
but casual restaurant in downtown Winter Park, at the
corner of Park and New England avenues. Luma will open
to the public Sept. 19 on the ground floor of the
recently remodeled Bank of America building, with
restaurant entrances on both streets. "We saw a terrific
opportunity for us to be part of the revitalization of
downtown Winter Park," France said in a written
statement about the restaurant, which will seat more
than 170 inside, with another 50 in the bar and 50 on
the wraparound patio. It will also have space for 50 in
a private dining area. Concentrics is a restaurant
consulting and management company headed by Robert Amick,
who has a track record of success in Atlanta with
restaurants such as One Midtown Kitchen and Two Urban
Licks. Amick said Luma will be a "neighborhood
restaurant with citywide appeal," headed by executive
chef Todd Immel. During his career, Immel has worked
with top chefs including Guenter Seeger of Seeger's in
Atlanta and Daniel Boulud of Restaurant Daniel in New
York. (Orlando
Sentinel)
Eury and Earnhardt
back together sooner then later? Richie Gilmore,
vice president of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc.,
hinted Friday that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief
Tony Eury Jr. could be reunited as soon as next week at
New Hampshire International Speedway. "If me and Tony
Jr. are going to work together next year, that'd be a
good idea to begin working on that relationship,''
Earnhardt said. Gilmore said the team announced all its
changes for next year to its employees but is waiting to
make those decisions public. "We don't really feel like
we need to take away from anybody in the chase,''
Gilmore said. "Maybe at Loudon, we'll go there and we'll
announce our plans there.'' Gilmore said the team plans
to use the last 10 races preparing for next season. (Roanoke)
Marlin Signs with MB2
motorsports: (Sterling) Marlin confirmed yesterday
that he will race the next two seasons for MB2
Motorsports as a teammate of Joe Nemechek. I've got a
deal," Marlin said, "and it's a good one." The
48-year-old racer from Columbia will replace Scott
Riggs, who is jumping to Evernham Motorsports next year.
MB2, based in Concord, N.C., could have followed the
recent trend in NASCAR and picked one of a dozen young
drivers with a more polished image than Marlin, a
self-described "country boy." But team official Jay Frye
said "age equates to experience," and that Marlin's lack
of pretension is appealing. (Tennessean)
Sep. 9, 2005
Loomis will not
return in 2006: Robbie Loomis doesn't know what
he'll do next season, but he does know he'll do
something other than serve as crew chief for four-time
NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon. "I know that I am getting
ready for a change," Loomis said Friday at Richmond
International Raceway. "We have been preparing for that
for a year, and it could be within Hendrick Motorsports
and it might be something completely different." Gordon
touched off speculation about Loomis' future this week
when he said on NASCAR's teleconference he didn't know
if Loomis would be back in his current job. "I'm ready
for like a change of season, like winter, fall, spring
and summer," Loomis said. "That's been brought on more
by the emotions I went through last year with my mom."
Loomis' mother, Sally, went through a serious illness
last year. "I probably grew more as a person last year
throughout the season with what I experienced with my
mom than I have all my life," said Loomis, 41. "I know I
changed more as a person. Then with what we had happen
last October, that helped make me a better person." (Kentucky.com)
Earnhardt, Jr., Brian
France, Helton, among those visiting Walter Reed:
With the late afternoon sun glistening off of polished
car hoods and new prosthetic limbs, wounded troops
recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here
gathered to take a peek at a row of NASCAR racecars
parked in front of the hospital's Mologne House hotel.
The cars were lined up at Walter Reed on Sept. 7 as part
of a daylong NASCAR tribute to American servicemembers,
many who sacrificed body parts in service to their
country. Several NASCAR drivers and executives were on
hand to show just how much they appreciated this
sacrifice. "They defend everything we believe in. It's
very important that the troops know that all Americans
support them. And although their job may be difficult,
they've got a lot of people behind them," driver Dale
Earnhardt Jr. said. hroughout the day, the drivers and
executives visited wounded troops in the hospital wards
and hosted a dinner and evening of entertainment for
servicemembers and their families. "We live in a great
country, and one reason is because of the armed forces,"
driver Terry Labonte said. "It is nice for us to be able
to come here and in a very small way say thank you." Joe
Nemechek, driver of the U.S. Army No. 01 car, echoed
this sentiment. "All the men and women in uniform who
serve this country give us our freedom, and we shouldn't
take that freedom for granted," he said. Army Staff Sgt.
