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(3-21-2004)

• Sad News: The Maritime stock car racing community was shocked this morning with the news that one of their most talented and respected competitors, Scott Fraser was the victim of a fatal snowmobile accident which occurred in the Wentworth Valley region of Nova Scotia. Scott Fraser died as a result of a head on collision with another snowmobile in the early hours of the morning. The driver of the other snowmobile is reported to be in critical condition. A second generation racer, Scott Fraser followed his father (Frank Fraser, a short track legend in eastern Canada) into the oval bullrings and began racing in 1987 at Onslow Speedway at the tender age of 16.(more info at maritimemotorsports.com or Speed51.com)(3-21-2004)
  
  
• Johnson wins at Darlington: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway fior his first win of 2004 and his first win at Darlington. #18-Bobby Labonte finished 2nd. The rest of the top five were #12-Newman, #31-Gordon and #38-Sadler. Pole sitterm #9-Kasey Kahne spun twice but ended up 13th. Points Leader #17-Matt Kenseth had some troubles and aa penalty and ended up 31st, four laps down, but maintains a slim points lead of 21 over #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 10th.
  Scheduled Race Re-Air: of the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 on Speed Channel
  Wednesday, March 24th [Fast Forward] at 4:00pm/et;
  Thursday, March 25th [Full race] at 3:00pm/et;
  Friday, March 26th [Fast Forward] at 12:00am/et.
  For race results, see ThatsRacin.com, Motorsports One or NASCAR.com.(3-21-2004)
  
  
• Speaking of Military [see news and poll below]: #0-Ward Burton is scheduled to participate in a re-enlistment ceremony before today's race at Darlington Raceway for Chief Gunners Mate David Allen. The 19-year Navy veteran contacted Burton's office about the request. Allen's ship came to port in Norfolk on Friday. "This is a dream come true for me, I love NASCAR and Ward is my favorite driver," Allen said.(Roanoke Times)(3-21-2004)
  
  
• Three Networks instead of Two? 40 races still being talked about: ....NASCAR might be looking at a new three-network TV package, with ABC joining Fox and NBC, and with ESPN back in the mix, too. That could lead NASCAR to create a "three-season" tour - spring, summer and fall, 13 or so races each, with the tour finale a "Super Bowl" of sorts rotating from network to network each season, perhaps at Las Vegas one season, perhaps at Daytona the next.(Winston Salem Journal for more to this story)(3-21-2004)
  
  
• and more on the TMS/NASCAR lawsuit: Key individuals involved in the lawsuit over a second Nextel Cup race for Texas Motor Speedway say the sides are close to reaching an out-of-court settlement. No one would give details of the possible settlement because of a stipulation to keep the negotiations private, but any agreement is likely to include a second annual Cup race for TMS, starting with the 2005 season.(Dallas Morning News), see past news about the lawsuit and what it is all about on my Lawsuits News Page.(3-21-2004)
  
  
• Testing at Texas: Some Nextel Cup teams plan to test at Texas on Tuesday, March 23rd and Wednesday, March 24th, including: #5-Terry Labonte, #2-Rusty Wallace, #21-Ricky Rudd, #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Jeff Burton, #97-Kurt Busch, #38-Elliott Sadler [only Wed] and #01-Joe Nemechek.(TMS PR)(3-21-2004)
  
  
• Yeley Wins at PIR: JJ Yeley, who is running an ABC [ARCA,Busch,Cup] program for Joe Gibbs Racing this year, won the first national USAC midget race of 2004 Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway in the 27th annual Copper World Classic. It was Yeley's first win at PIR.(Arizona Republic)(3-21-2004)
  
  
• Gordon attends Funsraiser; then has to make emergency landing...not happy: Jeff Gordon was in the Tri-state [OH/KY] Thursday for a very special evening of raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Home Builders Associations of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky combined efforts to bring the four time NASCAR champion to the auction. Gordon signed memoribilia for the auction and then Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken gave Gordon a key to the city, the mayor of Newport declared Thursday "Jeff Gordon day", but the main reason for the night was to make money for Make-A-Wish. "It wouldn't happen without Make-A-Wish. I've had a lot of boys and girls come to race tracks all over the country who wanted to be at a race or meet a race car driver or meet me, there's nothing that trouches your're heart more than something like that," Gordon said.(wcpo.com)
  UPDATE: Jeff Gordon was in the Tri-State Thursday night, apparently for a business dinner, but it was a WLWT Eyewitness News 5 photographer who was on the business end of the NASCAR star's anger. The small plane he was in had some engine trouble as it was trying to land at Lunken Airport at about 6 p.m. Thursday, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's Jonathan Hawgood reported. Hawgood and photographer Pat Story went to the airport to cover that aspect of the story. But when they got there, the plane already had landed safely and Gordon made it to his dinner. A short time later, he emerged from the airport restaurant. And if you think Gordon is an aggressive racer on the NASCAR circuit, try talking to him a couple hours after a few tense moments in the air, Hawgood reported. "Apparently, they had a light come on that indicated an engine fire," Cincinnati Fire Department spokesman Mike Fehring said. Fehring was among the crew called to meet the plane after pilots made an emergency landing. He said if there was a fire, it was deep in the engine, and wasn't throwing out smoke. "(Gordon) is probably a little bit out of his control, but he'll live to race another day," Fehring said. When Hawgood tried to talk to Gordon after his dinner, he wasn't interested. But then he took disinterest to an interesting level:
  Gordon: "What the (expletive) is wrong with you?"
  Story: "I'm just doing my job."
  Gordon: "Well, your job sucks."
  Fehring added that Gordon wasn't only in a foul mood toward local media. "We tried to talk to him, but he seemed a little bit irritated," he said. "I imagine he had a big day. He was in town for obviously some business, and that's not a good way to end the day." Gordon got on a different plane and headed out of town after his dinner, Hawgood reported.(ChannelCincinnati.com)(3-19-2004)
  UPDATE: Clarie B. Lang of XM Satellite - NASCAR Radio 144 asked Gordon about the incident: Gordon said: "Well..it was an unfortunate situation. I hate that it happened. I was very frustrated with not only with as going on in my airplane, and the story's been very misconstrued. They have all the facts wrong and that's unfortunate too but ahh there's nothing I can say except to say that I was frustrated and at the time I certainly said some things I shouldn't have said and somebody sort of egged me on and it is what it is and I can't take it back but you know just learn from it like I do every other thing that happens in my life."
  About the airplane problem: "It was scary. I tell you we took off. We were acctually Leaving Kentucky and we took off and had a light that came on on the dash that showed that there was a problem with the left engine....they shut the engine down pulled the fire extiinguisher cause -they said there was a fire in there. But there really never was a fire that we know of. We turned around and came back and landed and had to wait for a plane to come pick us up.I still don't know exatly what happened I'm waiting to hear back right now.
  AND been told that NASCAR will not fine Gordon and has dismissed the incident [rightfully so, what did the reporter expect, Gordon just had a very scary moment in the air and asked the reporter to leave him alone].(3-21-2004)
  
