NASCAR Now Goes Live from Indianapolis: ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will originate from Indianapolis Motor Speedway for four episodes this week surrounding the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season on ESPN. Allen Bestwick will host the four episodes. A one-hour episode of NASCAR Now airs from Indianapolis on Thursday, July 23, at 5:00pm/et with a preview of the weekend’s NASCAR action. A half-hour show on Friday, July 24, at 6:30pm/et will report on the day’s activities at Indy as well as other NASCAR news. NASCAR Now co-host Nicole Manske and lead reporter Marty Smith also will contribute to the on-site Indianapolis coverage. Two one-hour episodes will sandwich ESPN’s live telecast of Sunday’s 400-mile race at the famed Brickyard. NASCAR Now airs at 10:00am/et with a preview of the race, including driver interviews, while a weekend wrap-up edition airs at midnight Monday, July 27 (late Sunday night). The weekend wrap-up edition of NASCAR Now will be a part of ESPN’s coverage of the final 17 weeks of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.
Rough Draft - 2010 Sprint Cup Team Chart
Mayfield's hair may be tested: The back and forth between NASCAR and driver Jeremy Mayfield over drug allegations has gotten so bad that in Mayfield's latest statement he describes the humiliation of having to go to the bathroom while someone watched.
So what could bring it all to an end? It turns out it could come down to a piece of hair. "It's like the bully in school," Jeremy Mayfield told NewsChannel 36 last week. "Every three to five days I go get tested." Who ends up in victory lane may come down to the difference between urinating in a cup and pulling a hair. "The drug that is incorporated into your hair -- it stays there. You get a record, basically, of drug use with the hair," said Dr. Ruth Winecker, the chief toxicologist for the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office. She says there's no messing with hair. But no one has tested Mayfield's hair, just his urine samples. "There are techniques people can use to try to cheat the system," Winecker said. That's exactly what both sides have accused each other of doing. NASCAR says Mayfield diluted his urine even before testing positive for meth, and Mayfield says NASCAR did something to his urine. NewsChannel 36 asked Mayfield's attorney if they'll be testing his hair as the judge in the case suggested several weeks ago. Attorney John Buric told us they are looking at the possibility, but right now they have been told Mayfield's hair is too short.(NewsChannel 36)(7-23-2009) Comment here
Mayfield working on 'big' sponsor deal, seeking ride: Jeremy Mayfield, who says he's "80% there" on getting a major sponsorship deal that might enable him to once again drive in the Sprint Cup Series, isn't on the entry list for Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. But that doesn't mean he won't be at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. Mayfield spoke by phone Tuesday morning, prior to meeting his legal team to discuss his ongoing court battle over NASCAR suspending him from competition as either an owner or a driver as of May 9, due to a positive result for methamphetamine in a random drug test taken May 1 at Richmond International Raceway.
"I'd like to come to Indy just to come watch, and to try to get a ride," Mayfield said. "We're working on sponsorship deals as we speak and I'm telling you, if this works out, it's going to be big. And what's funny is, it could be big in all kinds of different ways, and all I needed was [NASCAR's] support, and to work with me on this. They could have had races sponsored and tracks sponsored and I could have been with one of their big teams with a big sponsor and I guess they don't want that, because I didn't need them to get it." NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said that he is "unfamiliar with the possible sponsor opportunity" that Mayfield references. Yet, Mayfield's description of the company he's talking to was vivid. "Sounds like a union, doesn't it?" Mayfield said. "Imagine if they got involved, and they're behind me 200 percent right now. America's not about a dictatorship no more and it never was."(NASCAR.com)(7-23-2009) Comment here
DeWalt will not return to the #17 team in 2010: Roush Fenway Racing was informed today that DeWalt Power Tools will not renew its sponsorship of Matt Kenseth and the #17 team for the 2010 NASCAR season. “We would like to thank DeWalt for serving as a great partner for the past 10 years,” said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. “During that time we have seen great success for both their company and marketing program, as well as with Matt on the race track. They will always be remembered and honored as the sponsor of Jack Roush’s first Sprint Cup Championship team. Despite this success – in the face of the significant world-wide economic decline in the construction industry – DeWalt’s decision to not return is not a great surprise to us. Fortunately, we have several great companies interested in taking over and we expect to begin finalizing those sponsorship arrangements in the very near future. All of us at Roush Fenway Racing remain committed to keeping the #17 DeWalt car running up front, winning races and to put them in a position to contend for a second championship this season.”(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-23-2009) Comment here