Justin Shellhammer, 26, who lost his left leg when he
stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan on April 5
returned the appreciation. "It's awesome that the NASCAR
guys have come out to support the men and women who got
hurt. The support is important because it shows that
what we're doing is not going unnoticed," he said. Army
Staff Sgt. Troy Barns said the NASCAR visit was a good
way to lift the "spirits of the guys in the hospital."
The drivers attending the dinner, at the Karen Wagner
Sports Center on the Walter Reed campus included
Labonte, Justin Labonte, Earnhardt, Nemechek, Jamie
McMurray, Travis Kvapil, Martin Truex Jr., Ashton Lewis
Jr., Carl Edwards and Jon Wood. NASCAR executives in
attendance were Brian France, NASCAR chairman and chief
executive officer; Mike Helton, NASCAR president; Bill
France Jr., NASCAR vice chairman; and Jim Hunter,
NASCAR's vice president of corporate communications. (Lincoln
Tribune)
Martin to be in #6
car in 2006: The only thing that brought a frown to
Mark Martin's face after his victory in the
International Race of Champions event was a question
about his future. Martin has said this would be his
final season in Jack Roush's No. 6 Cup car, and a
reporter asked him if he still might consider racing in
IROC again next year if invited to take part in the
four-race all-star series as the defending champion. The
46-year-old Martin acknowledged that was a possibility,
then added, "It really looks like I'm going to be in the
6 car next year. It's looking more and more like that
all the time." Martin beat Kurt Busch, his teammate at
Roush Racing and the reigning Nextel Cup champion, by 2
feet on Thursday night. Shortly after, he was informed
all he needs to do to wrap up his fifth IROC
championship -- breaking a tie for the record with the
late Dale Earnhardt -- is start the final race at
Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 29. Martin said he had
planned to spend next season driving a handful of Busch
Series races, as well as racing for his own new team in
NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series. But things got
complicated recently when team owner Jack Roush signed
Jamie McMurray away from Chip Ganassi Racing. (Orlando
Sentinel)
Get your NASCAR AZ.
Lottery Tickets: In its continuing quest to take
over the world, NASCAR is moving in on the Arizona
Lottery. The Lottery has issued new Scratchers tickets
that feature images of race car drivers Jeff Gordon,
Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth
and Jeremy Mayfield. It is all part of the agency's
partnership with Phoenix International Raceway to
sponsor a race Nov. 10 during the four-day NASCAR Nextel
Cup weekend at the raceway. The name of the race is a
mouthful: the Arizona Lottery 125 NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division Series Race. Whew. Now back to those
lottery tickets. They cost $3 each and offer prizes of
up to $10,000 and trips to NASCAR races. (AZ
Central)
Earnhardt, Jr.
attends fan event talks about team, fans and more:
"I'm pretty disappointed that we didn't make the Chase,"
he said (Earnhardt, Jr.) at a pre-shindig press
conference. "But we've got to look forward to what we
can do these [closing] 10-11 races to make next year a
better year." What went wrong? Got a week? Earnhardt
says his engines have been deficient ("I need for my
motors not to blow up -- but I don't do motors"). He
believes his team has personnel issues ("We'll make some
changes"). He concedes he isn't blameless ("I made a lot
of mistakes"). He indicated he'll reunite with cousin
and 2004 crew chief Tony Eury Jr., whom he scuttled
between seasons. He was asked if he thought the
partnership would fix what's ailed No. 8 this year. "I
damn sure hope so," he replied. He wasn't being testy.
Not at all. In fact, for a guy coming off a
California-screaming Sunday when he started 41st and
wound up 38th after his engine went poof, Earnhardt was
in good spirits. He carried that mood on stage a
half-hour later. Man's a trouper. Plus, he knows
devotion when he sees it. "My fans have been real loyal
to me whether we're in the Chase or not," he said.
"That's one thing you learn at an early age. If you
crash on the first lap, you're not going to look in the
stands and see 'em swapping T-shirts." (Times
Dispatch)
VA. Governor
Candidate sponsoring #92: Jerry Kilgore is
running two races this fall: one as a Republican for
governor of Virginia and another as sponsor in a NASCAR
race in Martinsville. Yesterday Kilgore showed off the
No. 92 Jerry Kilgore for Governor Chevrolet that he'll
enter in the Oct. 23 Nextel Cup race at Martinsville.
