Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2008 NASCAR News & Rules

2008 MISC NASCAR NEWS, RULES CHANGES & INFORMATION

NASCAR works with teams to improve business models: NASCAR chairman Brian France has ordered a companywide hiring freeze and suspended executive bonuses as the sanctioning body adjusts to the economic crisis. Although many teams went through offseason layoffs - it's estimated at least 600 people from various organizations have lost their jobs since November's season-ending race - NASCAR itself has been immune to staff reductions so far. But France said Thursday that open positions will not immediately be filled as NASCAR tightens its belt the same way most of corporate America has done since the economy began to falter last fall. "We're trying to do more with less. That's the difficult part of this economy," France said following his state-of-the-sport address to media at NASCAR's Research and Development Center. "It's internal, but we've instituted some things that we're trying to be responsible with our financial issues." France said he's also directed his management group to work with NASCAR teams in developing new business models that can help them withstand the current economic crisis. A sport heavily dependent on corporate sponsorship, NASCAR is increasing its involvement in helping teams locate and secure partners at a time when funding can be difficult to find. The initiative is run by its Charlotte-based "industry marketing" arm, a four-person department that works closely with teams to find sponsorship. "They're out in the marketplace trying to help the teams secure sponsorship," chief marketing officer Steve Phelps said. "They're out trying to help the teams create packages that will be meaningful for sponsors that are looking to get into our sport. And they try to create meaningful points of difference from team to team, driver to driver, that create something special that that sponsor might look for. It's more important what they do now more so than any time in its history based on the difficulty in the economy." Sponsorship woes have dramatically - and quickly - altered the landscape of NASCAR's top three series over the past several months.(Associated Press)(1-24-2009)

Deadline for team drug testing nears: NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck teams have one more week to file an initial list of crew members who have passed a drug test and are eligible for a NASCAR license. NASCAR issued a memo to teams last month, setting a Jan. 16 deadline for crew members, which includes all over-the-wall pit crew members, the crew chief, car chief, pit crew support, including team members that are responsible for tires, fuel, and pit crew operation, as well as spotters and race day support, including engineers, engine tuners, shock specialists, chassis specialists and tire specialists, to have the test results. All tests must be conducted by a laboratory certified by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Teams do not need to submit the names of crewmen who don’t pass. NASCAR plans to oversee the testing of drivers itself, beginning the week of Jan. 20, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday. According to NASCAR policy, any driver who fails a test will be indefinitely suspended.(Scene Daily)(1-12-2009)

Interesting trends in NASCAR: As Christmas looms, a lot of unknowns remain about the 2009 Sprint Cup season. There are so many gray areas these days, but this breakdown gives some interesting statistical information on cars, sponsors and drivers for 2009. It also adds some clarity about NASCAR today.
Cars committed to running the full schedule -- 37
Fully funded cars -- 29 of the 37
Age Breakdown of drivers: Over 50 - 1 (Mark Martin); Under 30 -- 14 (However, Clint Bowyer, Sam Hornish Jr. and Carl Edwards all turn 30 in 2009. Joey Logano is the only driver under 20. He won't turn 19 until May.); In their 40s -- 3 (We're counting Labonte [44] in this one. He will have a ride somewhere in '09. Jeff Burton [41] and Michael Waltrip [45] are the other two. Blaney [46] hopes he'll be included.)
Rookies -- 2 (Logano and Scott Speed.)
Southerners -- 12
West Coast -- 11
Midwest -- 10
Northeast -- 2
International -- 2
College graduates -- 1 (Newman has an engineering degree from Purdue)
Cup champions -- 6 Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001), Labonte (2000), Stewart (2002 and 2005), Kenseth (2004), Kurt Busch (2005) and Johnson (2006, 2007 and 2008).
Sons of Cup drivers - 1 (With Kyle Petty's Cup career probably over, Earnhardt is the only one left.)
These stats and more info available at the full article.(ESPN.com)(12-24-2008)

NASCAR to begin tougher drug testing in January: NASCAR will test drivers for performance-enhancing drugs next month under a tougher policy that also bans using illegal drugs and abusing prescription medications. NASCAR likely will test drivers the third week of January, and crew members must submit results from an approved lab by Jan. 16, according to documents obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. A NASCAR memo sent to teams lists specific banned substances for which crew members must be screened. No similar guidelines were issued for drivers, as NASCAR reserves the right to test competitors for anything. Under the old policy, NASCAR had the right to randomly test based on suspicion of abuse. Under the tougher guidelines first announced in September, everyone will be tested before the season begins, and random testing will continue throughout the year. NASCAR expects to randomly test 12 to 14 individuals per series each weekend in 2009. The memo, dated Dec. 8, is the first time the new policy has been laid out in writing and specifies who falls under the guidelines. Those who must be tested before Jan. 16 include: pit crew members, including "over-the-wall" crew members, the crew chief, car chief, team members responsible for tires, fuel and pit crew operation, spotters and race-day support personnel that includes engineers, engine tuners, shock specialists, chassis specialists and tire specialists.
Among the substances those participants must be tested for are:
- Seven different amphetamines, including methamphetamine and PMA, a synthetic psychostimulant and hallucinogen.
- Three drugs classified under ephedrine.
- 13 different narcotics, including codeine and morphine.
- Ten different benzodiazepines and barbituates.
- Marijuana, cocaine, zolpidem, nitrites, chromates and drugs that can increase specific gravity.
No such list exists for the drivers, but spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed NASCAR will test for performance-enhancing drugs. The driver testing, which will be administered by NASCAR, had been scheduled for preseason testing at Daytona next month. But because testing has been suspended for 2009, NASCAR likely will screen drivers when most are in Charlotte next month for the annual media tour of race shops.(Associated Press)(12-18-2008)

Earnhardt laps field in consumer index: #99-Carl Edwards and #48-Jimmie Johnson made gains, but #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. remained the runaway leader in the Davie Brown Index, which quantifies an athlete's relevance to consumer behavior. In polling of avid NASCAR fans conducted after the 2008 season by the Charlotte-based Millsport sports marketing agency, Earnhardt ranked first in awareness and nine "attribute" categories: appeal, notice, trend-setter, influence, trust, endorsement, aspiration, exposure and passion. The DBI also is used to quantify Hollywood celebrities, and Millsport vice president Ken Cohn says Earnhardt is creating a separation from other drivers unlike any celebrity the agency has seen. "Avid fans are at least 20% more passionate about Junior," Cohn says. Rounding out the top five in overall scores were #8-Mark Martin, #20-Tony Stewart, #31-Jeff Burton and Johnson, who advanced two spots from a NASCAR DBI survey in the spring that also was led by Earnhardt. Edwards, who finished second in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series, jumped 14 spots to sixth overall, ahead of #24-Jeff Gordon, #43-Bobby Labonte, #9-Kasey Kahne and #45-Kyle Petty.(USA Today)(12-18-2008)

Less wrecks in 2008: Accidents and spins in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series fell to their lowest levels in five years, USA TODAY database research shows. The taller, boxier, sturdier new-generation car, which began full-time duty this season after a 16-race trial in 2007, was involved in 211 incidents resulting in a caution, according to data compiled from NASCAR race reports. That's a 12% drop from last season and marked the lowest total since 2004, when the 10-race, playoff-style Chase began. Wrecks during this year's Chase also fell 33% from 89 in '07 to 60 this year, the lowest in the playoff's five-year existence. One huge surprise was Rookie of the Year Regan Smith, who had the third-lowest accident rate (12%) and became the first Cup rookie to finish every race. Rookie Sam Hornish Jr., a former Indianapolis 500 and three-time IRL IndyCar Series champion, topped the list with 20 accidents in 34 starts (59%). Drivers with the highest total of crashes and spins in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, according to USA TODAY database research:
2008 -- Sam Hornish Jr.*
2007 -- David Ragan*
2006 -- J.J. Yeley*
2005 -- Michael Waltrip
2004 -- Robby Gordon
2003 -- Steve Park
2002 -- Steve Park
See more at USA Today.(12-16-2008)

Sports Biz Most Influential, France 9th: NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian France is ranked ninth on Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal’s list of the 50 most influential people in sports business. France was ranked 10th last year by the magazine. The magazine’s item on France in this week’s issue reads as follows: “The foreword to the 2008 season was written when Brian France proclaimed NASCAR’s intent to get back to the roots of the sport. France set the tone in January by reaching out to those hard-core fans who felt left behind when NASCAR grew beyond its regional roots over the last 10 years. A NASCAR branding campaign followed and many of the sport’s stakeholders, from tracks to network partners, worked that theme into their promotions and broadcasts. With an industry that depends so heavily on sponsorship facing tough times in 2008 and tougher times in 2009, France’s leadership will be under close inspection. But it’s clear – as this season showed – that when he sets an agenda, most everyone in the sport falls in line.” John Henry, whose Fenway Sports Group owns the Boston Red Sox and half of Roush Fenway Racing, is 20th on the list. Topping the list is ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer.(SceneDaily), see more at sportsbusinessjournal.com(12-15-2008)