  
• Young Guns 4 for 4 [Earnhardt Jr and Kenseth anyway]: By picking Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the top Gillette Young Gun finisher in the Golden Corral 500, Presented by Gillette Mach3Turbo Champion, Dave S. of Coatesville, IN was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 challenge. Dave picked Earnhardt Jr. to win the race by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. With the victory and once again being the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Earnhardt Jr. The Gillette Young Guns are four for four so far in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. At the season-opening event in Daytona and again this past weekend in Atlanta it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. visiting victory lane, and at both Rockingham and Las Vegas it was Matt Kenseth. Four of the top-10 positions in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings are still held by Gillette Young Guns, including the leader - Kenseth (First), Earnhardt Jr. (Third), Kurt Busch (Sixth) and Jimmie Johnson (Ninth). Fellow Young Guns Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick are not too far back though as they are 11th and 12th respectively. Every week, fans can register to win $5,000 in the Gillette Young Guns Weekly Challenge by going to www.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline at midnight PT the day before the race. If you correctly predict which Gillette Young Guns driver will place highest in the next race, your correct entry will be automatically entered in a random drawing for $5,000.(Alan Taylor PR)(3-21-2004)
  
  

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  (3-20-2004)

• Gordon, Pearson, Yarborough to test the Darlington lights - Aug 24th: Darlington Raceway's new lighting system won't be used for a race until November. But it will be christened this summer in an exhibition highlighted by Jeff Gordon, who has won six races at the 54-year-old track. Raceway president Andrew Gurtis announced Friday night that Gordon, all-time Darlington winner David Pearson, and area native Cale Yarborough will take laps under the lights Aug. 24 in an event designed to show off the new system. The 72 exterior light poles are already up, and crews will return after Sunday's Carolina Dodge Dealers 500 to install infield fixtures and the power system. Construction is expected to be finished by late June. The Aug. 24 exhibition promises to be similar to one held at Daytona International Speedway, when the late Dale Earnhardt took laps under the lights shortly after that track's system was installed in 1998.(Charleston Post and Courier)(3-20-2004)
  
  
• Some Cup Drivers to race at Nashville on Cup off weekend: Making the decision to host the Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Easter Weekend April 9-10 - an off-NEXTEL Cup weekend - is reaping big benefits for Nashville Superspeedway ticket holders. NEXTEL Cup driver Michael Waltrip has announced he will join the growing list of NEXTEL Cup drivers to participate in the Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series race. Waltrip will join Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, and Johnny Sauter competing for Victory Lane and the coveted Gibson Les Paul guitar trophy. Waltrip, an Owensboro, KY native and brother of Middle Tennessee’s Darrell Waltrip, will compete in the #99 Aaron’s Rent Chevy. Race weekend will feature the PFG Lester 150 ARCA RE/MAX Series on Friday night, April 9 and the Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series on Saturday, April 10. The Pepsi 300 will feature the Bunny Bread Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. and the Grammy-nominated Newsboys perform in concert on the front stretch at 1 p.m. Pre race activities begin at 2 p.m. - the Pepsi 300 green flag waves at 3:00pm. Tickets are available by calling toll-free 1-866-RACE-TIX or visit www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com.
  AND Nashville Superspeedway 2004 Season Ticket holders will have the first (and rare) opportunity to drive their own vehicles around the 1.33-mile "D" shaped oval concrete track. This "Drive the Track" promotion is to award season ticket holders and promote the upcoming Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series weekend April 9-10. The "Drive the Track" promotion will be this Saturday, March 20 from 1 to 3 p.m.(Nashville Superspeedway Site)(3-20-2004)
  
  
• RCR Adds Design Technology: Blue Ridge Numerics announced that Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in Welcome, NC, has selected CFdesign for virtual prototyping fluid flow and heat transfer performance of automotive components and systems built in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire. On their first project, the RCR engineering team used CFdesign to identify a significantly improved design of the fuel delivery system used to refuel cars during pit stops. Recognized as a one of the heavyweights of NASCAR, RCR has a reputation for finding engineering innovations that help current drivers Kevin Harvick, Johnny Sauter, Robby Gordon, Ron Hornaday, and Clint Bowyer cross the finish line first in Nextel Cup and Busch Series races across the country. RCR saw the benefit of CFdesign with the very first project. Always looking for an edge in a competition where a fraction of a second determines winners and losers, CFdesign helped improve the fuel delivery system used by pit crews to refuel the car. Holden says the improvement achieved with CFdesign is a gain that will show up on the racetrack.(tenlinks.com via Insider Racing News)(3-20-2004)
  
  
• More on Cursing; NASCAR won't police scanners: Inquiring NASCAR fans yearn to know why Nextel Cup Series rookie Johnny Sauter can be penalized for using the "s" word and most popular driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. can use the word "damn" without repercussion. According to NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter, the two words aren't comparable. "Our president, Mike Helton, when he first addressed this issue at Rockingham, made it a point to say hell or damn, depending on the context in which it's used, is sort of acceptable," Hunter said. "Those two words appear in different forms as a means of expression. Those are subjective. (They're okay) as long as they don't use them in a demeaning or scathing fashion. The other word is simply not acceptable." Both drivers used profanity in post-race interviews. But Sauter's comment following the Las Vegas Busch Series race that Michael Waltrip was "three-wide, doing stupid (expletive)," was considered demeaning. Conversely, Earnhardt's comment after winning the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta -- "I don't care if I don't see my own bed for two damn months" -- was not. Hunter also said Friday that NASCAR has no intent of policing profanity on race scanners, a recent burning question stemming from the crackdown on profanity by the Federal Communications Commission. NASCAR's focus is to assure drivers refrain from cursing on live television and/or radio. "The scanner issue is a separate issue," Hunter said. "People have a choice on whether to tune in on a scanner or not. We're cautioning our guys to be mindful, but scanners are a fun part of this sport, and they're big boys. They know what's going on." "We don't want our network partners to be put in a position of getting a huge fine for something one of our guys say," Hunter said.(NASCAR.com)(3-20-2004)
  
  
• Texas Lawsuit to be Settled Soon? Officials from Texas Motor Speedway and from NASCAR indicate that a settlement of the so-called Ferko suit could come sooner rather than later. The suit, in U.S. District Court in Sherman, Texas, was brought by a shareholder in Speedway Motorsports and contends that NASCAR promised a race date to the Texas track which was not delivered. NASCAR has denied making such a promise. As is usual in such proceedings, the sides are given time to attempt to reach agreement before the case goes to trial. The trial in the case was due to begin sometime in early summer. Attorneys and officials from both sides have been negotiating a possible agreement in the matter. No timetable was indicated, nor was any idea given of what might be negotiable. "The process is in place," NASCAR vp/communications Jim Hunter said Friday. "There are some things on the table, and we'd all like to get this behind us. We have other things to do." There is much speculation as to what might be in play in the settlement talks. Many believe NASCAR could conclude the matter by creating or transferring a date or dates to Texas and/or Las Vegas. Both tracks have proved to be popular and profitable venues for the sanction.(Speed Channel), for past news on this, see my Lawsuit Page.(3-20-2004)
  
  
• #50 Gets Pit Crew: Again this week Team CLR will be going over the wall on Sunday for Arnold Motor Sports #50 car driven by Derrike Cope. Cope will be competing in NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series Dodge Dealers 400. Plans are now that Team CLR will continue to pit for the #50 for all of the Nextel Cup races through the remaining of the season unless Team CLR competes in NASCAR's elite series themselves. Team CLR has the team members, cars, equipment, skills and several interested drivers ready to compete when given the chance. They like many teams are waiting for a sponsorship deal to come their way. Team CLR also hung the body on Derrike Cope's car that he shocked fellow competitors with by qualifying 5th for The Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 in Darlington. Team CLR keeps busy in their shop during the week by continuing to build new 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo's, Ford's and Dodge's for other Nextel Cup teams as well as themselves. For inquires about sponsorship or putting Team CLR's skills to work for you please visit OTWracing for further information.(PR)(3-20-2004)
  