The car, emblazoned on its hood with an oval orange and
blue "Kilgore" insignia, will be part of Hermie Sadler's
Virginia-based racing team. (Salem-Journal)
B. Labonte helping
build playground: NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte came
to Richmond yesterday and helped build a racing-themed
playground in just one day at St. Joseph's Villa. Others
from the NASCAR multi-car team owned by Joe Gibbs --
including driver J.J. Yeley and team crew members --
also pitched in, helping more than 200 local volunteers,
mostly from The Home Depot. "We envision that every
child will have a place to play within walking distance
in America," said Jane Duket of Chicago, a
representative of KaBoom!, a national nonprofit
organization founded by the chain of home-improvement
stores. The chain is a sponsor of Gibbs' NASCAR
operations. "Over 600 kids will be able to enjoy this
playground," Duket said. "The design is based on
drawings by the children at St. Joseph's Villa, and
their parents and teachers selected the components."
Play is vital for every child's development, she said. (Times-Dispatch)
Bourdais unhappy
looking at NASCAR: Champ Car World Series champion
Sebastien Bourdais could join Paul Tracy trying to get a
job driving a NASCAR Nextel Cup car next season.
Bourdais, who finished 10th last night in the
International Race of Champions, told Sun Media before
the race that he is always on the lookout for a new
challenge. The 26-year-old native of Le Mans, France,
said that he is not unhappy at Newman-Haas Racing, but
that NASCAR certainly would interest him from a racer's
point of view. "I don't even know if I would be very
good at it," Bourdais said. "But if I could get a test
(in a Cup car) I would certainly be interested in
trying." Bourdais proved, however, that he is good
at it by winning the IROC race at Texas Motor Speedway
earlier this season. (Edmonton
Sun)
NASCAR signs
Enterprise as official Rent-A-Car company: NASCAR
has signed a deal to see Enterprise Rent-A-Car become
the organisation’s official rental car company. The deal
extends a pre-existing relationship with the sport.
Explains Barry Dvoracek, director of marketing
communications at Enterprise: “For many years, we have
maintained a strong relationship with NASCAR, through
sponsorship of such racing greats as Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“We're excited to see our relationship with this sport
grow. It's a partnership of two industry leaders that
makes perfect sense." In addition, Enterprise has become
a charter and exclusive rental car sponsor of the NASCAR
RacePoints programme which allows fans to earn points
toward rewards every time they rent a vehicle from
Enterprise. Under the multi-year agreement,
Enterprise will maintain its strong advertising
presence, airing television commercials during NASCAR
events and related auto racing programming. (Sports
Business)
Martin Wins IROC race
at Richmond: Kurt Busch dominated Round Three of the
Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) at
Richmond International Raceway on Thursday night, but it
was Mark Martin – aided by three cautions in the final
five laps – that provided him with enough to edge out
Busch in one of the closest finishes in the series’
115-race history. On a restart with two laps remaining,
Busch, the 2003 IROC titlist, tried valiantly to hold
his Roush Racing teammate, before Martin coaxed the nose
of his IROC car through the start/finish line a mere
.021 seconds ahead of him. Martin’s series’ best
13th-career victory clinches the 2005 series points
title when he starts the last race of the season at
Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 29, giving him a
record-breaking fifth IROC Series crown and the $1
million first-place purse. Matt Kenseth, who started in
the eighth position and was in the middle of the pack
for much of the race, made a late charge to finish
third. IRL IndyCar driver Buddy Rice turned in a strong
performance and claimed fourth, followed by NASCAR Busch
Series driver Martin Truex Jr. Pole-sitter Scott Pruett
rebounded from on track incidents in the first two races
registering a solid sixth, followed by World of Outlaws
drivers Danny Lasoski (seventh) and Steve Kinser
(eighth). Rounding out positions nine through 12 were:
Max Papis, Sebastien Bourdais, Helio Castroneves, and
Bobby Hamilton. (IROC PR)
Sep. 8, 2005
Record NASCAR ratings
in LA: The Los Angeles market rating for last
Sunday's SONY HD 500 rose 47 percent compared to last
year's Labor Day race weekend event at California
Speedway, according to data released today by NBC. The
NBC broadcast of the SONY HD 500 drew a 2.5 rating in
Los Angeles, compared to last year's Labor Day race,
which finished with a 1.7 rating, and early indications
are that the national rating may also rise. Preliminary
national ratings show a 5.2 rating and 10 share, up from