2008 NASCAR Brand Leaderboard: NASCAR sponsors received almost $1.7 billion in exposure for their brands this year, according to the results of custom research for the recently concluded season. For the second straight year, SportsBusiness Journal/Daily teamed with Kansas City-based sponsorship measurement firm Image Impact to measure the exposure received by companies doing business with NASCAR. This year, they captured and assessed more than 138,000 sponsor impressions, 44% more than last year’s study, through NASCAR’s 37-race Sprint Cup Series schedule, which includes the Sprint All-Star Race.
Nearly 600 sponsors were tracked. Primary and secondary car and driver partners were analyzed, along with all race venue signage, and the myriad graphics and audio mentions from the races’ TV broadcasts. Six additional sponsored locations were measured this year, including exposure a sponsor may have received by having its logo on a trophy. Tertiary sponsors on driver and pit crew uniforms and on the quarter panels of the race cars were not reported.
Image Impact’s proprietary software provided analysis of the video feeds from each race. Each race broadcast was broken down and evaluated for all brand detections that occurred on screen and were clear and in-focus for at least one full second. Each of those individual detections was then evaluated based on its duration, average size, location and relative isolation (or lack thereof) from competing brands: Was the logo a featured image on the screen or was it shown among other sponsors? Nearly one-third of all monetary value calculated came via exposure on the on-screen leaderboard.
Because location and clarity significantly affected the measured value of each detection, quantity did not always translate into increased value. Also, for the purpose of summary calculations, each audio mention was assigned a duration of five seconds. For example, Allstate’s 702 detections generated $32.9 million in exposure over the course of the season, putting Allstate No. 9 overall among the nearly 600 companies tracked. Home Depot, No. 10 overall, had almost three times as many detections, but because many of those detections were less prominently displayed, the company received $29.6 million in value. See full story and stats at the Sports Business Journal.(12-8-2008)

France asks Congress to help Big Three automakers: NASCAR chairman Brian France has lobbied Congress to support a financial rescue plan for the struggling Big Three automakers. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors - three of the four manufacturers that participate in NASCAR - are pleading with Congress for a bailout to prevent their companies from going bankrupt. "I'm writing you as a concerned American who wants what is best for our great country," France wrote. "Of course, the domestic automobile manufacturers play a very important part of the heritage of NASCAR, but more importantly, it is vital for all of America." The letter, a copy of which was obtained Saturday by The Associated Press, was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and Sen. Richard Shelby, the senior Republican on the Banking Committee. It was dated Tuesday. France's letter warned that if the auto industry fails, 3 million people would lose their jobs in the first year, and another 2.5 million over the following two years. He said personal income in the U.S. would drop by $150 billion in the first year and domestic automobile production - even by foreign manufacturers - would likely drop to zero. "For these manufacturers to survive, your assistance is urgently needed," France wrote. "By immediately supporting America's automobile industry, you can help our nation avoid a devastating economic blow. We urge the Administration and Congress to support the bridge loan package under deliberation. As unattractive as the idea of corporate federal bailouts can be to many Americans, including me, there appears to be no alternative. Federal aid is in the best interest of the entire country." Although France said last month that NASCAR could survive a manufacturer pullback or pullout, teams throughout the industry are deeply concerned about the stability of the Big Three. Toyota, the only foreign manufacturer that participates in NASCAR, has also seen slumping sales but is on more solid financial footing than the American automakers. Any sort of pullback by the manufacturers would cripple many race teams, particularly because sponsorship is extremely difficult to find during the economic crisis. Many teams have been forced to release employees, and some are reconsidering their 2009 plans.(see full story at the Associated Press)(12-7-2008)

NASCAR to partner with Kevin Costner: NASCAR announced a year-long partnership with actor and director Kevin Costner that will see the Academy Award winner participate in several NASCAR initiatives, including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards banquet, narration of a new NASCAR movie and the exclusive debut of the latest music video for Kevin Costner and Modern West on NASCAR.COM. “As a long time NASCAR fan, I’m very excited about this partnership,” said Kevin Costner, who has starred in several sports-themed movies. “They have tremendous fans, which are truly the most passionate in all of sports.”
“"Kevin's body of work speaks for itself, and we are fortunate to work with a great American talent our fans really appreciate,” said Brad Ball, vice president of entertainment and marketing, NASCAR Media Group. “We have a terrific program lined up for Kevin, which we believe will be well received by our fans. With Kevin, we'll build it, and they will come." Costner kicks-off the partnership with a special guest appearance at the Sprint Cup Series’ annual Champions Banquet at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on December 5 (9:00pm/et on ESPN Classic). The awards show banquet honors the top performers of the Sprint Cup Series season and officially crowns NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson, who has won his third-straight championship. Costner narrates a special tribute to the 60th Anniversary of NASCAR. Additionally, Costner and his band, Modern West, will debut the music video for their newest single, “Backyard,” exclusively on NASCAR.com beginning on Monday, Dec. 8. The video was produced by NASCAR Media Group and the song is part of the band’s debut album, Untold Truths, which was released on Nov. 11. “Backyard” is featured in the movie “Swing Vote” and was performed during a pre-race concert before the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year.
Costner will also serve as the voice of the latest NASCAR film. “The Ride of Their Lives,” narrated by Costner, is a first-person account of the history and heroes of NASCAR brought to life through the men and women who lived the dream. The film includes new, exclusive interviews with famed NASCAR personalities Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip, and tells the story of how family dynamics weaved a thread through a half-century of racing. Produced by CMT Films and NASCAR Media Group, “The Ride of Their Lives” premieres Dec. 13 on CMT [9pm/et].
Costner, who has starred in such box-office hits as “Bull Durham,” “Dances with Wolves,” “Field of Dreams” and “The Bodyguard,” was most recently seen starring in Touchstone’s “Swing Vote,” a dark comedy, which he also produced. When not working on films, Costner plays lead vocalist and guitar in his band, Modern West as part of the Universal South label and can be seen playing venues across the country.(Rogers & Cowan PR)(12-5-2008)

NASCAR R&D Center Wins SAE Award: The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International Motorsports Engineering Conference Award was presented to the NASCAR Research and Development Center on Tuesday for its efforts towards “designing safer and more competitive vehicles.” NASCAR’s new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car, a seven-year project undertaken at the R&D Center, made its debut on the track in 2007 and was fully implemented into the series at the beginning of the 2008 season. The new car was designed with three primary goals in mind: improving driver safety, improving competition, and helping teams be more cost efficient. Peter Wright, FIA Technical Consultant and the conference’s keynote address speaker, presented the award to Mike Fisher, NASCAR’s Managing Director of the R&D Center. “The NASCAR R&D Center is honored to receive this award and our thanks and appreciation go out to all of the people in our industry who have been involved with the development of the new car, including the race teams, owners, manufacturers, and the staff here at the R&D Center,” said Fisher. “Safety is our #1 priority and is certainly an initiative that we work on every single day.”(NASCAR PR)(12-3-2008)

Jim France buys into bank: The vice chairman of NASCAR has acquired a 72% controlling interest in CenterBank of Jacksonville N.A. James C. France, who is also chairman of Daytona-based International Speedway Corp., said he made the investment based on the potential for growth in the Jacksonville market. “With port development activities and the potential of adding an aircraft carrier to the naval base at Mayport, we see Jacksonville as poised for exceptional growth,” said France. “We’re glad to be a part of a bank that will help that growth happen.” France is the son of Bill France Sr., the co-founder of NASCAR. The France family has a history of banking in Florida. Bill France Sr. was a shareholder in American National Bank. CenterBank President and CEO Raymond K. Mason Jr. was president of American National Bank. “I’ve known Jim and his family for more than 30 years and am looking forward to having him as a partner,” said Mason.(Jacksonville Business Journal)(12-2-2008)

NASCAR roundtable on economic welfare of sport: NASCAR's 2008 season has come to a close, and few people seem certain the sport will look the same next year as it did this year. Garage talk is dominated by merger-and-acquisition rumors as teams fight for the right short-term and long-term strategies to stay afloat. Marketing budgets are being scrutinized so sponsors can adapt to the changing economy. Questions about car counts and attendance loom over a sport that has been riding a wave of prosperity. Those and other topics were fair game when NASCAR stakeholders from throughout the industry gathered recently in SportsBusiness Journal's headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. Here are the highlights from that roundtable discussion that featured:
• Paul Brooks, president, NASCAR Media Group
• Michael Burch, VP, business development, Speedway Motorsports Inc.
• Mark Coughlin, executive VP, Octagon Racing
• Mark Dyer, CEO, Motorsports Authentics
• Michael Hargrave, senior VP, motorsports executive, Bank of America
• Steve Lauletta, president, Chip Ganassi Racing
• Hunter Nickell, president, SPEED
• Julie Sobieski, VP of programming and acquisitions, ESPN
• Michael Waltrip, owner/driver, Michael Waltrip Racing
• Trip Wheeler, president, The Wheeler Group, and independent contractor, Velocity
some of the questions include:
How much does the economy dominate your conversations these days?
How did the talks between ESPN and SPEED start?
The theme of "Returning to the Roots" came out of that. How has that message gone over?
What is the future for teams and is consolidation coming?
Is there going to be fallout from all of these new team alliances and driver changes?
See the few article at NASCAR.com.(11-20-2008)