Ganassi to Gibbs? The latest rumor is that Chip Ganassi somehow will merge his Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing team [Chevy's w/#1-Truex Jr. (leaves end of 2009) and #42-Montoya] with Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota's w/#18-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #20-Logano], possibly eliminating another owner.(SPEEDtv/Jimmy Spencer)(7-23-2009) Comment here
Kenseth wins at Slinger: Matt Kenseth held off a hard charging Eric Fransen to capture the win in the 200-lap 30th Annual Miller Lite Nationals presented by SuperSeal Wednesday night at the Slinger Super Speedway, his record-setting fifth overall victory in the prestigious super late model event. Not to be outdone, son Ross Kenseth followed up his father’s performance by scoring his first Slinger Speedway win in the 35-lap late model main event.(7-23-2009) Comment here
New 2-race sponsor for Truex Jr.: Unilever announced that Vaseline Men Lotion will be an associate sponsor of Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Vaseline Men will be the primary sponsor of the #1 Chevy driven by Martin Truex Jr. at select races NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. The Vaseline Men paint scheme will make its debut on the #1 Chevy in the NSCS at Dover on September 27 and again in Martinsville on October 25. The Vaseline Men lotion range includes fast-absorbing body, face and hand lotions that give men strong, resilient skin. More info at vaseline.com. Martin Truex, Jr., Driver of the #1 Chevy: “I'm really looking forward to driving the Vaseline MEN car at Dover and Martinsville at the end of this season. They are another addition in a long line of great partners that we've had on our car this season. I got my first win at Dover in 2007 and I hope to have another strong performance there.”(Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)(7-23-2009) Comment here
TMS president Eddie Gossage fighting cancer: Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage has been absent from TMS because he has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. Gossage, 50, was diagnosed with cancer early last fall and began treatment this spring. Gossage, who oversaw the construction of the track and was the general manager for its first race in 1997, declined to be interviewed. A statement from TMS vice president of media relations Mike Zizzo said Gossage "would like to keep his illness private and does not plan to discuss it publicly." Gossage was informed by doctors in February that treatment needed to begin, and it was done around the Samsung 500 in April and the Bombardier Learjet 550 in June. He was at the track for the IndyCar Series race in June and looked thinner than he did at the Sprint Cup event in April. He hasn't appeared at any TMS public functions since the June race as he has undergone more intense treatments over the last month. Gossage is hoping to return to work next month. "I've been talking to him almost every day either by phone or text," Zizzo said. "His brain is in overdrive. If it were up to him, he'd be back tomorrow." Zizzo said Gossage doesn't want to talk about his illness because he doesn't want that to be what people identify him with. Gossage's father, H.L., died of lung cancer in 1998. "He's trying to keep it under the radar and keep it as low-key as possible," Zizzo said.(Dallas Morning News)(7-23-2009)
Chase Stats: #5-Mark Martin's dramatic win at Chicagoland brought a lot of teams back to the "danger zone" in the 2009 Race to the Chase. #99-Carl Edwards' 14th dropped him 63 points closer to 13th, but he still has a relatively comfortable 153-pt margin for now. More adverse was #18-Kyle Busch's 33rd, which dropped him 120 points and left him only 13 points ahead of 13th. #17-Matt Kenseth's 23rd lost him 90 precious points, and the Kenseth's bid to join #48-Jimmie Johnson as the only two teams to make all six Chases is now looking shaky, with only 10 points separating 12th place Kenseth from 13th place #16-Greg Biffle. Biffle's 31st dropped him from 9th all the way out of the Top 12. #42-Juan Pablo Montoya's amazingly consistent run for The Chase continues. Montoya's 10th at Chicagoland gained him two more positions in the standings to 9th. Montoya has gained six spots while scoring 704 points over the last five races while #00-David Reutimann has scored 518 points and lost three positions over the same period. Reutimann is now 76 points out of the Top 12, and needs a good run at Indy to get in closer touch with the Chase field.