last year's final 5.1 rating, for race 25 on the "Race
to the Chase" for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. "I'm
ecstatic to hear of the increased television numbers in
Los Angeles. We had tremendous attendance at the
speedway, just missing a sellout, but we also had strong
viewership in our market, which speaks to the long-term
growth of NASCAR in Los Angeles," speedway President
Gillian Zucker said. "People in Los Angeles are excited
about the sport. They get it. They follow it. Everyday,
more and more people are hearing the NASCAR message in
Los Angeles, and we are building more fans for the
future. We will continue to be aggressive in our
outreach throughout the Los Angeles market. "I've heard
from so many fans already about how much they enjoyed
the atmosphere at the speedway last weekend, from
skydivers to concerts, more celebrities in attendance
than ever before, improved food options and easy access
into and out of the race. Positive experiences like this
are infectious, and I'm sure the word will spread about
the big-event atmosphere at California Speedway," Zucker
continued. "We are committed to bring more new and
innovative amenities in an effort to increase the fan
experience even further at California Speedway." Earlier
this year, California Speedway's Auto Club 500 NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series race drew a 4.0 rating in the Los
Angeles market, which was a 33 percent increase over the
2004 Auto Club 500 rating of 3.0. National ratings
topped out at 7.9, the highest ever for a non-Daytona
500 NASCAR event. (California Speedway PR)
Final Ratings Up:
NBC says its
broadcast of Sunday's Sony HD 500 Nextel Cup race at
California earned a final 5.2 rating and a 10 share from
Nielsen Media Research, a 2% increase over the 5.1/10 in
2004. NBC also says the eight races carried by NBC and
TNT so far this season have averaged a 5.0/11, up 11%
over last year's 4.5/10 average. (NASCAR
Scene Daily Newsletter)
NASCAR Fines:
NASCAR announced today that Glenn Darrow, crew chief for
the No. 37 Dodge driven by Tony Raines in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series, has been fined $2,500 for an
infraction during last weekend’s event at California
Speedway. Darrow was fined for an unapproved rear end
gear ratio, a violation of Section 12-4-A (Actions
detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-CC
(Unapproved rear end gear ratio) of the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup Series rulebook. (NASCAR PR)
Kansas Speedway
announces 2006 Schedule: Next year's NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway will continue to be
one of the "Chase Races." The event is the third race in
NASCAR's Chase for the Championship, the 10-race stretch
that will eventually determine the series champion.
The 2006 schedule comprises the track's RPM Ticket
package. Tickets for the six races in 2006 are priced
from $200 for the season, continuing the trend that
Kansas Speedway is the best buy for a race fan's
entertainment dollar, Boerger added. Qualifying dates,
still to be determined, will be sold separately from the
RPM Ticket. Kansas Speedway will mail ticket renewal
forms for 2006 to current season ticket holders in the
coming weeks. Once renewals for current ticket holders
are processed, remaining seats, if any, will be sold to
the general public. Kansas Speedway has sold out every
season for the last five seasons. "We always encourage
our guests and race fans to purchase tickets to Kansas
Speedway early," he said. "Kansas Speedway is quickly
becoming one of the hottest tickets in motorsports." For
more information, please call, click or come by Kansas
Speedway at 913.328.RACE (7223), toll free at
866.460.RACE, www.kansasspeedway.com or 400 Speedway
Blvd., in Kansas City, Kan. (Kansas Speedway PR)
ISC, SMI to buy team
Caliber: Motorsports Authentics, the new joint
venture of International Speedway Corp. and Speedway
Motorsports Inc., has bought the Team Caliber
collectible company, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness
Daily reports. Team Caliber was owned by Roush
Racing owner Jack Roush, and the purchase means
Motorsports Authentics will now add Roush drivers Kurt
Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Carl
Edwards to its lineup. The company also would get
merchandise rights to Ryan Newman, Joe Nemechek and
Brian Vickers, among others. (NASCAR
Scene Daily Newsletter)
Crown Royal Program
to Benefit Hurricane Katrina Victims: To help aid
relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims in the Gulf
Coast region, Crown Royal will be auctioning off a
custom-built, award-winning Crown Royal Chopper
motorcycle, including a helmet signed by the last two
NASCAR Cup champions, Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth.
Dubbed the “Crown Royal Relief” program, the auction for
this one-of-its-kind motorcycle will be live from Sept.