Bruton Smith reaffirms desire to buy NASCAR: Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith gave his opinion on several pressing subjects [Sunday morning], including his long-standing desire to purchase NASCAR from the France family if the opportunity ever presented itself. "I stand by that," he said. "And it's getting closer." For the record, the France family has given no indication of having any desires to sell the sanctioning body that patriarch Bill France Sr. founded 60 years ago.But Smith always likes to stir the pot and get people talking.(ESPN.com)

Massive Layoffs for NASCAR teams? The dismal economic picture has already started to take its toll in the world of NASCAR. Several sources have reported as many as 750 to 1,000 employees from various Sprint Cup, Nationwide and truck series teams will be released the Monday after the Homestead weekend season finales. DEI, faced with the prospect of shrinking from four to one full-time team in 2009, is poised to lay off as many 100 people if necessary. And according to Felix Sabates, part owner of Chip Ganassi's NASCAR operation, seven or eight teams from this year's Cup roster won't be in business in 2009.(CBS Sports)(10-30-2008)

Car counts not changing: from the NASCAR Teleconference Transcript - Truck Series Sponsor Announcement, an interview with NASCAR's chairman and CEO, Brian France:
Q. Brian, is there any consideration whatsoever at NASCAR in the Sprint Cup Series of reducing the size of the field in 2009?
BRIAN FRANCE: #We've had some events, many events, where we've had to send cars home. Obviously in the last 10 or 12 weeks, you're seeing some of the cars on the fringe there that aren't making it to the events. But still we expect full fields in 2009.(NASCAR)(10-24-2008)

Smaller fields in NASCAR's future? UPDATE denied: Another sign of the times is the rumor [Bob Margolis] heard in the Cup garage that NASCAR has floated the possibility of a change in the field size for the Craftsman Truck and Nationwide Series to 28 vehicles and the Cup field down to 36 sometime in the future.(Yahoo Sports)(10-13-2008)
UPDATE: Q: There was a report last week about NASCAR looking at trimming the fields of truck races to 28 and Cup fields to 36. Is this accurate?
A: "First of all it wasn't a report, it was somebody's opinion from the garage area and it was not a NASCAR opinion. We're not looking at reducing the fields. If circumstances warranted it, then a field less than 43 cars ... a reasonable size field under 43 cars does not, I think, impair the quality of a NASCAR race. But there is no thought process today to shorten the field of a Cup or Nationwide series or Truck series."(Roanoke Times)(10-19-2008)

Below yellow line at Daytona/Talladega OK on last lap? NO UPDATE 3: This was posted back in Feb 2007 about the Truck Series race at Daytona. The 'rule' was metnioned at the end of ABC's broadcast, but NASCAR ruled otherwise.
Drivers throughout the Craftsman Truck Series garage were still talking about last week's [Feb 2007] three-wide finish at Daytona International Speedway. While they admitted the finish was good for television, most wondered why NASCAR allowed Johnny Benson to drive below the yellow line - Daytona's out of bounds line - to jump from third to second in the final 200 yards. Benson wasn't penalized because "if you can see the checkered flag on the last lap, anything goes," according to NASCAR spokesman Owen Kearns.(Augusta Chronicle)(2-24-2007/10-5-2008), no word on the exact ruling, problem with the ruling? take it up with NASCAR, contact info on my Racing FAQ/Contact NASCAR page.
from NASCAR: Post-Race Comments from NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 5, "You cannot improve your position anytime you go below the yellow line. In our judgment, he (Regan Smith) improved his position and the penalty for that is a pass thru, so he was moved back to the tail end of the longest line or 18th position. At the driver's meeting, we clearly state that you cannot improve your position by going below the yellow line. We do not feel he was forced below the yellow line. Anytime you get into a situation like this, there are going to be two different opinions. We respect Regan's view, but we made the call, we think it's the right call and the finish is final. NASCAR has to maintain some kind of control – and that's the reason we say, you cannot advance your position by going below the yellow line. If he had not improved his position, he probably would have been awarded 2nd place."(NASCAR)(10-5-2008)
UPDATE: Smith and even Johnson, the two-time defending champion, said after the race they thought that the rules were not as tight coming to the finish line. A NASCAR spokesman stated publicly after a controversial truck race finish at Daytona in February 2007 that such was the case. Hunter, speaking for NASCAR on Sunday, said that was not true. "From what the officials tell me, it was pretty black and white,'' Hunter said of the decision. "You can't advance your position. It doesn't matter how you get there. It's a no-no.''(Roanoke Times)
UPDATE 2: Talladega Drivers Meeting: THIS IS YOUR WARNING DRIVERS: Race Director -David Hoots told the drivers and crew chief’s today “This is your warning. If you race below the yellow line and in the judgement of NASCAR you advance your position, you will be black flagged. If, in NASAR’s judgement you force someone below the yellow line in an effort to stop him from passing you , you may be black flagged” Hoots added: “Aggressive driving zones..first off don’t place yourself in position of opening up in our judgement of what’s aggressive. It’s considered all the way around the race track with much emphasis and observation placed on the turns and in the tri-oval. If you think that you are getting ready to go over being aggressive back off and let’s get to the end of the race." Hoots also warned the group about speeding. “I would remind you all we had numerous speeding penalties yesterday at the entrance and exits and yellow line to yellow line,” he said. NO Questions: When asked by Hoots if there were any questions - the room of drivers and crew chiefs was silent.(Dialed in/Claire B. Lang)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR Rule Clarification Regarding Passing At Daytona International Speedway And Talladega Superspeedway: At yesterday's Drivers Meeting, NASCAR reiterated the rule about passing under the yellow line and provided the same information to all drivers and crew chiefs in a hand out, as we've done in past Daytona and Talladega races. The verbatim language is: "This is your warning: race above the yellow line. If, in NASCAR'S judgment, you go below the yellow line to improve your position, you will be black-flagged. If in NASCAR's judgment you force someone below the yellow line (in an effort to stop him from passing you), you may be black-flagged."
"During the last lap of yesterday's race at Talladega Superspeedway the driver of the #01 violated NASCAR policy by driving under the yellow line to improve his position," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. "In NASCAR's opinion he was not forced below the yellow line. NASCAR correctly took immediate action to enforce the policy by penalizing the #01 and scoring the #20 as the race winner."
Helton continued, "Since the end of the race there has been some confusion as to what is allowable during the last lap at Daytona and Talladega. To be clear, as we go forward, there will be no passing under the yellow line at any time during NASCAR races at Daytona or Talladega, period. This includes any passing below the yellow line near the start/finish line on the final lap," said Helton.(NASCAR PR)(10-6-2008)

Bailout bill gives tax break to Racetracks: A tax break for NASCAR racetracks and other motor-sports facilities is among the "sweeteners" tucked inside a 450-page financial-services bailout bill to make the package more palatable to lawmakers. The Senate-passed bill includes an array of so-called "tax extenders." One extends for two years a tax policy that had been allowed to expire in December that lets motor-sports facilities be treated the same as amusement parks and other entertainment complexes for tax purposes. That allowed them to write off their capital investments over a seven-year period. The motor sports industry feared that without a specific legal clarification, motor sports facilities would be required to depreciate their capital over 15 years or longer because of a recent Internal Revenue Service inquiry into the matter. That would make repaved tracks and new concession stands more expensive in the short term. It isn't a new tax break, rather the way tax law historically has been interpreted, said Lauri Wilks, the vice president of communications for Speedway Motorsports, which owns the NASCAR tracks in Fort Worth, Texas; Sonoma, Calif.; Concord, N.C.; and elsewhere. "It gives us incentive to go ahead and invest in our facilities," she said. Wilks said she couldn't put a price tag on the measure because track owners would pay the same amount, just over a longer period. "Whether you pay all up front or depreciate them over time, the cash outlay is the same," she said.
A bill to extend the tax treatment had been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and co-sponsored by a number of North Carolina members including Reps. Robin Hayes, a Republican, and Melvin Watt, a Democrat. Thompson and Hayes voted against the original bank bailout bill Monday, which didn't include the tax extenders added by the Senate and passed Wednesday. Neither has said how he'll vote when the House takes up the new bill. In the Senate, the motor sports provision was sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Some watchdog groups oppose loading up the bill with unrelated items. "Unfortunately, it took a legitimately historic piece of legislation that lawmakers on principle could vote for or against it, and they just loaded it up with business as usual, a huge tax package not related at all to the bailout, and crammed it over to the House," said Steve Ellis, the vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan budget watchdog group. "And it's going to be interesting to see whether this turns any votes or not."(McClatchy Newspapers)(10-3-2008)