Sunday’s Allstate 400 at The Brickyard is the fourth event in the Race to the Chase, the 10-race stretch that ends with the cutoff for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – race No.26 of the season, Sept. 12 at Richmond International Raceway. Following that event, the top 12 drivers will compete for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title during the season’s final 10 races. More Chase stats on my Chase stats after Chicago page.(7-23-2009)
- Snickers colors returns for Busch: Kyle Busch’s #18 Toyota will sport a special “Bar Hunger” Snickers paint scheme in the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard. Busch will also make a stop at Gleaner’s Food Bank in Indianapolis to help raise awareness for Feeding America. The Snickers brand is teaming up with Feeding America to “Bar Hunger” – a campaign to help the one in eight Americans struggling with hunger. As part of “Bar Hunger,” Snickers will donate the equivalent of at least 3 million meals to Feeding America in 2009. The brand will educate and inspire Americans to help through special branding and educational verbiage on its
Snickers packaging, dedicated national advertising, its Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/snickers, as well as a series
of events throughout the year. Snickers brand also introduced a new language this spring called “Snacklish,” which uses its iconic logo and brand essence to communicate the right thing, in the right time and place, to the right people. The Snacklish language will continue to reach the American public through a unique advertising campaign called “Snickers Speak.” Busch and his team are hoping that the Snickers colors adorning the #18 Toyota this weekend bring as much good luck as it did in its first start in 2009, and in 2008 as well. Busch drove his #18 Snickers Toyota to victory at Atlanta in March 2008. In the most recent start for Snickers, Busch brought home a win at Bristol Motor Speedway this past March.(Snickers Racing/JGR) See the Snickers scheme on my #18 Team Scheme page.(7-23-2009)
200th start for Kahne: #9-Kasey Kahne is set to make his 200th consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when he takes the green flag at this weekend’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Talk about making your 200th start this weekend at Indy. “It’s hard to believe this will be the 200th start. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was racing sprint cars in Washington. I feel pretty fortunate to be able to do what I do for a living. I’ve celebrated a lot of great moments in racing and I hope to celebrate more. I still have a lot of goals – I want to win races and compete for and win championships. I’ve had a lot of great support getting to this point and I’m thankful for the success that I have had in NASCAR. I’m lucky to work with the guys on this Budweiser team that support me each week and look forward to rewarding them with more wins.”(Elevation Group/RPM)(7-23-2009) Comment here
Feel Your Heart Race – NASCAR-Themed Special Provides Inside Look: As ESPN’s coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts with one of the biggest races on the NASCAR schedule, ESPN2 will air Feel Your Heart Race, a half-hour look into why and how NASCAR attracts the most devoted fans in the country. The program airs Thursday, July 23, at 6:00pm/et on ESPN2, the night before practice begins for the event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Produced and directed by noted documentary filmmaker Doug Pray and Oil Factory, Feel Your Heart Race allows viewers to take a look inside the hearts and minds of drivers and fans to reveal NASCAR as a sport that is honest, real, complex, beautiful and fueled by passion. The story is told directly and entirely by top NASCAR drivers and their fans without narration or commentary and contains scenes of life at the track, colorful fan interviews and surprisingly honest testimony from drivers themselves about what it really feels like to be behind the wheel.