  
• Rent-A-Center on the #21 at Bristol: After making its inaugural NASCAR appearance in 2003, Rent-A-Center, Inc. returns as a proud sponsor of Ricky Rudd's #21 team and Wood Brothers Racing for the second year. Rent-A-Center has long been the leading rent-to-own retailer in the nation, with more than 2,600 stores in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Now NASCAR fans nationwide can watch the Rent-A-Center car in its first 2004 race on March 28, in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. In addition to the race in Bristol, Ricky Rudd is scheduled to appear at a Rent-A-Center store in Bristol Thursday, March 25. Racing fans will have the opportunity to get autographed photos and take pictures with Rudd. The store is located at 1326 Volunteer Parkway in Bristol. Fans can also purchase exclusive RAC Racing/Ricky Rudd T-shirts, caps and other souvenir merchandise at any Rent-A-Center location. For more information about Rent-A-Center, see their Web site at www.rentacenter.com.(Campbell Co PR)(3-20-2004)
  
  
• Kahne Sets Another Mark: #9-Kasey Kahne set another mark in winning the Bud Pole for the 2004 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway. Kahne scored his second Bud pole in just five career starts and became just one of five drivers in NASCAR history to do so. No driver has won more than two. He joins the following drivers:
  Martin, Mark (2) - 7/11/81 Nashville International Raceway; 9/13/81 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway
  Hutcherson, Dick (2) - 3/28/64 Greenville-Pickens Speedway; 4/14/64 Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds
  Burdick, Bob (2) - 5/17/59 Trenton Speedway; 6/18/59 Columbia Speedway
  Kieper, John (2) - 5/27/56 Portland Speedway; 5/30/56 Eureka Speedway
  Kahne, Kasey (2) - 3/5/04 Las Vegas; 3/19/04 Darlington (NASCAR Statistical Services)(3-20-2004)
  
  

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  (3-19-2004)

• Mooresville Seminar in May: On May 28th from 7-10 PM at the NASCAR Busch Series shop of ppc racing (#22-Jason Keller), Mike Calinoff's "Get Into Racing" Seminars will take place - an opportunity for those interested in a career in professional motorsports. The "Get Into Racing" [ www.getintoracing.com] program is not your typical seminar format. Traditionally, participants sit for several hours and try to absorb as much information as possible, while jotting down notes and thinking silently of questions they need answered. There is usually one host who does all of the speaking. The "Get Into Racing" program takes a totally different approach. While Mike Calinoff, serves as the primary speaker, he is complimented with a panel of experts who are in the business. Race team members, owners, public relations, media, marketing and administrative specialists [and maybe a certain internet site dude] have been carefully selected to bring as much information to the seminar as possible. Your are encouraged to bring your resume as well. The seminar is being sponsored by Jenkins & Jenkins, one of the most unique sponsors in motorsports. During the 20-minute break and at the conclusion of the program, you will have the opportunity to meet the panel members for some one-on-one conversation. The program is upbeat, humorous and informative. It addresses your real-life aspirations for a position in motorsports and brings to you the realistic opportunities that exist. Heavy concentration is placed on career development, interview skills and what race teams are looking for in a candidate. This is a no-holds-barred, in-your-face seminar. All of the time is spent discussing the real issues and opportunities that will help bring you into a whole new world. Visit the website for more information or call 1-877-RACEJOB.(3-19-2004)
  
  
• Interesting many have asked if #9-Kasey Kahne's three top-five finishes was the best record by a driver in their first four races. The following was revealed upon a query of the database by Charlie Vass. Obviously, being just one of seven drivers in NASCAR history to accomplish this is still quite remarkable!
  Drivers records after four races....
  Adkins, Allen 4 Top 5s
  8/1/54 Oakland Stadium 3
  8/22/54 Bay Meadows Race Course 4
  5/8/55 Arizona State Fairgrounds 5
  5/15/55 Tucson Rodeo Grounds 2
  Minter, Clyde 4 Top 5s
  9/25/49 Martinsville Speedway 4
  10/16/49 North Wilkesboro Speedway 4
  4/2/50 Charlotte Speedway 3
  5/21/50 Martinsville Speedway 5
  Gurney, Dan 3 Top 5s
  2/16/62 Daytona International Speedway 4
  2/18/62 Daytona International Speedway 27
  1/20/63 Riverside International Raceway 1
  2/22/63 Daytona International Speedway 5
  Erickson, Erick 3 Top 5s
  9/18/49 Hamburg Fairgrounds 2
  4/8/51 Carrell Speedway 5
  4/22/51 Arizona State Fairgrounds 2
  5/6/51 Martinsville Speedway 24
  Byron, Red 3 Top 5s
  6/19/49 Charlotte Speedway 3
  7/10/49 Daytona Beach & Road Course 1
  8/7/49 Orange Speedway 22
  9/11/49 Langhorne Speedway 3
  Barker, Curley 3 Top 5s
  5/27/56 Portland Speedway 5
  6/24/56 Portland Speedway 9
  8/26/56 Portland Speedway 3
  9/23/56 Portland Speedway 3
  Kahne, Kasey 3 Top 5s
  2/15/04 Daytona International Speedway 41
  2/22/04 North Carolina Speedway 2
  3/7/04 Las Vegas Motor Speedway 2
  3/14/04 Atlanta Motor Speedway 3
  (NASCAR Statistical Services)(3-19-2004)
  
  
• #72 Sponsor? saw the decals on Kirk Shelmerdines #72 Ford, Tucson, what is that? Tucson Cigarettes made by the Renegade Tobacco Company in Mocksville, NC which is up near Welcome, NC [where Shelmerdine's shop is]. NOTE: NASCAR's Jim HUnter was interviewed on XM Satelitte - NASCAR Radio 144 and said while cigarettes are not allowed to be a sponsor on a car, the brand name can as long as the words 'Cigarette' or 'Tobacco' is not used.(3-19-2004)
  
  
• 40-race schedule? [yikes] more on Vegas Reconfig: Cal Wells' [owner of the #32 Tide Chevy] proposal for a 40-race schedule has provoked some thought in the NASCAR garage about where those four races would fit on the calendar. Mother's Day weekend could be one date, or Thanksgiving weekend. Another logical date would be late January. And then there is the question of who might get those four tour dates: if the NASCAR Frances doled two of them out to Bruton Smith, then that might resolve the Texas lawsuit, by adding not only a second tour date at Texas but also a second tour date at Las Vegas. And with a second tour date at Las Vegas, according to sources close to Smith, the Speedway Motorsports boss would almost certainly choose a variable banking design at that 12-degree track, to change the pattern of boring races.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-19-2004)
  