NASCAR Amends Substance Abuse Policy: NASCAR announced today it has amended its longstanding substance abuse policy to include random testing beginning in 2009. The amended policy mandates that all drivers in NASCAR’s three national series be tested prior to the start of the 2009 season. Team owners must also verify that all licensed crew members have been tested by a certified lab prior to the start of the season. In addition, NASCAR will test its officials prior to the start of the 2009 season. Drivers, over-the-wall crew members and NASCAR officials thereafter will be subject to random tests throughout the year. “We have made a very good policy even better with the addition of random tests,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “NASCAR’s policy has long given us the ability to test anyone, anywhere, at anytime. Random tests now provide us and the industry with additional information.” NASCAR’s substance abuse policy has always prohibited the misuse or abuse of any drug. This means that a violation of the policy can be triggered with the use of any drug or medication if NASCAR believes it has been abused or misused. NASCAR’s sweeping policy of reasonable suspicion remains in effect. Penalties for violation of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy will continue to be among the toughest in sports – immediate suspension from competition. Competitors that violate the policy will continue to be required to meet detailed criteria prescribed by NASCAR’s outside experts in order to be considered for reinstatement. While it is possible that a competitor could receive a lifetime ban for just one violation, a third violation will automatically result in a lifetime ban. NASCAR will continue to work with its outside experts at AEGIS Sciences Corporation and Dr. David L. Black. AEGIS, which has worked with NASCAR on designing and implementing its substance abuse policy, is the largest independent sports and forensic certified testing laboratory in the United States. AEGIS personnel will be responsible for the administration of all preseason and random substance abuse tests.(NASCAR PR)(9-20-2008)

NASCAR to announce new drug policy Saturday?: NASCAR on Saturday morning will host a mandatory meeting with its teams at Dover International Speedway, which multiple industry sources say will lay out the sanctioning body's new drug policy. The new policy, sources said, will include random testing for drivers, over-the-wall crew members and NASCAR officials. Those same industry sources said NASCAR would not implement any specific list of banned substances, claiming they, as a sanctioning body, want to be as strict as possible with this new plan and that any substance can be abused. NASCAR officials, reached by phone Friday, chose not to comment.(ESPN.com)(9-20-2008)

Court file indicates NASCAR settlement in fatal plane crash: NASCAR has verbally agreed to a settlement stemming from the death of one of its employees, pilot Michael Klemm, after he and Dr. Bruce Kennedy were killed when a plane owned by the racing company crashed last year, court records show. The Daytona Beach News-Journal viewed part of the Klemm court file earlier this week before the file was sealed. A handwritten document in the court file reflected $2.4 million "wrongful death claim approved." Eric Latinsky, an attorney for Klemm's widow Wendy and the couple's three sons, would not confirm the amount, saying he and NASCAR officials had agreed to keep the settlement confidential. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston, when reached Wednesday, said he knew a settlement was in the works but was unaware of the amount or stipulations of the agreement. "The purpose (of the settlement) was to make sure the Klemm children could continue their education and be taken care of," Latinsky said Wednesday. "It was a confidential settlement and one of the main concerns was, in light of losing Michael at such a young age, how would (the sons) be able to attend college in the future." The Klemms' three sons are 18, 21 and 23, court documents show.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(9-18-2008)

F1 McLaren boss heads to NASCAR: Steve Hallam, McLaren's head of race operations, is to leave the team at the end of this year to move to NASCAR. Hallam joined McLaren in 1990 after almost a decade at Lotus, where he race engineered for Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna. Having helped engineer Mika Hakkinen to world title success with McLaren in 1998 and 1999, Hallam moved to a more senior role within the team's race engineering department. McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh has paid tribute to Hallam's contribution to the team. "Since joining us in 1990, Steve has become a senior member of our track operations team, doing a fantastic job," explained Whitmarsh. "He informed us of his decision to leave some time ago but, since he is totally professional, it goes without saying that we are entirely comfortable with his continuing his work with us until the end of the season. Next year we will all miss him greatly, but we nonetheless wish him all the very best in his new adventure." Hallam is to take up a senior position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(Autosport)(9-13-2008)

NASCAR agrees to purchase Grand-Am Series: NASCAR Holdings today announced an agreement to acquire the Grand-American Road Racing Association. The future move will allow for resource sharing between Grand-Am and NASCAR while both organizations continue to operate independently. NASCAR Holdings is the legal operating entity that includes the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing and many of its subsidiaries. Grand-Am and NASCAR will combine marketing and communications efforts to include brand management, research, marketing and public relations. Grand-Am consists of six racing series, including the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, which has millions of loyal fans. The two racing brands will continue to independently sanction and officiate race events for their own series and there will be no change in management. Roger Edmondson will continue to serve as president of Grand-Am. The Grand-American Road Racing Association was established in 1999 and is based here.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(9-4-2008)

Announcement of new drug policy imminent: NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said Sunday that the sanctioning body would announce an expansion to its drug-testing policy "shortly -- in a couple weeks." NASCAR currently tests drivers for "reasonable suspicion" and imposes some of the harshest penalties for failed drug tests in professional sports. France said the expansion of the policy will deal with the testing end of the equation but stopped short of saying NASCAR would incorporate random testing.(NASCAR.com)(9-2-2008)

Hurricane altering hauler routes home: As Hurricane Gustav bellows closer to the Gulf Coast, forcing millions from their homes, NASCAR hauler drivers are looking for higher and dryer roads to get them back to North Carolina on Monday. National weather forecasters upgraded the hurricane watch to a warning for an area of more than 500 miles, from Louisiana near the Texas border to the Alabama-Florida state line forcing the majority of Sprint Cup team hauler drivers to change their southern route home on Route 40 and head north.(NASCAR.com)(9-1-2008)

NASCAR dyno's ten cars after MIS Cup race UPDATE: NASCAR planned to test horsepower on at least 10 cars after Sunday’s 3M Performance 400 Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. NASCAR took several cars, while other teams wanted their engines tested. The cars tested were: took the Fords of #6-David Ragan, #16-Greg Biffle and #17-Matt Kenseth and #28-Travis Kvapil, the Chevrolet of #48-Jimmie Johnson, the Toyotas of #18-Kyle Busch and #44-David Reutimann and the Dodges of #19-Elliott Sadler, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and #2-Kurt Busch. NASCAR planned to conduct tests on its chassis dynomometer at the track.(SceneDaily), loks like others not listed were tested.(8-18-2008)
UPDATE: Last weekend's NASCAR chassis-dyno tests -- the first of the season -- and this week's NASCAR engine-dyno tests of those same motors have been somewhat inconclusive, although Roush continues to say that Toyota has a significant technical edge in engine design.
#2-Kurt Busch's Penske-Dodge showed the most horsepower at the rear wheels in Sunday's Cup testing at Michigan, by a fairly good margin, particularly against Jimmie Johnson's Hendrick-Chevy -- maybe 20 to 21 horsepower. But then Jeff Burton's Childress-Chevy apparently won the pure engine tests two days later at NASCAR's Concord shop. The Michigan engine testing was the first major chassis-dyno test of the season. #2-Kurt Busch's car weighed in with 839 horsepower at the rear wheels, best of Sunday.
Now the rule of thumb is that numbers from a chassis-dyno run are about seven percent lower than actual engine horsepower (because the chassis dyno measures output after the horsepower runs through the entire drivetrain). That would mean Busch's true engine horsepower would be nearly 900 horsepower.
Other key Sunday chassis dyno results (unofficial since NASCAR doesn't publicly release the figures, despite a push by several top crew chiefs for NASCAR to release the numbers):
#31-Jeff Burton (11th at Michigan), 830 horsepower.
#8-Mark Martin (sixth), 827 horsepower.
#18-Kyle Busch (race runner-up) 825 horsepower.
#99-Carl Edwards (race winner) 819 horsepower.
#48-Jimmie Johnson (17th), 819 horsepower.
#83-Brian Vickers (seventh), 818 horsepower.
That's a range of 21 horsepower.(Winston Salem Journal), these are the only hp numbers posted, have not heard of any other reported.(8-23-2008)

NASCAR, Alliance to Save Energy Team up: NASCAR and the Alliance to Save Energy have teamed up in a number of ways to "drive forward" the Alliance's Drive $marter Challenge campaign designed to save drivers hundreds of dollars on gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Alliance Drive $marter Challenge car care tips will be featured on NASCAR's reality television show NASCAR Angels, which enters its third season airing on 200 broadcast TV stations around the country. In addition, the "NASCAR Performance Live" weekly radio show (Wednesday 7-8 pm/et) which airs in 150 markets nationally and on Sirius Satellite Radio, is featuring humorous Alliance campaign PSAs -Honey I'm Home and Baby Talk. The PSAs provide driving and vehicle maintenance tips and direct radio listeners to the Drive $marter Challenge website for more tips to cut gas costs and improve the environment. The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy, and national security.(PR)(8-14-2008)