McMurray Trades Stock Car for Taxicab in Indy: Before hitting the bricks at one of the most historic tracks in all of motorsports, NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray will show off his skills on the street when he provides adults free and safe rides home from Indianapolis-area hot spots on Friday, July 24. The Crown Royal “Safe Rides Home” designated-driver program provides adult consumers safe rides home via a fleet of four (4) replica purple and gold #26 Ford Fusion cars. The program will take place at the corner of Jackson Place and South Meridian on Thursday, July 23, with safe rides home made available from 8pm – 12am. McMurray will headline the event on Friday, July 24 at the corner of Broad Ripple Avenue and Guilford Streets from 7:30 – 9:30pm, with rides continuing until midnight. In addition to his spot in the driver’s seat, McMurray will make appearances at various local venues in the Broad Ripple-area to meet with fans and sign autographs. This marks the fifth year the Safe Rides fleet will take to the streets of Indianapolis prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend. During that span, the “Safe Rides Home” program has provided residents and race fans in the area hundreds of free rides totaling more than 5,000 miles. Throughout the years, Indianapolis residents and bar owners have commended Crown Royal for offering this service. Consumers can sign up to receive a free safe ride home at special Crown Royal #26 taxi stands on Thursday they will be located at corner of Jackson Place and South Meridian and Friday at the corner of Broad Ripple Avenue and Guilford Street. Eligible residents must be 21 or over and live within a 20-mile radius of the signup location. There is a four-passenger limit per car.(Taylor)(7-23-2009) Comment here
Guy Fieri to sponsor the #36 at Indy: Guy Fieri will sponsor Tommy Baldwin Racing’s (TBR) #36 Toyota at the Brickyard 400 this weekend in Indianapolis, IN. The celebrity chef, restaurateur and Food Network star is a big fan of NASCAR and his logo will be featured on the hood of the TBR Camry. “I was Grand Marshall at Infineon Raceway and had an amazing time. When this opportunity came up, I jumped on it. NASCAR is an amazing way to promote my brand and I look forward to supporting Tommy’s efforts to continue to build his organization. We all have to start somewhere and what Tommy has done this year, I really admire,” said Fieri. Mike Skinner will drive the Guy Fieri Toyota this weekend. He will also be racing at O’Reilly Raceway Park in the AAA Insurance 200 NASCAR truck series race on Friday night, July 24th.(TBR)(7-23-2009)
- Davis plans no more Nationwide races; hopes to run Cup race: The next time you see Marc Davis on a NASCAR track, it will be in the Sprint Cup Series. Davis’ dad, Harry, told Full Throttle Autos Online that Marc Davis Motorsports has no further plans to compete in the Nationwide Series at this time. “We got out of Nationwide because essentially except for the price of the engine it costs the same to go Nationwide [racing] as it does to go Cup [racing],” Harry Davis said. When that Cup debut will be is yet to be determined. Marc Davis is still under contract with his two primary sponsors, The Word television network and Howard University’s WHUR Radio. But the team is seeking additional funding because it isn’t interested in joining the start-and-park brigade. Marc Davis was originally scheduled to make his Cup debut last month at Sonoma.(Full Throttle Autos)(7-23-2009) Comment here
Indianapolis Rookie Notes and Stats: #20-Joey Logano was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the July 11 LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Logano posted an 18th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the 15th time this season. #82-Scott Speed started second at Chicagoland, the best qualifying effort by a Raybestos Rookie in 2009. Logano leads Speed by 23 points (203-180) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the July 26 Allstate 400 at The Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in 15 previous Allstate 400 at The Brickyard races is second-place by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007. Montoya finished 2.982 seconds behind race winner Tony Stewart. A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-10 in each of the past none of the past ten Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis. The best starting position by a Raybestos Rookie at Indianapolis is second by Juan Pablo Montoya (2007) and Clint Bowyer (2006). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Tony Stewart (1999) and Jimmie Johnson (2002).(Camp & Assoc./Raybestos). See rookie standings, histoy, past winner and notes on my 2009 Rookies Page.(7-23-2009)