  
• Bodine and the #98 at Darlington, Jayski's take on helping the 'small' teams: Todd Bodine will be driving the #98 only if more than 43 cars show up at the track otherwise Larry Gunselman will be driving the car [as of Thursday, 44 cars are entered]. Bodine will be testing an ARCA car for Dan Shaver and Petro Express # 49 with Jeff Buice as crew chief and plans to race the car Nashville.(Todd Bodine site), have no info on the #98 team, their crew, no one from the team has contacted me, so nothing to tell anyone, I pride myself on helping the small teams, but I can't help if I can't find info on them and no one from the team lets me know what is up, the #98, #72 and #80, all I get is what I find in columns and articles. And the #94 with Stanton Barrett? no clue at all.(3-19-2004)
  
  
• Wider Tires? Humpy Wheeler, who runs Speedway Motorsports for Smith, said he's looking at fatter tires as a possible solution for boring races at flat tracks.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-19-2004)
  
  
• Norris close to a job UPDATE 2: Ty Norris, who resigned in January as vice president for motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in January, expects to start a new job this week. "I think they'll announce it Tuesday or Wednesday," he said Saturday. The position is in racing, but Norris said it's different than anything he's done before. He also won't have to travel as much, which was a requirement he made for himself when he was contemplating what he was going to do. "My family has sacrificed enough over the past 15 years," he said. In eight years with DEI, Norris took the team into the Nextel Cup Series, where it now has drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip. Junior won the Daytona 500 for the first time earlier this season, with Norris watching from home. "I was just so proud for Dale Jr. and the team," Norris said. "It was great feeling like I had a little part in that."(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(3-13-2004)
  UPDATE: hearing the job will be with SMI [Speedway Motorsports Inc./Bruton Smith] in some capacity.(3-15-2004)
  UPDATE 2:Ty Norris, who helped run Dale Earnhardt Inc., for eight years until leaving suddenly in January, is expected to announce a new job next week with Speedway Motorsports.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-19-2004)
  
  
• Hotel Announces Speed Rewards for NASCAR Fans: Best Western customers have a new way to make travel more exciting with Speed Rewards, a customized frequent guest program designed specifically for race fans. Speed Rewards is an extension of Best Western's already successful Gold Crown Club International (GCCI) loyalty program. Speed Rewards puts customers on the fast-track toward earning valuable points that can be redeemed for NASCAR-themed racing merchandise such as jackets and caps, Best Western Global Free Room Nights, dining, shopping and other exciting rewards. NASCAR race fans that sign up for Best Western Speed Rewards through April 30th will be automatically entered for a chance to win tickets to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series TM race of their choice, roundtrip air transportation and Best Western accommodations. In addition, for each time they stay at a participating Best Western at the qualifying BestRates(r) rate during the promotional period, they will earn an additional entry. For more info and to sign up for the program, customers simply go to bestwestern.com.(Alan Taylor PR)(3-19-2004)
  
  
• "Field Filler"...getting back at the media, new site coming UPDATE site has opened: Andy Belmont's #02 Pontiac is one of a handful of cars often referred to as field-filler. That's because it's in the race in large part because there aren't enough fast cars to take up all 43 starting spots. Belmont, a lifetime racer from Langhorne, Pa., who finished 39th Sunday, is offended by the "field-filler" designation that has been hung on him, but at least he has a sense of humor about it. So Belmont has purchased the rights to www.fieldfillers.com and plans to have fun with his new Web site, which is under construction. "We're going to think out of the box a little and not take ourselves too seriously," Belmont said. Some of the content will be aimed at media members, who criticize the drivers at the back of the pack. "We're going to try to entertain the writers who throw rocks at us and give them more fodder," he said. Belmont said he plans to take photos of other cars referred to as field-fillers -- with permission from the drivers -- and post them on his site. Just for fun, he plans to include Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 8 Chevrolet among the field-fillers for last week's race at Las Vegas. Earnhardt's car was so slow at Vegas that he was sent to the garage for repairs. Belmont says he's proud to be a part of the nation's premier racing series. "Even though some people refer to me as a back-marker, I've got a seat at the head table," he said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-15-2004)
  UPDATE the site is active and open at www.fieldfillers.com, still under some construction.(3-19-2004)
  
  
• Andretti's fans drive UPDATE: Several days ago, one of John Andretti's fans got the idea to try and raise enough money to sponsor Andretti in a race. Word spread quickly and people from all over began to pledge money. Andretti and radio broadcaster Dave Wilson discussed it on the air on a Tuesday night interview and Andretti expressed how impressed and humbled he was about it. As a result of this outpouring of support, Andretti's fan website, jafanpage.com are going to institute a fund drive for a charity. Details will be posted there in the next few days.(3-19-2004)
  UPDATE: John Andretti has issued a letter thanking fans trying to organize a fund-raising campaign to sponsor a Nextel Cup entry for him but urged them to abandon the plan. "I feel blessed and honored to have such outstanding individuals and families that support me even to the level of giving me their hard-earned dollars. This will never be forgotten," wrote Andretti, who has made only two starts this year in a partial campaign in Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s No. 1 Chevrolet. He urged fans to use their money to support the sponsors who back their favorite teams and added, "For those who would like to donate otherwise, we will again be hosting the Race for Riley Hospital for Children just prior to the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-19-2004)
  
  

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  (3-18-2004)

• Special Mobil Scheme for Newman: #12-Ryan Newman is scheduled to run a special Mobil 1 30th Anniversay paint scheme at the California race on May 2. See my #12 Cup Team Paint Schemes page to see the image.(3-18-2004)
  
  
• Did ya know? Brendan Gaughan was on fire during Sunday's Golden Corral 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Literally. Gaughan lost several laps when he was forced to pit after an electrical fire erupted in the cockpit of his #77 Kodak Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge. "I had a fire for a good five, six laps and kept going 'maybe it will go out, guys,' " Gaughan said, "and finally it wasn't going to go out so we had to come in and put it out. I believe in Bill Simpson. What can I say; I feel safe in my Impact stuff." Impact Racing is the new company safety pioneer Bill Simpson formed after he parted ways with Simpson Safety Equipment in 2001.(Las Vegas Sun)(3-18-2004)
  
  
• Robby Gordon's Pit Crew Pockets Win In Atlanta; Stewart's crew takes over first in point standings: The #31 pit crew for Robby Gordon squeaked by Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew to capture the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade in Sunday's (March 14) 500-mile NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. While Gordon's crew grabbed the $20,000 weekly prize, the pit crew for Tony Stewart moved into first place with 154 points. Kurt Busch's crew stands second, one point behind at 153. Earnhardt's crew, the reigning McDonald's/POWERade champion, is third with 148 points. Last week's point leader - Elliott Sadler's crew - dropped to fourth with 143 points. Though Earnhardt's No. 8 Chevrolet found its way to winner's circle in Atlanta, it was Gordon's Cingular Wireless Chevy that spent the least amount of time on pit road. Gordon's pit road time of 281.691 seconds was just over a second quicker than Earnhardt's time of 282.864. Jeff Burton's Ford was third at 284.833. "The guys work hard at the shop and at the track," said Chris Andrews, crew chief of the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet. "Between working on cars, spending time in the gym and at pit stop practice, they've managed to bang out 13 to 14-second, and sometimes even 12-second stops every weekend. "We made seven stops Sunday and gained track position every time we came down pit lane. Our over-the-wall crew is a competitive group of guys. I don't think this will be the last time I will be asked to comment about their performance this year for the McDonald's/POWERade championship." Gordon's over-the-wall crew consists of: Ira-Jo Hussey (front-tire changer), Kevin Nervegna (front-tire carrier), Timmy Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Matt Kreuter (rear-tire carrier), Ron Liddell (gasman), Mike Moore (jackman) and Coy Hedrick (catch can).(DMF Communications PR), see my Pit Crew News Page for top 10 at Atlanta and the season standings.(3-18-2004)
  