19-29 on eBay, with proceeds going towards Hurricane
Katrina relief efforts. For more information on the
auction, go to
www.crownroyal.com/relief. (Alan Taylor
Communications)
Sep. 7, 2005
Stewart Crew wins
Checkers/Rally's Award: #20 Home Depot(r) Team with
driver Tony Stewart won the Checkers(r)/Rally's(r)
Double Drive-Thru Challenge at the Sony HD 500(r) on
September 4th at California Speedway with a
pit-road-service time of 339.814 seconds. As the
Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR(r),
Checkers/Rally's recognizes the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
team with the best pit road performance each week with a
$10,000 prize. At the end of the season,
Checkers/Rally's will award the $100,000 grand prize to
the team that garners the most Checkers/Rally's Double
Drive-Thru Challenge wins throughout the race season.
Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge offers one
of the richest weekly contingency awards in NASCAR. The
Double Drive-Thru Challenge focuses on the team element
of the race that is integral to successful performances
each week. Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge
takes place at all 36 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point
races. To win, teams must finish on the lead lap while
spending the least amount of time in pit lane. For
details visit
Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge. (MARC
PR)
Stremme to make
second career Start: David Stremme will attempt to
make his second NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start this weekend in
the #39 Navy "Accelerate Your Life" Dodge out of the
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates stable. Stremme
currently pilots the #14 Navy Dodge in the NASCAR Busch
Series, and sits seventh in the championship points
standings. (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)
NASCAR teams up with
Boys Scouts: NASCAR racer Hermie Sadler and The Boy
Scouts of America will be encouraging boys to join the
"Race to Scouting" at Richmond International Raceway on
Sept. 8 during a Scout derby car race event prior to
NASCAR racing action that evening. The event, to be held
at the Better Living Building, Richmond Room at 6:00 pm.
is a partnership between RIR and the Heart of Virginia
Council, BSA to promote youth membership in Scouting.
Sadler will speak and sign autographs for local Cub
Scouts along with friends they have recruited to join
Cub Scouting, and parents. (Richmond.com)
Drivers to Visit
Troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center: #42-Jamie
McMurray, #39-David Stremme along with a handful of
other NASCAR drivers will be visiting patients at Walter
Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Wed.,
Sept. 7. (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)
Fans have a chance
around Darlington, "Laps for Relief": For the first
time in more than a quarter century, Darlington Raceway
will open her gates and invite the public to take a
drive on NASCAR's most historic track. "Laps for Relief"
on Saturday, September 17, will raise money to lend
support to millions of residents in Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama affected by Hurricane Katrina.
From noon to 5 p.m. on September 17, the public is
encouraged to visit Darlington Raceway and, with any
on-site monetary donation, will be allowed to drive five
paced laps around the track "Too Tough To Tame" in their
personal vehicles or on their motorcycles, led by the
official pace car. All proceeds from the event will be
given to the American Red Cross. Donations for Hurricane
Katrina Disaster Relief can also be made at
www.racefanshelp.com, a new website launched last
week by Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, AL. As the
track located closest to the areas affected by Katrina,
Talladega is spearheading ISC's company-wide fundraising
efforts. Beginning at Richmond International Raceway's
Chevy Rock & Roll weekend September 8-10, ISC-owned
tracks will begin facilitating the collection of
monetary donations from race fans to the Red Cross in
support of the Hurricane Katrina efforts. (Darlington
PR)
Bibb joins Ferrell in
NASCAR movie: Leslie Bibb will play Will Ferrell's
wife in Columbia Pictures' untitled NASCAR comedy
shooting in North Carolina. Also on board are John C.
Reilly and Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G). Adam McKay
("Anchorman") directs. Bibb has a recurring role on
NBC's crime drama "Crossing Jordan." She also starred in
the WB's high school series "Popular" and ABC's
short-lived drama "Line of Fire." (Reuters)
Dover Tickets moving
fast: NASCAR is beginning to flex its muscle again
in Delaware, as officials at Dover International
Speedway said ticket sales for the upcoming Sept. 23-25
race weekend are moving at a rapid pace. NASCAR also
ensured that Dover would retain its traditional June and
September race dates when it unveiled its 2006 schedule.