How the four team rule works: Teams are permitted to enter a fifth car for a maximum of seven races for a rookie to get the driver familiar with Sprint Cup competition. So when DEI entered Regan Smith, who had run 20 Cup races to that point at Watkins Glen in August 2008, NASCAR determined he did not fit the criteria for the fifth-car exception, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. DEI would have been allowed to put Aric Almirola in that car because Almirola has five starts at that point in the series, Tharp said. Almirola, who will take over driving the #8 car in 2009, already was entered in the #8 car for The Glen in place of veteran Mark Martin, who is driving the majority of the Cup races this year while Almirola fills in the rest. “We brought it to their attention that [Smith] would not be permitted to run in the fifth car,” Tharp said. “We told them they could move Aric Almirola into that fifth entry. They went back to discuss it and decided not to enter the fifth car.(SceneDaily)(8-7-2008)

NASCAR could make changes to drug testing policy soon: From Brian France's press conference Friday at Daytona:
Q: WHAT’S THE LATEST ON DRUG TESTING?
FRANCE: "We’re about completed with our look at our policy and we’ve said before that we have a longstanding policy that we think works well. We’ve also acknowledged that there’s different circumstances and different things that are going on today that might not have gone on when we originated the policy and if there are ways to improve it and there probably will be, we will. We’ll have those answers pretty shortly. I would think within a month to six weeks we should be ready to … and I wouldn’t look for some dramatic change in our policy because the basis of our policy, No. 1 we can test any time that we want for cause. The other key ingredient, and I’ve told a lot of people this, you can have any policy you want but if the punishments aren’t tough, that’s the ultimate deterrent and if you look at lifetime suspsensions, which we have several out there today, you look at what happens on a first infraction. In our sport, its’ very severe and it probably means that your career could be over, probably will be over. Certainly in a second infraction, probably will end a career. A third will get you a lifetime suspension and so while our policy ought to be looked at and reviewed, it’s important to point out we’ve got some very strong parts in our policy that we want to make sure that we preserve."(Roanoke Times)(7-4-2008)

Presidential Candidates to Visit Races? Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama could make campaign stops at NASCAR tracks in the next few months. NASCAR chairman Brian France said Friday that he has extended invitations to both camps and expects the presumptive Republican and Democratic nominees to accept. "We would welcome both of them at various times and places," France said. "And I anticipate seeing both of them. NASCAR has historically been a place that politicians have come to interact and get noticed by our fans and just be part of our sport. My anticipation is we'll see both of them. We'll see."(Associated Press/Fox Sports)(7-5-2008)

NASCAR Calls mandatory meeting for all Cup drivers Friday: NASCAR called a mandatory meeting for Sprint Cup drivers and owners before Friday's practice at Michigan International Speedway in which president Mike Helton encouraged everyone to keep the fans first. NASCAR officials and drivers both agreed this simply was a reminder that during these tough economic times when fans are paying $4 a gallon for gas to travel to tracks that drivers should be more positive about the sport. In other words stop complaining about the new car that has become a target for everything that is wrong in NASCAR's premier series, from creating boring races to being so hot that the drivers are at risk. "My interpretation was that the drivers should be thankful for the position they're in and should be more positive in where this car is going to be in a year or two," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. Jeff Burton agreed. "In today's conversation you could have heard whatever you wanted to hear," he said. "I bet if you asked every driver what they heard they would have said something different. What I heard was things aren't bad. Let's don't forget we can make things better."
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said this so-called "Come to Jesus" was a reminder of chairman Brian France's preseason back-to-basics message. That the timing was a few days after the lawsuit, he added, was merely coincidental and that the lawsuit wasn't discussed. "We remind them if it weren't for the fans we wouldn't be here," he said. "The fans are paying over $4 a gallon for gasoline. [We told them] to keep the fans in mind when you're talking, to show your appreciation to the fans. Without them this wouldn't be like it is." The criticism reached an all-time high last weekend at Pocono. Denny Hamlin and several others implied the car was much hotter than the older car and possibly put drivers at risk. Series director John Darby understands. He said there are a lot of things available to keep the cars cooler "that's not being used." He reiterated that NASCAR has no plan to change the car until it's been through an entire season.(in part from ESPN.com)(6-14-2008)

Forbes Rates the Most Valuable Teams In NASCAR: There's a widening gulf in NASCAR between stock car racing's biggest, most valuable teams and those hoping to hang on for just one more race. Since our first NASCAR valuation package two years ago, values have rocketed skyward, up 65% on average, to $119 million, thanks to a rash of investment in a sport whose radical growth over the past decade appears to be sputtering.
The top-five MVT's are: Hendrick Motorsports at $335 million; Roush Fenway Racing $313 million; Joe Gibbs Racing $184 million; Gillett Evernham Motorsports $150 million; and Richard Childress Racing $130 million
The top-five higest paid drivers listed by Forbes: 1. Jeff Gordon: $32 million; 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: $31 million; 3. Jimmie Johnson: $23 million; 4. Tony Stewart: $19 million; and 5. Kasey Kahne: $14 million.
See full story with at Forbes.com and see the top paid drivers at Forbes.com.(6-13-2008)

Former official sues NASCAR over harassment claims UPDATE: A former racing official is suing NASCAR, alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Mauricia Grant worked as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series from January 2005 until she was fired last October. Grant, who is black, alleges she was referred to as "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba," by white co-workers. She also claims she often was told she worked on "colored people time," and was frightened by one official who routinely made references to the Ku Klux Klan. The lawsuit, which seeks $250 million, was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.(ESPN.com/Associated Press) and see a copy of the lawsuit at FoxSports (pdf format)(6-10-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR chairman Brian France says a former official who's suing the organization never reported discrimination or harassment claims to her supervisors. Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million suit against NASCAR on Tuesday, alleging racial discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliatory termination. France said Wednesday the detailed filing was the first NASCAR learned of her claims. "The disappointing thing is she makes a lot of claims, none of them reported," he said.(Associated Press)(6-11-2008)

'Crabby' cars may be scaled back by NASCAR UPDATE:: Expect NASCAR to tell Sprint Cup teams that they've gone far enough - and in some cases, too far - with making crooked cars. Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said Saturday that teams will get a memo, likely this week, telling them to "clean up" the way they're turning their wheels to help the cars handle better. "They need some of that, but there are some of them that have pushed it," Darby said. The rear wheels on some of the cars were turned to the point that some were having difficulty being pushed onto the scales used in inspection.(Charlotte Observer)(5-18-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR sent a memo to Sprint Cup teams this week putting a limit on the amount of rear adjustment being made to create more sideforce. The adjustment basically has the back tires turned to the right with a rear toe adjustment, allowing the car to enter the turns with more speed. It's not visibly noticeable on the turns, but on the straightaways the car appears to be crabbing down the track sideways. Darby said teams have been adjusting the rear end in excess of two degrees. NASCAR limited the adjustment to one degree.(ESPN.com)m this rule takes effect as of the race at Dover next weekend.(5-22-2008)

No Age Change in 2009: NASCAR officials won't alter the minimum age limit for drivers in the Cup series for next season. Series officials talked before the season about possibly raising the minimum age limit from 18 to 21 but decided against it.(Roanoke Times)(5-19-2008)

NASCAR claims electrical fire caused fatal plane crash: NASCAR officials claim an electrical fire caused a fatal plane crash near Orlando last year that killed two aboard the aircraft and three on the ground, but federal investigators do not necessarily agree with that claim. The NASCAR accident summary is included in Friday's release of reports by the National Transportation Safety Board into the July 10 crash of the NASCAR airplane. It claims the pilots were overcome by fumes and were incapacitated. The NTSB says it is still investigating the crash, with a final report of the cause likely in the summer. NTSB reports say a radar unit malfunctioned and caused a burning smell the day before the crash, but NASCAR claims the radar unit did not cause the fire that led to the crash. NASCAR's insurance company earlier this year reached a settlement with a man whose wife and 6-month-old son were killed when their home was hit by the plane. The crash also killed NASCAR pilot Michael Klemm and the husband of a NASCAR executive, as well as a 4-year-old child in the second house that was hit.(Associated Press)(5-9-2008)

NASCAR appoints panel to look into changing drug-testing policy: NASCAR president Brian France has appointed a group of company officials to an interim committee that will study the sport's drug policy, vice president of communications Jim Hunter said Friday. The group, whose members Hunter said have "been around a long time and know the sport," will report back to France with any recommendations "within six weeks or so." Among the topics they will survey, Hunter said, is whether or not to add a staff substance abuse expert and whether or not random testing should be implemented. Currently, drivers are drug tested only under "reasonable suspicion." Any change to the policy, Hunter said, wouldn't likely take place until the 2009 season.(ESPN.com)(5-3-2008)