  
• Runt Retires: Shelton "Runt" Pittman the Head engine builder for #4 Morgan McClure Motorsports retired after the Daytona 500 race. He was one of NASCAR's premire engine builders for many years. He will be sorely missed at MMM racing and the entire racing community.(3-18-2004)
  
  
• Official NASCAR Windshield: Visteon has signed an agreement to be the exclusive manufacturer of Officially Licensed NASCAR Performance Windshields. Today's announcement marks the second Visteon Aftermarket product line to be Officially Licensed NASCAR Performance products; the first was radiators.(biz.yahoo.com via Insider Racing News)(3-18-2004)
  
  
• Earnhardt Jr. to Drive Corvette at American Le Mans Series Race at Infineon Raceway: #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., winner of the 2004 Daytona 500 and one of the biggest stars in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing, will bring his skills to a different form of the sport when he drives a Corvette in the Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma American Le Mans Series event at Infineon Raceway on July 18. Earnhardt will make a rare foray outside of stock car racing when he joins the General Motors Chevrolet Corvette racing team in the Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma, presented by the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, July 16-18. He will co-drive with veteran road-racer Boris Said in a third Chevrolet Corvette C5-R fielded by Corvette Racing, the car carrying Earnhardt's famous #8. Infineon Raceway will offer a special discounted ticket offer related to Earnhardt Jr.'s appearance during the race weekend. Fans can purchase a ticket for Friday's racing action for $8. Also in honor of Earnhardt Jr., there will be an $8 discount for a full-weekend pass ($42). Ticket information is available online at www.infineonraceway.com or by calling 800-870-RACE. The three-car team for the event will reunite Earnhardt with the Corvette team, a bond that began at the 2001 running of the 24 Hours of Daytona where Earnhardt, Jr., and his father, the late Dale Earnhardt, finished fourth overall in their first-ever sports car race. The Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma will get the green flag at 11:30 a.m. (PDT) on Sunday, July 18, and will be televised live in North America by CBS Sports and in Europe on MotorsTV. The American Le Mans Series Radio Web will have live coverage online at www.americanlemans.com (Infineon Raceway PR)(3-18-2004)
  
  
• #4 Tests at Bristol, looking for a sponsor: #4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports was at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday for a test session in preparation for the upcoming Food City 500 on March 28. The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team had two cars to test, one with sponsor decals and one without. After the end of the 2003 season, the #4 Monte Carlo ended its long running sponsorship with Kodak. Prior to this year's Daytona 500, team manager Larry McClure entered into an agreement with YOKETV for primary sponsorship of the car over the course of this year's 36-race schedule. But last week in Atlanta the Morgan-McClure team showed up for the running of the Golden Corral 500 with the YOKETV sponsor decal missing from their car. "The best thing for me to say is that we have some differences and we are trying to work them out," said McClure of the current status of the contract. "Then, depending on whether it does come back and we hope it does, we are looking in some other directions and right now we don't have anything in the other direction. "We're just talking to some other folks and hoping something will happen." McClure is optimistic something can be worked out with YOKETV to continue until year's end but reiterated that the sport is definitely too expensive to continue without sponsor dollars to pay the bills. "There is a possibility (to continue the current sponsorship) but we just need to shore up some things," added McClure. "If that happens, then we'll be OK. If it doesn't then we hope that we get something else and if we do, we'll be fine throughout the year. We plan on continuing as of now and just see what transpires in the next little bit." When asked the team's plans for the immediate future, and whether the sponsor decals will be on the car this weekend at Darlington, McClure said, "we know we are going to run Darlington, Bristol, Talladega and I think Texas is in there. Past that, we'll need to get something (worked out). At this time, the YOKETV won't be on the car (at Darlington). Tomorrow, it may be if we get things worked out. If we can work out the details, we'd love to have them on the car." The team's driver, Kevin Lepage, said the team is focused on doing its job on the track and not letting other happenings be a distraction. "I don't think it affects anything," said Lepage, whose best finish this year was 22nd at Rockingham. "He's (McClure) committed to the race team to do his best effort to give us the best equipment, both in the motor department and the cars and the people week to week."(Kingsports Times News/Bristol Herald Courier)(3-18-2004)
  
  
• Childcare Network to Sponsor Bandolero Racing in the Southeast: Childcare Network, a child development company based in Columbus, Ga., has signed an agreement with 600 Racing to serve as a sponsor of all INEX-sanctioned Bandolero racing this year in Georgia and the Carolinas. The Childcare Network Bandolero Series will visit numerous race tracks across the Southeast and includes the Hardee's Summer Shootout Series at Lowe's Motor Speedway and the Thursday Night Thunder Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
  Childcare Network, Inc. is a leading provider of education and childcare services in the southeastern United States. The company operates 117 schools in seven states providing affordable, high-quality developmental education and care to children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 12 years.
  Designed for drivers 8 years of age and older, Bandoleros are tube-framed spec race cars that feature sleek fiberglass bodies and are powered by 570cc Briggs & Stratton engines. INEX-sanctioned Bandolero racing is divided into three divisions: Bandits for drivers ages 8 to 11; Young Guns for those 12 to 15; and Outlaws for competitors 16 years of age and older.
  600 Racing, which also builds Legends Cars and Thunder Roadsters, is a subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For information on the Childcare Network Bandolero Series, contact 600 Racing at (704) 455-3896 or visit www.600racing.com.(LMS PR)(3-18-2004)
  
  
• Sad News: Former Winston Racing Series Champion Raymond Hooper Sr. passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 11th in Paducah, KY. Hooper Sr., 66, was the 1970 NASCAR Winston Racing Series Champion at Saugus Speedway in Santa Clarita, CA. Hooper Sr. was the father of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Busch Series, and Nextel Cup series driver Lance Hooper, and West Coast driver Ray Hooper Jr. Funeral services were held this past Saturday in Paducah. Hooper Sr. is survived by his wife Sharon, daughter Donna Tudor, and sons Ray Jr. and Lance. Condolences can be sent to The Hooper Family, C/O Sharon Hooper, P.O. Box 4326, Mooresville, NC 28117.(3-18-2004)
  
  
• Fraud Case, 'NASCAR' vehicles seized: Seven people, including three Colorado residents, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver Tuesday for committing fraud in a high-yield investment scheme that defrauded more than 1,000 people of about $56 million. During the investigation authorities had already seized the Redstone Castle in Pitkin County, some NASCAR race vehicles, and more than $17 million in cash from several bank accounts. Total assets seized, including cash, were worth about $24 million.(Denver Business Journal)(3-17-2004)
  the cars are from a NASCAR touring team - Southwest.www.usdoj.gov(3-18-2004)
  
  

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  (3-17-2004)