Next year, the Nextel Cup Series will visit Dover on
June 2-4 and Sept. 22-24 as part of its 36-race
schedule. That is all good news for Denis McGlynn,
president and CEO of Dover's race track, who said the
track has remained in a non-growth holding pattern since
the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Dover had
increased its grandstand seating from 22,000 in 1985 to
140,000 in 2001 -- a period that encompassed 17
consecutive years. Now, after three straight years of
remaining level, ticket sales are spiking again. "Ticket
sales are moving a bit faster than they were last year,"
McGlynn said. "We're happy with the pace. We're moving
slightly ahead of last year. "Whenever you can grow,
you've got to be happy." Officials at Dover are thrilled
with the recent surge in ticket sales for this month's
race, especially in the midst of record high gas prices
and the effects of Hurricane Katrina. (Delaware
Online)
Talladega to donate
$100,000 in relief: Grant Lynch, president of the
Talladega Superspeedway, announced on Tuesday that they
would donate $100,000 Talladega County chapter of the
American Red Cross to further aid Hurricane Katrina
relief efforts, the Associated Press reported. "It has
been very difficult for people to adequately describe
the devastation caused by this storm to the people of
this region," Mr. Lynch said. "It has left thousands of
people - our neighbors - without the most basic of human
needs like water, food and shelter and we just want to
do what we can to help ease their burden. International
Speedway Corporation is making a large effort to
contribute, but we wanted to do something in addition to
that. We'll continue to look at ways we may be able to
help, and we encourage others to do the same," Lynch
noted. Lynch also announced that Talladega's parent
company, International Speedway Corporation, will
provide over $1 million in funding and services for
company relief efforts. (Ledger)
Las Vegas Tickets on
Sale Monday: as Vegas Motor Speedway will kick off
its 10th-anniversary season with its annual NASCAR
Weekend on March 10-12, 2006. Tickets for the event will
go on sale Monday at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. LVMS, which
opened on Sept. 15, 1996, is set to host Nevada's
largest annual sports weekend for the ninth consecutive
year. It marks the second straight season the event has
been scheduled for the second weekend in March. Again in
2006, the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 is scheduled to be the
third stop on the NASCAR Nextel Cup tour. The Sam's Town
300 NASCAR Busch Series event will precede the NASCAR
Nextel Cup event on Saturday, March 11. Qualifying for
the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 is set for Friday, March 10.
"It's hard to believe this speedway is getting close to
celebrating its 10th birthday," said Chris Powell, LVMS
general manager. "The NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas has
become one of the most significant events on the
motorsports calendar, as evidenced by the tremendous
crowds that turn out all three days. With the
construction of the Richard Petty Terrace, we expect to
see this event continue to grow for years to come. We
have had a record renewal rate this year, so we're
encouraging fans to get their tickets early" Race fans
can purchase tickets by calling 1-800-644-4444, logging
on to www.lvms.com or
in person at the LVMS ticket services office. (LVMS PR)
Gordon on Loomis
Returning in 2006: "We talked before this season
even started about Robbie's future and what he wanted to
do. If it were up to me, yeah, I'd love to have him as
my crew chief. With his mom and some of the illnesses
she's gone through, Robbie is trying to decide right now
what his plans are right now. It has nothing to do with
our performance right now. I believe 100 percent in
Robbie Loomis and his abilities. When we're on, there's
nobody better. And because of our lack of performance
this year, I really don't think Robbie should be blamed
for that. It has nothing to do with whether he is my
crew chief next year of not. It has nothing to do with
the performance we've had this year." (NASCAR
Teleconference Transcript)
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
2006 Series Announced: The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
Series schedule was announced today, a 36-race slate
starting with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 19 at
Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford
400 on Sunday, Nov. 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In
addition to those 36 “points” events, there also will be
two “non-points” events – the Budweiser Shootout at
Daytona set for Feb. 11 and the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star
Challenge on May 20 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord,
N.C. Also, the two 150-mile qualifying races for the
Daytona 500 – the Gatorade Duel at Daytona – will be
held on Thursday, Feb. 16. There are no schedule changes
from 2005 in terms of sites. Two tracks, though, have
“swapped” race weeks. Next season, Richmond
International Raceway’s spring race will be held on May
6, with Darlington Raceway’s event on May 13; this
season, Darlington preceded Richmond. Also, Kansas
Speedway’s 2006 event will be held Oct. 1, followed by
Talladega on Oct. 8; this year, Talladega precedes
Kansas. New Hampshire International Speedway again will
host the initial event in the Chase for the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup, the 10-race stretch that ends the season –
and determines the series champion. The third annual
“Chase” will commence Sept. 17 at NHIS. Starting times
and television information will be available at a later
date (NASCAR PR)
2006 NEXTEL Cup Schedule
CASCAR and NASCAR
deal near complete: Only the paperwork remains for
the Canadian CASCAR stock car racing circuit to be sold
in its entirety to U.S.-based giant NASCAR. Negotiations
have been ongoing for a year and a half and sources told
The Free Press yesterday it's now in the hands of the
lawyers. "It's not 'if,' it's 'when,' " one source said.