NASCAR still evaluating McDowell's car and data: G-force readings [no number given] from #00-Michael McDowell’s grinding crash at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend were lower than other major wrecks in NASCAR, but Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said the nature of severe crashes in the new car has changed so much that G-force readings don’t mean as much as they once did. NASCAR has begun the process of thoroughly examining McDowell’s battered Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota in its Research & Development Center, Darby said, adding that the G-force numbers were “pretty low.” But that wasn’t totally unexpected, because the design of the new car and the SAFER barrier has changed crash dynamics. “G-forces overall have been reduced,” Darby said. “But when you look at the big picture, the G-force is the least significant number anyway.” The significant number is the change in velocity, which Darby said was “substantial” with McDowell’s car. “They weren’t the worst we’ve ever seen by any means,” Darby said. “But part of the process of building a safer race car is to reduce all those numbers as best we can. Even when we understand completely the final numbers – which ultimately will be lower than what we’ve seen in the past – that’s what we’re looking for.” McDowell’s crash, dramatic as it was, wasn’t as severe as the wreck suffered by Jeff Gordon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet slammed the inside wall along the track’s backstretch. “It wasn’t as big a hit as the 24 took,” said Cal Wells, executive vice president for business operations for MWR. “The 24 hit a concrete wall and it jerked the motor and the transmission. ... Everything [on McDowell’s car] performed extraordinarily close to design.”(SceneDaily)(4-13-2008)

NASCAR President defends NASCAR Drug Testing Policy: The call earlier this week for regular random drug testing by some of NASCAR's biggest stars apparently will not change the sanctioning organization's current policy of testing only for "reasonable suspicion." But NASCAR president Mike Helton said the reaction by the drivers to the published report that former truck and Nationwide driver Aaron Fike used heroin the same day he drove in some races is a positive sign for the stock car sport. Referring to the story in the April 21 edition of ESPN The Magazine, Helton said, "When you have a headline like that and the other athletes rare up on it and react like they did, that's a positive thing. The [NASCAR] community polices the community," Helton added in an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway. "The positiveness of all the drivers talking and everything, I think, echoes the responsibility that exists in this sport to avoid all that and to police all that. That's why we think that the reasonable suspicion policy works as an umbrella from a NASCAR perspective." Helton said he does not know of any policy that can guarantee that no driver will ever race while under the influence of some substance any more than anyone could guarantee that an athlete in another sport will not abuse something on game day. The other part though is the fact that when we do find a situation and we do authenticate the abuse of a substance, it is a severe reaction," Helton said. "It's not just a couple of weeks off, it's a very severe, career-changing reaction from us that I think speaks loudly." Helton added the substance-abuse policy that NASCAR has had in place for more than two decades has worked very well, with the help of the teams and the drivers. "There are a lot of random drug testing policies or substance-abuse policies in our sport and they come through the car owners," he said. "We're different than other sports where we have multiple layers of independence. That's why we feel like the reasonable suspicion element that NASCAR implements has served its purpose and works well. But we know of car owners that have random testing programs with their employees. So those elements are already there. ... There's a lot of ways to attack this animal and a lot of ways to do it, but the shared responsibility between the competitors, the car owners and NASCAR, I think, works."(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(4-13-2008)

NASCAR again...NO Changes to the COT planned: For drivers hoping for a change to the new Sprint Cup model car, series director John Darby burst their bubble Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. Darby said NASCAR doesn’t plan on making any alterations to the car, though some drivers, notably defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, called for changes after last week’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. Darby noted that this is only the second year with the new model and Texas was only the third race on a high-banked, 1.5-mile track. “We still call it the new car, right?” Darby said. “But it’s looked at as an old car, one that’s been around forever, and that’s not the case. There’s nothing broken, there’s nothing that we need to jump in and fix. It’s just a matter of continuing to race them and let the teams do what they do best.” Darby said he was open to adding an additional test to the NASCAR test schedule this year if the garage area wanted one. But he doesn’t think adding a day to existing races would be of any benefit to teams. “I would rather just go test somewhere rather than tack a day on to an event because you can’t test properly when it’s attached to an event,” Darby said. “If you’re the crew chief or the driver, you know you’re testing in the car you’ve got to race the next day. You’re always fearful of trying something new, damaging the car, losing an engine that would affect the event because it’s the next day.”(SceneDaily)(4-12-2008)

Drivers upset over lack of drug testing: Sprint Cup drivers Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne say they never have undergone a drug test as NASCAR competitors. "In the 10 years that I've raced, I've never been drug-tested," Harvick said. "To me, that's not a proper drug policy for a professional sport. We haven't made any headway whatsoever on the drug-testing policy." Harvick and Stewart were reacting to an ESPN The Magazine story this week in which former driver Aaron Fike said he competed in Craftsman Truck Series races while he was on heroin. "I have been in a race with him and I know for a fact that he's not the only one," Harvick said. "There's another driver that was suspended that I can almost guarantee you was in the race car while he was under the influence, and that pisses me off. I'm sure I'll be blasted for saying what I feel, but I don't want to be on a race track with people like that. It's irresponsible more than anything." All four Cup drivers said they are in favor of regular testing.
"I would love it,'' Stewart said. "I've never been asked to take one yet. I think it should be mandatory to have random drug testing. I think it's a great idea. The Fike situation shows that as an organization, we're not doing a good job of seeing this before it happens." NASCAR's substance-abuse policy includes the right to test any driver at any time, but officials only do so if they believe a competitor might have a problem. "The responsibility here rests across the board -- with the drivers and competitors, owners, teams and NASCAR," said Kerry Tharp, NASCAR's director of communication. "We test an individual when we have reasonable suspicion. A positive test results in severe consequences and is a career-changing moment for that person. NASCAR's policy is also supported by the various policies that the teams have in place that are required under the driver/owner agreements. No system is flawless, but we believe our zero tolerant policy that is in place has served the sport well."
Fike was arrested last year in Ohio for possession of heroin.
"I had a long talk with NASCAR about this last year," Harvick said. "It almost seems like it fell on deaf ears. They were more mad that I had a reaction to the situation than they were about trying to move forward. They heard what I said, but my name's not Jeff Gordon. I'm disappointed that we have to react and answer all these questions again."
Tharp said NASCAR officials always take it seriously when drivers come to them with questions or complaints. "Let me assure you that no issue or conversation that we have with a driver, owner or team member ever falls on deaf ears," Tharp said. "Now, they might not always come out of the meeting with the answer they're looking for, but we listen." Harvick wants to see NASCAR test drivers and crew members several times a year. "I'm sure I'll have to do it for speaking my mind," Harvick said. "But if I have to pee in a cup 15 times a year, I'm happy to do it. The bad part is it isn't fair to the 95 percent of his garage that is clean. But I want everybody in the world to know our sport is clean. I want fans and sponsors to know this garage is clean." Harvick and his wife, DeLana, own truck series and Nationwide Series teams at Kevin Harvick Inc. Harvick does not conduct drug tests for his employees. "I don't right now and maybe we need to change the way we look at it, too," he said. "But in the end, it's the responsibility of [NASCAR] to make sure all the drivers are clean." Harvick said Fike drove a couple of races for KHI several years ago. "There was no reason to think something was wrong," Harvick said. "I don't know about drugs, to tell you the truth. But I want to know about the guy racing next to me and not have to wonder if he was out the night before and isn't clean."
Kahne said he had suspicions about Fike. "I definitely wondered about Aaron, so I'm sure others did," Kahne said. "When he said he did heroin before a race, that's incredible that no one knew. As much money as there is in this sport, I think we should take a little more effort to make sure every driver is clean." Harvick believes NASCAR should have changed its substance-abuse policy long ago. "You can tell I'm a little bit frustrated about the situation," he said. "As someone who respects the sport and respects my sponsors, I'm upset that I have to answer questions about Aaron Fike. It really ticks me off, because every driver in this garage should be taking random drug tests." Harvick believes NASCAR needs to do a better job of staying ahead of the curve. "It's just like the safety thing back in 2001," he said. "We didn't react until that situation happened [with Dale Earnhardt's death]. With drug-testing, there's no reason in the world today not to be proactive. "This is about forward thinking about how the drivers are perceived from a public standpoint. If I'm a fan, I don't want to think, 'Are they really clean?' This always has been perceived as a clean sport. Let's not let that change now, because it is. But let's prove it."(ESPN.com)(4-10-2008)

No changes planned in COT: NASCAR's Jim Hunter, one of the sport’s top officials and a 40-year veteran at the tour’s tracks, said that drivers and crews shouldn’t be expecting any rules changes for the winged car any time soon: “At least for a period of time. “I think Robin (Pemberton) and John (Darby), they’d say ‘Let’s go some more races and see where we are.’” Pemberton and Darby are NASCAR’s top two competition officials under president Mike Helton. “Actually I can remember a lot of guys saying they couldn’t run side-by-side in the old car, when they had a hell of a lot of downforce,” Hunter said. “Carl Edwards got out of his car today and said ‘It’s a great feeling when your hands hurt after a race.’ You just have to get up on the wheel. And that was the whole purpose of this thing ... secondary to safety.” The next midsize track debut for the stock car will be at Concord in a few weeks. But the Mother’s Day weekend race at just-repaved Darlington could also present some similar issues, with its sudden 200-mph speeds, even though the car raced there last spring.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-7-2008)