• New #99 Crew Chief: Roush Racing announced that Bob Osborne has been named the crew chief of the #99 Roush Racing team, effective immediately. “I think Bob will make a great addition to the #99 team,” said Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 Roush Racing Ford Taurus. “He's an engineer by trade but he's a racer at heart. And, he shows a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and excitement about the opportunity presented to him. He's been with Roush Racing for several years and has exhibited all the skills necessary to be a leader and I believe he can help the #99 team get back to the top." Osborne had been serving as director of engineering for the Roush Racing NEXTEL Cup teams. Osborne is a graduate of Penn State University and a native of Chester, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Osborne joined Roush Racing in 1999 as the head engineer on the #6 team then quickly moved his way up the ranks within the company. "I'm excited about this opportunity," said Osborne. "Jeff Burton is one of the best drivers in the business, the #99 team is made up of some of the best people in the business and I'm looking forward to working with all of them."(Roush Racing PR), have heard former #99 Crew Chief Paul Andrews and Roush Racing has parted ways, no word on Andrews' plans.(3-17-2004)
  
  
• Fans Looking to sponsor Blaney UPDATE: There is a drive to get an extra race for Dave Blaney, who presently is driving the #23 Bill Davis racing Dodge in a limited number of Cup races, by fan driven donations. The total has reached over $11,000 dollars in pledges. See more at quickestlap.com, go to the Dave Blaney forum.(3-16-2004)
  UPDATE: Grassroots effort looks to place #23 Bill Davis Dodge on the track at Michigan. The fans of NASCAR driver Dave Blaney have had enough. Frustrated with the lack of sponsorship for their Hartford, Ohio driver, they decided to take matters into their own hands and personally raise the funds to put Blaney in another race. An offhand idea tossed out on Dave Blaney's internet message board on Quickestlap.com quickly materialized into a very real possibility when over $11,000 was pledged in less than four hours. Word of the campaign quickly spread through the internet underground, popping up on sites like jayski.com and sending the total to over $20,000 in 24 hours. Blaney is currently running a very limited schedule in the #23 Bill Davis Dodge, with plans to race only four more races this year unless sponsorship is found. Yet Blaney and crew chief Phillipe Lopez certainly don't look like a part-time team. They nearly won this year's Bud Shootout before being taken out in a racing accident, and a solid 15th place finish at Daytona followed by an 11th place finish at Atlanta have only served to whet the fans' appetites to see more of this hard-charging racer. The fans are hoping to put the car on the track at Michigan if they can raise the $100,000 needed for sponsorship. The fans are currently accepting pledges in the Dave Blaney Forum on Quickestlap.com, but will not actually begin collecting the funds until they are nearer to their goal. All race fans are welcome to join the effort to show sponsors, the media, and NASCAR that fans truly can make a difference.(PR)(note, this is money 'pledged', no money has been collected yet)(3-17-2004)
  
  
• Foyt seeking sponsor: Despite the lack of a primary sponsor, #14-Larry Foyt plans to return to the Cup tour at TMS next month. The team owned by his father, open-wheel legend A.J. Foyt of Houston, has not entered the #14 Dodge in the past two events. And Foyt does not plan to enter this weekend's event at Darlington Raceway. "We got to talking and I said if we're going to try and race a couple of races, I'd really like to run Texas," said Foyt, a graduate of TCU. "We had a bad run at Rockingham [32nd on Feb. 22]. I said if we can't test on these new tires and get caught up, I don't want to go run around last all day. Let's test somewhere and try to do it right."(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(3-17-2004)
  
  
• Harlem Globetrotters paint scheme on the #10 at Bristol: Scott Riggs and the Valvoline team will pay tribute to the flash and dash of the Harlem Globetrotters with a specially prepared red, white and blue paint scheme on the #10 Chevy for the March 28 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The spirited paint scheme will have a resemblance to the Globetrotters uniform and will also feature a red, white and blue Globetrotters basketball on the hood. It's only fitting the legendary Harlem Globetrotters, who have dazzled millions of fans throughout the world, will be the first professional basketball team to ever adorn a racecar in NASCAR's 56-year history. The Globetrotters join the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals as the only professional sports franchises to decorate cars in a NASCAR event. Diecast models of the Harlem Globetrotters car are available at www.valvolineproducts.com. Two members of the Globetrotters team will be at Bristol to promote the event with Riggs and the Valvoline team. The Harlem Globetrotters have played in 117 countries and in front of 120 million fans worldwide. In 2002, the organization was only the fifth team to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame; followed by an induction into the Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame and the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. The Globetrotters have also been recognized as the most popular sports team by the 2002, 2000 and 1999 Q Ratings. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters and to purchase team merchandise, visit the team's official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com.(MBV Motorsports PR), see image on my #10 Cup Schemes page.(3-17-2004)
  
  
• Testing to insure an exciting race? The Nextel Cup tour's two less-than-thrilling races at Las Vegas and Atlanta have raised suggestions that NASCAR may need to order some extra testing at California Speedway in the next few weeks, to make sure that its new soft-tires/low-downforce rules package will provide a good show in that key market. The tour has added a second stop this season at the Los Angeles area track.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-17-2004)
  
  
• Testing Cancelled: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing scheduled for tomorrow, March 18, at Kentucky Speedway with Joe Gibbs Racing (Bobby Labonte), Penske South Racing (Ryan Newman), PPI Motorsports (Ricky Craven) and Bill Davis Racing (Scott Wimmer) has been cancelled due to weather.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(3-17-2004)
  
  
• Fan Stabbed: A man is accused of stabbing a fellow NASCAR fan Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Henry County [GA] Magistrate Robert Godwin set a $15,000 bond for Guy Landrum, 42, after hearing police testimony that Landrum stabbed a man after stumbling through his campsite. Deputy Mike Haralson told Godwin that Landrum was drunk Saturday night when he knocked over a trash can, kicked around trash and had an argument with another man at a campsite. Landrum came back Sunday, Haralson said, and renewed the argument, then pulled out a knife and stabbed the man on the left side of his torso. The man was treated and released at a local hospital. Landrum is scheduled to appear again before the court April 7. Henry County Sheriff's Maj. Keith McBrayer said this was the most serious of about 15 arrests at Sunday's Golden Corral 500, which drew more than 100,000 fans.(AJC/AP)(3-17-2004)
  
  

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  (3-16-2004)

• Sad News: F.C. "Charlie" Roush, father of NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, passed away early Tuesday morning in Manchester, OH following a lengthy illness. Roush was known to many in the NASCAR garage as a regular and loyal supporter of the Roush Racing teams. He is survived by his wife, Georgetta; and sons, Jack and Frank. Private family services will be held Friday in Manchester, OH. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the "Charlie Roush Memorial Fund" to benefit the education of disadvantaged youth. All donations can be sent to the "Charlie Roush Memorial Fund" in care of Roush Racing, 4600 Roush Place, Concord, NC, 28027.(Roush Racing Site)(3-16-2004)
  
  
• Redneckjunk.com changes website address/name: Don Arnold, owner of Arnold Motorsports, says he's appreciative of NASCAR's decision to not allow the website address RedneckJunk.com [new Jayski advertisor] on his #50 Dodge driven by Derrick Cope. NASCAR didn't say anything about the sponsorship at the race in Las Vegas two weeks ago but told Arnold, at this past weekend's Atlanta race, they can no longer have RedneckJunk.com as a sponsor. "We didn't think it would be controversial but we defer to them. We would like to have a sponsor but we understand the decision and I don't have a problem with it," Arnold said. He understands how the term 'redneck' might suggest a racial attitude or undertone, however, he said NASCAR did not offer a reason for their decision. With or without an outside sponsor, Arnold says the #50 will make a qualifying attempt at Darlington this weekend. Tom Connelly, CEO of RedneckJunk.com, says he has changed the website's domain name. The web address RJunk.com should be active and working within a day or two. "When we chose the name (RedneckJunk) we understood there was some potential controversy associated with it but we liked the name, it was very catchy, we didn't think NASCAR would disallow it," Connelly said. On the bright side, Connelly said the shorter name will allow them to almost double the size of the graphic on the car's hood. Of course, that's assuming NASCAR will okay the compromise.(nascar.alanjones.us)(3-16-2004)
  