Monsters scheme coming for Bowyer: #33-Clint Bowyer is scheduled to run a special General Mills Monsters Cereal / Halloween paint scheme on October 17th at Lowes Motor Speedway. See the scheme on my #33 Team Scheme page.(7-23-2009)
Today in NASCAR History: July 23 -- 1950: Curtis Turner wins a 200-lap race at Charlotte Speedway, a three-quarter-mile dirt track, to win back-to-back races for the second time that season. Turner won the previous race in Rochester, N.Y., and he also won the third and fourth races, in Langhorne, Pa., and Martinsville, Va., respectively.(NASCAR.com)
NASCAR drivers targeted in scam: NASCAR drivers are among the victims of a scam that also targeted police officers, Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials said. FDLE agents served two search warrants on homes in Ormond Beach and Ponce Inlet believed to be involved in the scam. Officers are searching for evidence as well as potential victims. Ivey said Grand Am driver Henri Zogaib and Ormond Beach businessman Paul Bellanca worked together to convince clients to invest in iron and ore products through their two companies. Zogaib was able to gain credibility with NASCAR officials through his association with Grand Am racers and teams, the FDLE said. No charges have been filed in the case and it may take weeks for any to be filed. NASCAR drivers were victimized as well as a top-ranking NASCAR official and a retired police officer Ivey said. Investigators believe dozens of people fell victim to the scam and are searching for additional victims. "NASCAR is learning about the allegations as well, and we are as eager as everyone else to learn about the facts of this case," NASCAR said in a statement released Wednesday.(ClickOrlando)(7-22-2009) Comment here
Almirola's future up in the air: Since the #8 team folded, Aric Almirola has gone to almost every Cup race in an effort to keep his name circulating in the garage as a driver looking for a ride. "I've been going and talking to people and showing my face," said the 25-year-old Tampa, Fla., native. "I'm really scared of basically [being] out of sight, out of mind. I've been trying really hard to not let that happen. I don't want to be forgotten, and I want people to think about me if they have an opportunity or if they're looking to put somebody in the seat. … Or if I run into somebody and they're thinking about it, I want to be someone that crosses their mind." Almirola, who remains under contract with EGR, says he has talked with team officials about possibly returning to the seat at some point but has been given no indication that will happen. Whether with EGR or another team, Almirola still wants to return to NASCAR's top series as soon as possible. He says he would be open to taking a full-time Truck ride in 2010, however, if the opportunity arose. Right now, though, he doesn't know what his future in the sport - long term or short team - holds.(SceneDaily)(7-22-2009) Comment here
ESPN supportive of consistent race start times: Julie Sobieski, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions, was asked about consistent starting times for NASCAR Sprint Cup races during a media conference call Tuesday:
JULIE SOBIESKI: "There's definitely been a lot of dialogue about start times, and a lot has been written. With ratings being down, there's lots of factors that are contributing to that. Can consistent start times make a difference? Certainly that's possible. We'd be supportive of consistent start times with ESPN and we know that's also been a priority for NASCAR to try and look at, so if it's good for the fans, and we think it's going to benefit ratings, then certainly we're onboard with that concept. It's ultimately NASCAR's call when it comes to the schedule of their races, and certainly the tracks as well. All we can do is have the open dialogue and support ultimately where NASCAR and the tracks feel (the starting time) is best to serve the fans. Nothing is set for next year, so I think that dialogue is ongoing and continuing, and we'll see where that ends up. NASCAR is going to need to make the decision that they feel is best for all their constituents involved."(ESPN PR)(7-22-2009) Comment here
Changing Indy 500 start time not being discussed: For those hoping that the Indianapolis 500 might change its start time to encourage drivers to be able to do both the IndyCar Series race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, think again. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus, who oversees both the IRL and the race track, said Tuesday during a news conference at the track that he has had no discussions about changing the start time since taking over the position three weeks ago. The Indianapolis 500 start time likely would have to change from its recent 1 p.m. EDT slot for it to be possible for a driver to do both events. It would be hard for Lowe's Motor Speedway to start the NASCAR race later than 5:45 p.m. because of the length of the 600-mile race, which takes more than four hours to complete. With the crossover of open-wheel drivers to NASCAR - such as #14-Tony Stewart, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #7-Robby Gordon, #34-John Andretti and #77-Sam Hornish Jr. - heavy interest could be generated if drivers could do both races and rumors have circulated that the start time could be altered.(SceneDaily)(7-22-2009) Comment here