NASCAR to return to Australia? Marcus Marshall, a driver in Australia's V8 Supercar Series, said Saturday that countryman Marcus Ambrose's success in NASCAR has boosted the sport's popularity in the country, and sparked rumors that a dormant 1½-mile track might get active again. The track hasn't been used for about eight years, he said. "It was pretty popular and now there are rumors at the moment of it opening up again, so that kind of fits with NASCAR maybe looking to be more international and Australia as a place to maybe take a round of one of their affiliated championships." Queensland, Australia, is already a destination of the Indy Racing League.(ESPN.com/AP)(3-31-2008)

NASCAR won't intervene in Roush dispute with Toyota team: NASCAR officials say they will not intervene in the dispute between Roush Fenway Racing and an unspecified Toyota team that allegedly took a part from the Ford organization. Team owner Jack Roush is asking NASCAR for “relief” on the issue, but NASCAR Vice President of Competition strongly dismissed that idea on Friday. “If they’ve got issues with each other or other teams, then they’ve got to talk to those other teams,” Pemberton said. “I didn’t take a part or a piece, all right? Nobody in this [NASCAR] trailer took a part or a piece. We know Jack said that, and apparently some other team acknowledged having a part or a piece. Those people need to work their deal out.” Roush said a Toyota team took a sway bar home from a September race at Dover last season. If that’s true, Pemberton said, “Then shame on a team that has that person working for them. If you’ve got a guy that takes a part or a piece from another team, then, in my opinion, I wouldn’t have a guy like that work for me,” he said. Still, that doesn’t mean NASCAR is going to do anything about it. “[The teams] have to work together,” he said. “We’re not going to build walls in here. We’re not going to separate everything. We’re going to run this garage area just like it’s been run. If you have issues, then you've got to work it out.”(SceneDaily)(3-29-2008)

Time for a drivers Union? UPDATE: The always boisterous Tony Stewart led a loud parade of outrage aimed at Goodyear's engineers after Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. If Stewart had thought about it long enough, he might have realized that there is much more that he and his fellow drivers can do. This is the perfect time for the drivers in the Sprint Cup Series to form a union. Then they can have real leverage on matters such as tires, safety and races. NASCAR has always said the drivers are "private contractors," so there has never been a need for a union. Plus, in the old days, any talk of forming a union could have seriously jeopardized a driver's career. See full story at the Delaware News Journal.(3-13-2008)
UPDATE: Major League Baseball has a union. The NFL has a union. The NHL has a union. Is it time for NASCAR to have one? Would a union help settle issues such as the Goodyear tire controversy at Atlanta last weekend? Jeff Gordon isn't sure. "I've seen the unions run things in the ground," Gordon said during a rainy Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. "It bugs the heck out of me when I think of the strikes that have happened in baseball. Look at the strike that just happened with the writer's strike in Hollywood. While there are positives for the people they're representing, sometimes if you look at the sport as a whole or an industry I've seen where it's done a lot of damage. I see it happening right now with General Motors." Gordon said a union is a good thing only if the right people are managing it and the proper intent is there. The problem, he said, is nobody can guarantee that. We all have so many different agendas and ideas, to see them all come together as one could be tough," he said. Gordon said NASCAR would be better suited to have a quarterly meeting in which all drivers are brought together to discuss hot topics.
NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the current system remains effective. "NASCAR always has had an open-door policy and always will," Tharp said. "Drivers, owners, and crew chiefs are regularly in communication with our sport's leadership. It is a system that has worked and continues to work well." Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the drivers need a spokesperson to represent them as his father once did. Dale Jarrett would like to see a panel of three to five drivers, and not necessarily the same every year, become the voice of the garage. "We won't use that word union," said Jarrett, who is driving in his final points race this weekend. "That gets people stirred up. Does there need to be a panel? Yes, it could be really helpful."(ESPN.com)(3-15-2008)

NASCAR and teams fighting counterfeiters: NASCAR, apparel company Motorsports Authentics and several teams have received an injunction over renegade merchandise, and at least 10 people have had unauthorized merchandise seized since the start of the 2008 season. The teams and NASCAR received a temporary restraining order Feb. 8 in U.S. District Court in Charlotte that allowed for the seizure of merchandise that infringed on their trademarks. On Thursday, the U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction against producers of counterfeit merchandise. Materials can be seized within a 10-mile radius of a track from 48 hours before qualifying to 24 hours after the completion of a race. Ten individuals were listed in the most recent order as violating the order. None of those individuals challenged the injunction during a hearing Thursday. Among the teams and drivers that joined NASCAR in the suit are Richard Childress Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, JR Motorsports, Rusty Wallace Inc., Penske Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Red Bull Racing, Michael Wlatrip Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. NASCAR and/or teams occasionally file lawsuits in order to seize merchandise from unlicensed dealers.(SceneDaily.com)(3-1-2008)

NASCAR heads to South America in March: Brian France and a contingent of NASCAR executives will visit Colombia next month together with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates officials to support Juan Pablo Montoya's charity Foundation. Montoya and his wife Connie will host the executives, which will include members of Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp. One of the visits will be to Montoya's Formula Smiles Foundation in Cartagena on March 10. "NASCAR's visit to Colombia is something extremely important for both Formula Smiles and our country," Montoya said. "Being part of the NASCAR community has enabled us to raise thousands of dollars that have permitted us to continue helping under-privileged kids in my home country. This visit gives us the opportunity to show the NASCAR community what we do and educate them on the reality of the situation in our country, and why we need as much support as possible." NASCAR will donate $25,000 through the NASCAR Foundation to Montoya's charity, which helps children in need throughout Colombia educating them in sports to improve their quality of life. "On behalf of the NASCAR community I am proud to have the opportunity to work with caring people like Juan Pablo and Connie Montoya," said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France. "Their efforts, like so many driver charities, benefit those less fortunate and in need. Formula Smiles is a terrific charity that will help children to excel in both academics and athletics." In 2003 and 2005, Montoya staged the Race of Stars karting event in Cartagena, where Formula One, IRL and Champ Car drivers competed to help raise funds for his charity's projects.(Cup Scene Daily)(2-28-2008)

Boy Scouts turn 100 in 2010, could include NASCAR: The Boy Scouts of America, about to turn 100, have turned to one of their own as part of a marketing campaign to celebrate the anniversary and try to reverse a membership slide. A logo designed by Philip Goolkasian, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout from Fresno, Calif., was picked from more than 4,000 entries for anniversary events. The 100th anniversary is still two years away. It will be marked at the 2010 Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill, Va. — the quadrennial event was pushed back a year to coincide with the anniversary. Scouting officials expect the event to draw 100,000 Scouts and visitors, and they plan to arrange satellite feeds to beam the proceedings around the country to boys who can't make the trip to Fort Hill. In the meantime, the Irving, Texas-based organization is looking to strike partnership deals with NASCAR and a half-dozen major corporations to promote its work. It hired a public-relations firm, and budgeted more than $4 million for the anniversary and events leading up to it.(Associated Press)(2-28-2008)

Official - IRL and Champ Car unify: Indy Racing League CEO Tony George shared in the relief and reveled in the significance the past five days. On Feb. 27, George joined Champ Car World Series co-owner Kevin Kalkoven at a news conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway to celebrate the accord and provide additional information about the fast-approaching 13th IndyCar Series season and beyond. The season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway March 29.(Indycar.com)(2-28-2008)

NASCAR defends postponing races at Calif: NASCAR officials felt they were always on the brink of getting the Auto Club 500 resumed late Sunday night at Auto Club Speedway but finally had to give up battling the weepers and dew at about 1:55am/et. NASCAR spent 4 hours, 42 minutes trying to dry the track. “The places that got dry, by the time [workers] got back to them on another lap, 20 minutes or so later with another set of dryers, it had already picked up moisture again,” a dejected NASCAR Vice President Robin Pemberton said as the cars were being rolled into the Sprint Cup Series garage. “It was dew basically. The weepers will always be an issue – at a lot of race tracks that we go to, we have that from time to time. But even just on the regular surface, it was quite wet.” A chorus of boos rang from the few thousand fans who had waited out the rain. NASCAR had spent about four hours drying the track. “It quit raining, and we owe it to the fans who are here to try to do our best to get the show in,” Pemberton said. “Many times it’s only an hour, an hour and a half to try to dry the race track, and we worked at it 4 1/2 hours and still couldn’t get it dry. … Tonight, it just didn’t work out. We could have stayed after it and maybe have gotten it in another couple of hours and [the East Coast] could have watched us while they ate breakfast. But that wasn’t going to be fair, either. You just try. You try, you think you’re making a dent in it, and it just went south on us.” Another issue was that NASCAR already had postponed the Nationwide Series event to Monday. “Trying to put on two shows tomorrow isn’t going to be easy either, but we’re going to do it,” Pemberton said Sunday night. “To try to get one show in today is what our goal is going to be.” Pemberton knows NASCAR will receive criticism for waiting so long before postponing the event. “You can be upset at us for trying if you want to be, and that’s fair, but we’re always going to put our best foot forward,” Pemberton said. “With the lights here and everything, we thought we could get it pulled off, and it didn’t work.”(SceneDaily)(2-25-2008)