  
• Some Darlington Notes:
  * Darlington is the site of the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (Grand National) race to be held on a paved raceway and the first 500-mile race on September 4, 1950. The track then measured 1.25 miles.
  * The spring race at Darlington became a 400-mile event in 1994.
  * The track configuration was reversed prior to the second race in 1997
  * There have been seven different race winners in the last seven races at Darlington
  * There have been seven different Bud Pole winners in the nine races at Darlington since September 1999. Qualifying was rained out in the spring of 2001 and fall of 2002.
  * 2002 Rookie-of-the-Year contenders Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in their career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Darlington's the 2002 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400. Only four other active drivers posted top-10 finishes in their Darlington debut: Bill Elliott (10th - September 1977), Terry Labonte (fourth - September 1978), Tony Stewart (sixth - March 1999) and Mark Martin (seventh - April 1982)
  * Ricky Rudd has 54 starts at Darlington Raceway, leading all other active drivers
  * Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett and Ken Schrader lead all full-time, active drivers, each with three Bud Poles at Darlington
  * Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers each with six victories at Darlington Raceway
  * Mark Martin has posted 14 top-five finishes at Darlington, more than any other full-time, active driver
  * Ricky Rudd has posted 25 top-10 finishes at Darlington, more than any other full-time, active driver
  * Jeff Gordon has a 6.3 average start in 22 starts at Darlington, the best of all full-time, active drivers with more than 10 starts there
  * Ryan Newman has a 4.50 average start in four starts at Darlington, the best of all active drivers
  * Jeff Burton has an average finish of 11.20 in 20 races at Darlington, the best of all active drivers with more than five starts there
  * Ryan Newman has a 11.0 average finish in four starts at Darlington, the best of all active drivers
  * Jeff Gordon has a led 1,378 laps at Darlington, the most of all active drivers and almost 500 more than his closest active competitor, Jeff Burton (786)
  * Elliott Sadler (10) is the only active driver that has competed in more than five Darlington races without posting a DNF there
  * Only 12 races at Darlington have been won from a starting position outside the top 10. Three of the past seven Darlington races have been won from outside the top 30 starting positions, including the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, which Ricky Craven won from the 31st starting position
  * Matt Kenseth moved into the point lead at Las Vegas. He has been ranked in the top 10 in points for 39 consecutive races - since Rockingham (February 2003), the longest active streak in the top 10
  * In spite of having four to the five fastest qualifying runs for the Daytona 500, a Ford led only two laps in the season-opening Daytona 500 (both by Matt Kenseth)
  * Dodge posted five of the top-10 finishes at Rockingham, yet trailed both Chevrolet and Ford by a point in the manufacturers' championship race
  * Las Vegas was the first race this season that had all three manufacturers' finish in the top- three
  * Ford has led 391 laps in 2004 - 384 by Matt Kenseth and all by Jack Roush Racing. Kyle Busch (four), Greg Biffle (two) and Jeff Burton (one) are the other Ford drivers to lead this season
  * Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart have all led a lap in three of the first four races this season.(3-16-2004)
  
  
• Testing at Kentucky UPDATE Wed cancelled: #32-Ricky Craven and #22-Scott Wimmer are scheduled to test at Kentucky Speedway this week, according to the track's calendar. Craven is scheduled to be on hand in PPI Motorsports' #32 Tide Chevrolet on Wednesday and Thursday, and Wimmer, the rookie driving Bill Davis Racing's #22 Caterpillar Dodge, is scheduled to test both days as well. The track says fans are permitted to watch from the Fan Center in Turn 3.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-15-2004)
  ALSO #12-Ryan Newman and #18-Bobby Labonte are listed at Kentucky Speedway site as testing both days.(3-16-2004)
  UPDATE: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing scheduled for tomorrow at Kentucky Speedway with Joe Gibbs Racing (Bobby Labonte), Penske South Racing (Ryan Newman), PPI Motorsports (Ricky Craven) and Bill Davis Racing (Scott Wimmer) has been cancelled due to weather. Testing scheduled for Thursday, March 18 with the same teams is pending.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(3-16-2004)
  
  
• DW and Jeff to be Co-Presenters: Three-time champion Darrell Waltrip, whose racing career virtually paralleled that of Mr. Bill France Jr. as the point man for NASCAR, will team with four-time champion Jeff Gordon to introduce France to the expected crowd of some 1,200 people at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame's spacious Speed Channel Dome on April 22nd. Waltrip finished his career with 84 Nextel Cup wins, tied for third place on the all-time list, and three Nextel Cup championships. He is now a color commentator on the Fox Network's race telecasts, and will be eligible to go on the ballot this year for induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame next year. Gordon was the hottest driver in the last decade of France's tour at the helm of NASCAR, winning all four of his championships from 1995 thru 2001. In all, Gordon has claimed 64 wins and 46 poles thru the end of last season. "We got an immediate 'yes' from both men when we invited them to present Mr. France," said Jim Freeman, the Executive Director of the Hall of Fame. "There is no question that this will be one of the highlights of the evening." France will be one of five individuals who will be inducted that evening. Joining him will be long-time racing legend Charles "Red" Farmer, drag racing champion Shirley Muldowney, the all-time winner in unlimited hydroplanes Bill Muncey, and CART champion Bobby Rahal. Also in attendance that evening will be the Driver of the Year, Ryan Newman, plus many former inductees. Tickets are still on sale for the gala event, which includes a dinner, the televised induction ceremony, and receptions both before and after. Formal attire is required. For ticket information, please contact the Motorsports Hall of Fame office at (256) 362-5002 or their webiste: motorsportshalloffame.com.(FoxSports)(3-16-2004)
  
  
• East Tennessee Trailers to Sponsor Hermie Sadler at Bristol: #02-Hermie Sadler, who will make his first start of the season in the NEXTEL Cup Series in the Food City 500 in Bristol, will do so with sponsorship from East Tennessee Trailers [ettrailers.com], LLC, a trailer manufacturing company located in Oneida, TN. Sadler, who made ten Cup starts in 2003, is excited about his first race of 2004, especially at Bristol. "Bristol is a great place to race, and we hope that our Nextel Cup program will help gather more information to help our Busch Series team as well," stated Sadler. Sadler also says he is looking forward to representing East Tennessee Trailers, a company that SCORE Motorsports is a customer of. "We have two East Tennessee Trailers that we use for our show car program and our Late Model "Drive for Diversity" program. The trailers are beautiful and affordable and value driven. It is great to be able to represent sponsors whose products you use and believe in. We are looking forward to giving them a good run," he added. For more information on East Tennessee Trailers, visit www.ettrailers.com or call them at 423-286-9700. Hermie Sadler also plans to visit the employees of East Tennessee Trailers on March 25 in Oneida prior to the race.(SCORE Motorsports)(3-16-2004)
  