Truex debuts Guitar Hero scheme at Indy: The #1 best-selling video game, Guitar Hero, returns to the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as primary sponsor of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates' #1 Chevy driven by Martin Truex Jr. This time the popular video game franchise introduces their latest hit, Guitar Hero Smash Hits. The video game returns as a primary sponsor with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for the fourth time this season after sponsoring Aric Almirola and the #8 Team for several races including the 2009 Daytona 500. This marks the first race for Guitar Hero as primary sponsor of the #1 Chevy team. Guitar Hero will once again be the featured paint scheme for Truex and team with paint schemes at the upcoming Atlanta and Charlotte events.(Earnhardt Ganassi), no image yet.(7-22-2009)
Montoya to run retro Target Scheme at Brickyard: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya will make his return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Target colors for the first time since he won the Indy 500 for Target in 2000. To commemorate their reunion at IMS, Montoya will run the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in a "retro" paint scheme and uniform that echoes back to the same scheme used in 2000 when he won the Indy 500.(Earnhardt Ganassi), see an image of the car on the #42 Cup Schemes page.(7-22-2009)
Prilosec back on the #31: Prilosec OTC's major associate sponsorship of RCR's #31 Chevy kicks into high gear this weekend in Indianapolis as Burton and the #31 team transform their yellow and black #31 Caterpillar Chevy into a purple Prilosec OTC - Walmart racing machine for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #31 Cup Schemes page.(7-22-2009)
Mayfield Attorneys: NASCAR hasn't proved case: UPDATE: Attorneys for Jeremy Mayfield filed papers on Monday arguing NASCAR has not shown sufficient reason that the court should overturn the decision to lift the Sprint Cup driver's suspension for violating the substance-abuse policy. The papers filed in U.S. District Court are a counter to NASCAR's request on Wednesday asking for an immediate stay of the injunction after Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamine for a second time. The counterclaim did not address the second test. Mayfield has since claimed the governing body spiked the July 6 test to get the desired results. His attorney, John Buric, released results of another test taken on the same day but performed by LabCorp, an independent laboratory not hired by NASCAR, that came up negative for methamphetamines and amphetamines. NASCAR officials argue that the LabCorp test should not be recognized because there is no evidence that the sample is legitimate or that proper procedure was used. Asked for specifics about the test, such as whether Mayfield was directly observed giving the sample, Bill Bonello of LabCorp said, "LabCorp does not comment on drug testing results."(see full story ESPN)(7-21-2009)
UPDATE: An independent drug test on Jeremy Mayfield was negative for methamphetamines, contradicting the results of a NASCAR test taken 40 minutes earlier, the driver claimed in court documents filed Tuesday. In response to NASCAR's claim that Mayfield again tested positive for methamphetamines on July 6, Mayfield submitted an affidavit to the U.S. District Court that said he traveled to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., right after NASCAR collected a sample at his Catawba County home. In a room he described as "very sterile," Mayfield said he emptied his pockets, washed his hands and was ushered into a bathroom, where he provided another urine sample. Mayfield said in the court filing he received confirmation from Laboratory Corporation of America in Raleigh, N.C., that his sample was negative on July 10 - the same day NASCAR informed his counsel that its sample was positive. Dr. Harold Schueler of the Broward County (Fla.) Medical Examiner's Office, filed an affidavit on behalf of Mayfield that claimed the levels of methamphetamine in NASCAR's test are "astronomical" and "could not be remotely accurate, unless Mr. Mayfield was deceased or a chronic abuser." (Associated Press)(7-22-2009) Comment here
More and Past NASCAR vs. Mayfield News: see my #41 Team News and Links page for the lastest news on Jeremy Mayfield the past few days: Mayfield passes other drug tests; says NASCAR 'spiked' his results; stepmother involved....and more.