Another said the takeover may lead to Canadians
eventually driving in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, the
top echelon in stock car racing. "There are drivers and
teams capable of racing with the best and to get noticed
by NASCAR is a great thing in itself," CASCAR president
and founder Tony Novotny said during the Super Series
APC 300 at Delaware Speedway. Richard Buck,
NASCAR's director of racing development in Canada, has
attended Super Series races this season and confirmed
yesterday he recommended to his board of directors on
Aug. 22 in Daytona Beach, Fla., that it purchase the
Canadian group. "My reports have been very favourable
and they have been received very favourably. Basically
the process is moving along," Buck said. (Loudon
Free Press)
Sep. 5, 2005
NASCAR schedule
expected to be released: NASCAR is expected to soon
announce the 2006 schedule, but several tracks have
announced their dates for next year. Based on tracks
that have announced their schedule, next season will
start with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 19 and then head to
California Speedway Feb. 26. The series goes to Las
Vegas on March 12. The rest of the month's schedule has
not been announced, but it is expected to have races at
Atlanta and Bristol. In April, the Cup series will race
at Martinsville (April 2), Texas (April 9), Phoenix
(April 22) and Talladega (April 30). The series heads to
Richmond May 6 and then goes to Darlington May 13.
Lowe's Motor Speedway has not announced its 2006 dates
but it's expected to have the all-star race the week
after Darlington and the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day
weekend, along with its October date. (Roanoke.com)
DEI and RCR merger?
A merger between RCR and Dale Earnhardt Inc. is
rumored to be in the works. Although DEI vice president
Richie Gilmore says the partnership will involve nothing
more than promotional plans, the two organizations
enjoyed a beneficial aerodynamic alliance several years
ago. Considering the strength of powerhouses Roush and
Hendrick Motorsports, a marriage between RCR and DEI
would move their programs up a level. Another benefit?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. could follow in his late father's
footsteps in an RCR car. (Sporting
News/Lee Spencer)
NASCAR and California
fans raise 180K for Relief: As NASCAR roared
into Southern California for the SONY HD 500 at
California Speedway, race fans geared up to help the
American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Over the course of Labor Day weekend more than $180,000
was raised. Collections at the speedway’s main
grandstands and infield camping areas totaled more than
$70,000. Ameriquest's total collections at their booths
were nearly $40,000 and they also committed an
additional $70,000 in matching funds. The total
collection amount does not include the following, all of
which will be reconciled later this week.
Starbucks, which donated the hourly rate of their
volunteers who came to work Collections made at the
Stater Bros. Infield Express Sony’s hat sale made on
California Speedway’s midway (CupScene)
Eury, Sr. signs with
DEI: Tony Eury Sr., affectionately known as Pops,
has signed his first contract with DEI. Eury led
Earnhardt Jr. to two Busch titles and stepped down at
the end of last season as Junior's Cup crew chief. Eury,
who's under contract through 2008, is working in
research and development. (Sporting
News/Lee Spencer)
CBS wins Sunday night
ratings, NBC & NASCAR pulls in coveted 18-49: CBS
was the big ratings winner, winning the most viewers for
each time slot, although NBC's NASCAR coverage won the
coveted 18-49 demographic for Sunday night. Overall, the
Eye network averaged a 6.4 rating/12 share, well ahead
of NBC, 4.6/9, ABC, 2.9/5, FOX, 2.7/5 and last-place
finisher The WB at 1.2/2. Younger viewers gratified
their need for speed with four hours of NASCAR coverage,
winning the adults ages 18-49 ratubg with a 2.6. CBS and
FOX tied for second with a 2.0, while ABC followed with
a 1.4 and The WB trailed with a 0.7. CBS started
with a bang, scoring the highest rating for the evening
at 7 p.m. with a 7.6/17 for "60 Minutes." NBC's NASCAR
program just kept up with a 3.3, while ABC took third
for "America's Funniest Home Videos" with a 2.9/7. (Zap2it)
Car of the Future to
test at Talladega: NASCAR's car of tomorrow,
tentatively set to debut in 2007, is scheduled to have
an on-track test at Talladega Superspeedway, the day
after the Oct. 2 Cup race, and at Atlanta Motor
Speedway, the day after the Oct. 30 Cup race. Previous
versions have been tested at other tracks. The future
car will be larger and have more room for the driver,
providing additional safety. The higher-standing car
also will alter aerodynamics and series officials hope
lessens the dependency on aerodynamics and improves
racing. (Roanoke.com)
Dreams Come True in
California, Rookie Ky. BUSCH wins: Kyle Busch raced
to his first Nextel Cup victory Sunday night in a race
that went to overtime and scrambled the bottom of the
top 10 in the point standings with only one more event
left before the start of the NASCAR playoffs.