  
• Dale Jr. to test at Texas this week, looking at the tires UPDATE: Working with Goodyear's softer compound radial tire will be high on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s to-do list when he tests at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on Tuesday and Wednesday. "We've got a lot of things we've got to work on. I've got a lot to learn," Junior said after his victory here. "This tire has thrown me a curveball personally." The Eagle radial scheduled for use in the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at TMS on April 4 carries the code D-6818 (left side) and D-6820 (right side). A company spokesperson said it is the same compound Goodyear supplied for the 2003 Cup finale at the reconfigured and repaved Homestead-Miami Speedway, which now features progressive banking in the corners. Homestead-Miami and TMS are the only 1.5-mile tracks sharing that compound.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(3-15-2004)
  UPDATE: NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bill Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., J.J. Yeley, and Larry Foyt will be testing at Texas Motor Speedway for the upcoming Samsung/RadioShack 500 and the O'Reilly 300 races on Tuesday, March 16th and Wednesday, March 17th.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(3-16-2004)
  
  
• More on the EM Noses: By covering the noses on its cars, Evernham Motorsports is only distracting Darrell Waltrip. Ray Evernham has been working really hard with his guys to come up with more power, and it's starting to show at the race track. If the noses on Evernham's cars were illegal, NASCAR would be on top of it, and they would put a stop to it, especially after DW and everybody said, "Lookie here!" NASCAR is going to look extra long and hard at it. It's made for interesting conversation, but I don't believe anything's happening that warrants NASCAR's concern.(FoxSports/Jeff Hammond), see the initial story/rumor and pictures of the noses on my #19 Team News and Links page.(3-16-2004)
  
  

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  (3-15-2004)

• Norris close to a job UPDATE: Ty Norris, who resigned in January as vice president for motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in January, expects to start a new job this week. "I think they'll announce it Tuesday or Wednesday," he said Saturday. The position is in racing, but Norris said it's different than anything he's done before. He also won't have to travel as much, which was a requirement he made for himself when he was contemplating what he was going to do. "My family has sacrificed enough over the past 15 years," he said. In eight years with DEI, Norris took the team into the Nextel Cup Series, where it now has drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip. Junior won the Daytona 500 for the first time earlier this season, with Norris watching from home. "I was just so proud for Dale Jr. and the team," Norris said. "It was great feeling like I had a little part in that."(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(3-13-2004)
  UPDATE: hearing the job will be with SMI [Speedway Motorsports Inc./Bruton Smith] in some capacity.(3-15-2004)
  
  
• NASCAR looking at the #25: Nextel Cup series director John Darby said officials at NASCAR's research and development center will look into an incident involving Brian Vickers' car during a practice session at Atlanta on Saturday. The driveshaft on Vickers' car broke, apparently punching a hole in the bottom of the car and sending a small chunk of metal through the catchfence and into an unoccupied area of the grandstands. A broken driveshaft is relatively rare in NASCAR, and it certainly got Vickers' attention. "When it comes apart, it's pretty big," Vickers said. "But luckily I wasn't hurt, nobody else was hurt. I could have sworn it sounded like a bomb went off. I thought we were under attack."(USA Today)(3-15-2004)
  
  
• Third Earnhardt to win at Atlanta: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the third member of his family to win a stock-car race at the Atlanta track. Junior's father, seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, won a record nine races here, and brother Kerry Earnhardt won the 2001 ARCA race in 2001.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(3-15-2004)
  
  
• "Field Filler"...getting back at the media, new site coming: Andy Belmont's #02 Pontiac is one of a handful of cars often referred to as field-filler. That's because it's in the race in large part because there aren't enough fast cars to take up all 43 starting spots. Belmont, a lifetime racer from Langhorne, Pa., who finished 39th Sunday, is offended by the "field-filler" designation that has been hung on him, but at least he has a sense of humor about it. So Belmont has purchased the rights to www.fieldfillers.com [not an active site....yet] and plans to have fun with his new Web site, which is under construction. "We're going to think out of the box a little and not take ourselves too seriously," Belmont said. Some of the content will be aimed at media members, who criticize the drivers at the back of the pack. "We're going to try to entertain the writers who throw rocks at us and give them more fodder," he said. Belmont said he plans to take photos of other cars referred to as field-fillers -- with permission from the drivers -- and post them on his site. Just for fun, he plans to include Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 8 Chevrolet among the field-fillers for last week's race at Las Vegas. Earnhardt's car was so slow at Vegas that he was sent to the garage for repairs. Belmont says he's proud to be a part of the nation's premier racing series. "Even though some people refer to me as a back-marker, I've got a seat at the head table," he said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-15-2004)
  
  
• Eight Cars to the Dyno: NASCAR tested eight cars after the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta on the chassis dyno, which measures horsepower to the rear wheels. Tested were the cars of #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #16-Greg Biffle, #17-Matt Kenseth, #20-Tony Stewart, #9-Kasey Kahne, #12-Ryan Newman, #88-Dale Jarrett and #48-Jimmie Johnson.(Roanoke Times), have heard no results on the test, if I do it will be posted, if not, it will not be posted.(3-15-2004)
  
  
• Spencer to the #09 car? Jimmy Spencer is out looking for a full-time Nextel Cup ride and #09 car owner James Finch, a man that Spencer has worked for in the past, is looking at a more full-time operation that he's run lately, and the two could be teaming up. Finch has been a cherry-picker in the past, looking for a few good races. This season he's made all four so far, with Joe Ruttman [and Johnny Benson].(Winston Salem Journal)(3-15-2004)
  
  
• Some Anonymous Media Notes: All weekend the media in Atlanta was told the winner of the Golden Corral 500 would be brought to the press box following victory lane celebrations. But, to the surprise of few, NASCAR announced at the last moment that "due to a major traffic jam outside the track," Dale Earnhardt, Jr. would instead conduct his obligatory interview from the speedway's infield media center. Several members of the print media openly questioned this decision to no avail. One went so far to ask NASCAR why the race winner simply couldn't be brought to the opening at the flagstand where he could then walk up the grandstand steps (there were about 20 people still milling around in the stands at this point), board an elevator, and come to the press box as promised. While that cry of protest lingered for a few moments, others wondered if Earnhardt Jr.'s language during his postrace interview with PRN would bring a fine this week. Junior told PRN that after his Vegas debacle last week he would "keep testing even if I have to go two months without sleeping in my own D A M N bed."(3-15-2004)
  
  
• More Pit Road Rule Changes Coming? NASCAR officials are asking for drivers' advice in devising a caution-period rule to deal with crews making extensive repairs on a car, such as occurred at Daytona when a driver, rushing back to the track to catch up with the rear of the pack after lengthy repairs, hit and killed a track worker. NASCAR has added a new twist to pit-road rules - when the caution comes out, pit road will be closed an extra lap to allow the field to close up. That is to keep the rear of the field from speeding up to hit pit road with the leaders, a potentially dangerous situation.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-15-2004)
  
  
• NASCAR to 'give' tires: NASCAR will give teams an extra set of tires for Friday's practice at Darlington this week, because no one has been able to test there while the new soft walls have been installed.(Winston Salem Journal), rumor had that the teams would be allowed to come Thursday and practice if they wished, guess that will not happen.(3-15-2004)