Testing at Road Atlanta: Hearing that drivers testing at Road Atlanta today include #99-Carl Edwards, #6-David Ragan, #16-Colin Braun (subbing for Greg Biffle), #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #47-Marcos Ambrose, #2-Kurt Busch, #77-Sam Hornish Jr., #12-David Stremme, #13-Max Papis and Boris Said (in John Wes Townley's #09 Nationwide Series Ford which he will run at Watkins Glen).(7-21-2009)
AND: told #7-Robby Gordon was also at the track.(7-21-2009)
Another Marlin Racing: Sporting the red #711 that her grandfather made famous in the 1960’s, and with her two-time Daytona 500 champion dad coaching her over her radio headset, Sutherlin Marlin chased down her destiny Saturday night. Sutherlin, 19, finished 8th in a 40-lap Supertruck feature at Fairgrounds Speedway, the track on which her grandfather, Coo Coo, won four championships in the 1960’s and her father Sterling added three more in the 1980’s. “I can’t wait to go again,” said Sutherlin, a student at Columbia (Tn.) State who spent months practicing for her first race. “I was a little nervous at first, but after the race started it went away. It was fun and I’m definitely going to keep racing.” The Fairgrounds season runs through the fall and Sutherlin plans to be a regular competitor in the truck series, the track’s second-tier division. Sterling and son Steadman raced in Saturday night’s premier Late Model division. Both were involved in crashes and finished back in the field. Sterling this year is running a partial schedule in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series and will attempt to qualify for Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis [in the #09 Dodge].(Racin' Today)(7-21-2009) Comment here
Ragan the odd man out at Roush? Who will be the odd man out at Roush Fenway Racing? According to published reports, Roush Fenway president Geoff Smith is putting together a sponsor package that would keep #26-Jamie McMurray in the fold. McMurray, whose contract expires after this season, has been speculated as the most likely to be moved to satellite team, Yates Racing, to get Roush to four teams. If McMurray stays then #6-David Ragan becomes the top candidate to leave because #17-Matt Kenseth, #99-Carl Edwards and #16-Greg Biffle signed new deals within the last year. A decision on restructuring should come by September at the latest. Roush has until next season to move from five to four teams as NASCAR mandated when it put a cap on teams.(ESPN Insider)(7-21-2009) Comment here
Cautions on par with the 2008 season: This season, ServiceMaster Clean became the first-ever official sponsor of caution periods at the 19 International Speedway Corporation (SC) and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) tracks as well as Dover International Speedway. When there was a problem on the track, the ServiceMaster Clean yellow flag was displayed and the company’s familiar yellow vehicles were dispatched to clean the track.
The July 4th race at Daytona International Speedway marked the halfway point of the 36-race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. At 17 (Pocono is not a part of the program) of the 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, there was little change in the number of cautions compared to the previous year. There were only three more cautions, 157-154, in those 17 events compared to 2008. For all 18 events, there have been 162 cautions in 2009 compared to 164 in 2008.
In 17 races this year, 760 laps have been run under caution (780 in the 18 events). Last year, there were 666 caution laps in the 17 events (705 in 18). In 2009, three races (Atlanta, Bristol and Infineon) have been extended beyond the scheduled distance for a green-white-checkered finish and three (Daytona, Lowe’s and New Hampshire) have been stopped short of the scheduled distance due to inclement weather.
ServiceMaster ‘By The Numbers’
(*Pocono is not a participant in the ServiceMaster program)
Topic, 2008 stats, 2009 stats
Cautions (18 races), 164, 162
Cautions (17 races*), 154, 157
Caution Laps (18 races), 705, 780
Cautions Laps (17 races*), 666, 760
Laps Run (18 races), 5425, 5194
Miles Run (18 races), 7397.452, 7015.405
Most Caution (18 races), 18 (Martinsville), 17 (Darlington)
Fewest Cautions (18 races), 5 (Dover), 3 (Michigan)
Most Miles Under Caution (18 races), 97.5 (Pocono), 99.72 (Darlington)
Race Length Extended Due to Caution, 6, 3
Race Length Shortened Due to Weather, 1, 3
In 2008, only New Hampshire was shortened due to inclement weather while late-race cautions extended the scheduled distance for a green-white-checkered finish at six tracks (Bristol, Texas, Richmond, Michigan, Infineon and Daytona).