While the 20-year-old Busch, a rookie and the younger
brother of reigning Cup champion Kurt Busch, took
control late in the 254-lap race at California Speedway,
2003 series champ Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray jumped
into the top 10, while Ryan Newman and four-time
champion Jeff Gordon fell out. Only the top 10 drivers
in the points after next Saturday night's race at
Richmond will be eligible to contend for the
championship during the last 10 races of the season.
Busch, driving a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, led
95 laps on the way to the victory in his 31st career
start. He became the youngest winner in NASCAR's premier
series, but the focus throughout the long night was on
the contenders for the Chase for the championship. Greg
Biffle, already solidly in the Chase, finished second,
followed by Brian Vickers, Busch's teammate; Carl
Edwards; series points leader Tony Stewart; and Kasey
Kahne. (USA
Today)
Harvick to Ganassi?
Rumors here are widespread that Kevin Harvick may be
headed to Ganassi’s No. 42, thus freeing McMurray to
move to Roush Racing a year early. (Gaston
Gazzette)
The Wayans Brothers
NASCAR team? The Wayans brothers, a sort of comedy
conglomerate, are getting into NASCAR racing -
seriously. The brothers are partnering with racing
professionals and others to establish STAR Motorsports.
The organization plans to field teams in the NASCAR
Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. One goal
is to ensure that women and minorities are represented
in the sport. Plans are for the organization's first
car, STAR-Team Wayans, to compete in the 2006 Nextel Cup
Series. Marlon Wayans said he and brothers Keenen, Damon
and Shawn believe it's time for their family to join the
NASCAR family, and help expand the rapidly growing fan
base. No driver or crew chief has been named. "Hopefully
we will have it together by next season, even if we have
to put Marlon behind the wheel," Keenen said. The Wayans
aren't the only ones hoping to send out a team next
season. Former NFL receiver Tim Brown also plans to
launch one, with the help of team owner Jack Routs. "We
think we are going to be able to race Cup series
starting in '06," Brown said. "We have two or three
companies that are very interested." He may try to
convince a fellow pro football receiving great to sign
on. "Maybe I can talk my good friend Jerry Rice into the
same thing," Brown said. (Canada.com)
Kasey Kahne day in
hometown: On Monday, Kasey Kahne will return to his
hometown of Enumclaw, Wash., to receive a key to the
city and celebrate his second season of NASCAR Nextel
Cup Series racing with his hometown fans during "Kasey
Kahne Day." Among the activities are a classic car show
and a display of each type of race car Kahne drove
during his career. There will be a special appearance by
the Kasey Kahne Juniors, the micro mini sprint car
drivers sponsored by Kahne. The mayor of Enumclaw, John
Wyse, will present Kahne with a key to the city and
rename one of the city's thoroughfares "Kasey Kahne
Drive." Kahne will also sign autographs at the
dealership for 800 fans who received wristbands through
local distribution. For more information, visit
www.kaseykahne.com.
Sadler gets
a surfboard: When Elliott Sadler was inducted into
[California Speedway] this track’s “Walk of Fame,” an
honor bestowed largely because of his victory in the
Nextel Cup race run here a year ago, he also received “a
Dennis Kemp original commemorative surfboard” as a gift
from California Speedway. “We race our butts off 36
times a year,” said Sadler, but it’s times like this
that make it all worthwhile.” (Gaston
Gazette)
Featured Pages
NEXT
Race Checkout the next upcoming NASCAR Nextel
races. Including race, stats, track information and
much more!
NASCAR Schedule
Checkout the 2005 schedule, and news on the 2006 NASCAR
schedule's including, NEXTEL, Busch and Craftsman Truck
Series.