In racing, a yellow flag means it’s time to clean up the track. Debris removal and track drying must be done quickly and professionally in order to get back to racing. In homes and businesses across North America, a yellow ServiceMaster Clean van means cleaning and restoration is being done quickly and professionally by America’s number one cleaning team.(ServiceMaster)(7-21-2009) Comment here
Sad News - Gramma Gilly: (aka: Inez M. Gilliland) 87, mother of 1997 Winston West Champion, Butch Gilliland, and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, [#71 Chevy] David Gilliland passed away on July 16, 2009. She was a great inspiration to those that ever had the privilege to truly know her; she was a remarkable woman, and as a Matriarch of the Gilliland family, she will be greatly missed. Services for Gramma Gilly are on July 25, 2009, at 10:00am at the: Nampa Funeral Home -- Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave South, Nampa, Idaho 83651.(208-442-8171)(7-21-2009)
Sad News - Lindsay Nava: Lindsay Nava 24, daughter of NASCAR West car owner [#77 team, Andrew Myers driver, part time], Joe Nava, was killed in a car accident early Sunday morning, July 19.(Racing West) Thoughts go out to Joe and his family.
Services for Lindsay will be held Thursday, July 23rd, 2:00pm at Grace Church - 515 S. Glendora Avenue - Glendora, CA (626-335-4067). In lieu of flowers, etc., a memorial fund has been established in Lindsay's name. Lindsay Lynnelle Nava Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 277, Glendora, Calif 91740.(7-20-2009)
ESPN Promotional Campaign Kicks Off with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Spot: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is featured in a new ESPN promotional spot now running in advance of the launch of ESPN’s coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which begins July 26 with the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The spot can be viewed HERE.(ESPN)
AND STILL in the NEWS recently...
7/22/2009
- News from 7/22/2009
7/21/2009
- News from 7/21/2009
7/20/2009
- F1 Champ Hamilton may consider NASCAR?
- Danica says no to F1 try
- Sadler to run new Dodge motor at Indy
- McGriff makes history, starts NASCAR race at 81
7/19/2009
- Trickle slowing but not stopping
- NASCAR responds to Mayfield's lab test
7/18/2009
- Said and Clark to finalize deal to merger
- Joe Gibbs releases book "Game of Life"
- Red Bull Racing's contract stalls
- Danica also visited other shops
- U.S. bobsledders test at wind tunnel in Mooresville
7/17/2009
- Yates Racing hopes to have drivers back in 2010
- Johnson repeats as Best Driver in ESPYs
- Stewart/Office Depot to donate backpacks
7/16/2009
- TV Ratings for Chicago
- Sad News - Charlie Webster
7/15/2009
- Harvick wants out at RCR? RCR Statement
- Vickers visits NASA
- NASCAR: Mayfield again tests positive for meth
- Keselowski to Penske next year? Red Bull denied
7/14/2009 and before
- Truex, crew chief, owner penalized for Chicago infraction
- Wood Brothers add a race
- General Motors Cuts Sports Spending
- Menard Shopping Sponsorship?
- Chicago Commercial Breakdown
- Double-file restarts still causing confusion
- Labonte & Menard out at Yates?
- Gilliland in fourth Gibbs car this year?
- Stewart say Goodyear has solved Indy tire problems
- Truex: Too Many questions at EGR to stay
- Truex to MWR; Limited schedule for Waltrip in 2010
- Petty working with Chrysler on debt
- NASCAR changes drug testing process
- Nominees Announced For Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction
- College fund established for David Poole's grandson
- NASCAR Hall of Fame announces opening date
- New emergency texting available to race patrons
- Online Voting for Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame
- Mayfield suspended after violating substance abuse policy
- Sad News - Writer/Broadcaster David Poole
- Sprint Cup banquet moves to Vegas
- Grant lawsuit officially dismissed
- Ancient Chaseology, seasons before 2004 and the Chase
- Drivers who have won a race in Cup, Nationwide AND Trucks