60th Anniversary Of NASCAR Being Incorporated: Sixty years ago today, the intent of Bill France Sr. became clear. Determined to bring organization to the long-disjointed sport of stock car racing, France had his newly formed sanctioning body – the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing – incorporated. It became official, on Feb. 21, 1948. NASCAR had been born. Incorporation was actually prefaced by NASCAR’s first-sanctioned event, on Feb. 15, 1948. That race was run on a “beach-road” course that used both the Atlantic shoreline and a portion of State Road A1A, with Red Byron winning. “Big Bill” France, of course, wanted everyone to win. One of his basic tenets was that for NASCAR to survive – much less thrive – everyone involved would need to benefit. France had talked about that two months earlier, during the now-famous meeting in December 1947 at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, which resulted in NASCAR’s formation. Retrospect makes some of his words from that meeting seem prophetic, such as the following: “Stock car racing has got distinct possibilities … and we do not know how big it can be if it’s handled properly. …. I believe stock car racing can become a nationally recognized sport by having a National Point Standing. … We must try to get track owners and promoters interested in building stock car racing up. We are all interested in one thing that is, improving the present conditions.” France and his fledgling sport took a huge step toward all of the above, on Feb. 21, 1948.(NASCAR PR)(2-21-2008)[the first 'Cup' race, then known as Strictly Stock was run on June 19, 1949 in Charlotte with Jim Roper winning the 148 mile race. .

2008 Competition Update
NASCAR fines: Money collected from fines issued to drivers will now go to the NASCAR Foundation, which supports a variety of charitable initiatives. Previously, fine money was added to the season-ending point funds paid to drivers based on their finish in the point standings.
Revisions to pit road rules: Over-the-wall pit crews in NASCAR’s three national series will be able to hand push their car no more than three pit boxes away from their assigned pit box – limiting the crews to the same three-box length for pushing as the vehicles can drive through getting onto pit road. # Outside tires that have been removed from a vehicle during a pit stop can no longer be free-rolled from the outside of the pit box to the wall. The tires must be hand-directed to the inner half of the pit box before being released.
Fuel cell size: # All three national series will run the same up-graded fuel cell – which is another safety feature – and is the same fuel cell used in 2007 by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Tire usage at non-sanctioned tests: Teams in all three national series will receive an allotment of tires to use for non-NASCAR sanctioned tests. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will have access to 200 tires over the course of the year; NASCAR Nationwide teams will get 160 tires and NASCAR Craftsman Truck teams will get 120 tires.
Qualifying procedures: In all three national series, teams that are not locked into the starting field will qualify together as a group at the end of their respective qualifying sessions.
Engines: A new engine combination package introduced in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will allow for cost-saving opportunities for teams. Modifications reduce RPMs and horsepower, which will help engines and pieces to last longer. In turn, teams will have the opportunity to run multiple races using the same engine components.
2008 Projects at Research and Development Center:
Continuing to work with the University of Nebraska to further develop SAFER barriers.
Continuing development of SFI seating performance specifications.
Continuing R&D support to further help maintain a level competitive playing field.(NASCAR PR)(2-12-2008)

'NASCAR: 60 Years' Exhibit to open Feb 15th: NASCAR and the Petersen Automotive Museum have announced that in celebration of 60 years of NASCAR racing, they will unveil a retrospective on the history of the fabled sport. On Friday, Feb. 15, the Petersen Automotive Museum will open its doors to a new "NASCAR: 60 Years" exhibit, featuring a unique collection of race cars spanning NASCAR's history. The museum will also host a Daytona 500 viewing party on Sunday, Feb. 17, complete with a block-party style Fan Fest, featuring NASCAR racing simulators, food & beverage stations, a jumbo television screen, music, the NASCAR Street Tour, interactive displays and more. The eastbound lanes of Wilshire Blvd in front of the museum (between S. Fairfax Ave and S. Orange Grove Ave.) will be closed to host the event. Starting on Feb. 15, the museum will showcase unique race cars that all have a place in NASCAR history. Among the collection are:
• 1940 Mercury driven by Sam Packard
• 1964 Mercury Marauder driven by Darel Dieranger
• 1972 Ford Torino driven by Bobby Unser
• 1974 Dodge Charger driven by Richard Petty
• 1989 Pontiac driven by Rusty Wallace
• 2002 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Also on display will be this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship trophy, as well as a series championship trophy from 2003. The vehicles and trophies will be on display until Aug. 31. NASCAR and the Petersen Automotive Museum will also host a screening of "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" on Wednesday, Feb. 20, featuring a "meet and greet" with the 2008 Daytona 500 winner. Tickets to the showing are free and will be given away at the Fan Fest and fans can also enter to win tickets on myfoxla.com through Feb. 15. More info at petersen.org.(2-10-2008)

AutoRacing rated #4 per survey: Each of the major sports has had some image problems recently, but their popularity all remains relatively unchanged since last year. Three in ten Americans who follow one or more sport (30%) say that professional football is their favorite sport, almost unchanged from last year when 29% said it was their favorite. Coming in at second is baseball, as 15% say that is their favorite sport, again almost unchanged from last year when it was 14%. Not far behind baseball is college football (12%) and auto racing (10%). All other sports are in single digits. These are the results of a nationwide Harris Interactive survey conducted online between January 15 and 22, 2008 among 2,302 U.S. adults, of whom 1,562 follow one or more sport. Since Harris Interactive began asking this question in 1985, professional football has always been on top and its popularity is now six points higher (from 24% to 30%). Compared to 1985’s results, baseball has dropped eight%age points (from 23% to 15%), and men’s tennis has dropped four%age points (from 5% to 1%). Professional football isn’t the only sport to gain in popularity. Auto racing has also increased its popularity by five%age points (from 5% to 10%) as has hockey (up 3%age points from 2% to 5%).(businesswire.com)(2-8-2008)

Open wheel war to end? SPEED has learned that Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, the co-owners of Champ Car, have reached an agreement with IRL founder Tony George to race together this season. As reported by SPEEDtv.com recently, George offered the Champ Car ownership free Dallara chassis and Honda engines to any CC team that signs up for the full season in addition to receiving $1.2 million per car as part of the IRL’s new TEAM program. Additionally, the Champ Car races at Long Beach, Edmonton and Surfer’s Paradise, Australia would be added to the ’08 IndyCar Series schedule.(more at SPEEDtv.com)(2-8-2008) .

NHRA for sale - Bruton interested? NASCAR interested? NHRA drivers and crews will spend part of the season wondering who is going to buy the series. HD Partners Acquisition Group was set to purchase the NHRA and its assets for $121 million, but the company's board voted down the deal last week, citing the uncertain economic climate. No one is sure when or if the series will be sold this season. Bruton Smith, head of Speedway Motorsports Inc. (which owns Texas Motor Speedway), had expressed an interest in buying the series. He is building a drag strip at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. "We'll wait, and sometime down the road we'll probably take a look at it," Smith said this week. "I see that the sport is growing. We'll see."(Dallas Morning News), and also heard NASCAR could be interested in the series and is looking in to it.(2-7-2008) .

BofA boosts its NASCAR incentives: A sharp drop in profits isn't keeping Bank of America from pursuing NASCAR fans as new customers. The Charlotte-based bank on Tuesday announced it was more than doubling the number of drivers featured in race-themed accounts. The bank also will boost its NASCAR rewards program, providing more access to drivers and behind-the-scenes experiences. Bank of America launched the NASCAR-themed "affinity banking" accounts last spring as part of its push to win business from loyal race fans. The bank also sponsors the October Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, issues officially licensed NASCAR credit cards and, since 2006, has been the official bank of NASCAR. In its NASCAR banking program, Bank of America issues cards and checks printed with a driver's image or the NASCAR logo. Account holders get "RacePoints" that can be redeemed for merchandise, race tickets or -- for those with high point totals -- special honors, such as meeting a driver or waving the green flag at the Bank of America 500. Along with the NASCAR logo, Bank of America offers accounts with several current and past drivers' images: Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Dario Franchitti, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Paul Menard, Juan Pablo Montoya, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr., Kenny Wallace and Rusty Wallace.(Charlotte Observer)(1-23-2008)

Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together; NASCAR to Provide Tires for Tests: Michael Waltrip suggested last season that drivers outside the top 35 in owners' points should be allowed to qualify together so nobody would have an advantage in track conditions. NASCAR officials must have listened. The governing body kicked off its annual media tour by announcing that those outside the top 35 in all three series [30 locked in for Nationwide and Trucks] -- Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series -- will qualify at the end of their respective session. It also was announced that teams will be provided tires for testing at non-sanctioned NASCAR tests. Sprint Cup teams will be given 200 tires, Nationwide teams 160 and Craftsman Truck Series teams 120.(ESPN.com)(1-21-2008)

NASCAR Fine Payments Going to NASCAR Foundation: NASCAR announced that starting this season, all money collected from fines issued to drivers will go to the NASCAR Foundation for its charitable initiatives. “Now that the NASCAR Foundation is well established and supporting dozens of charitable organizations it is the logical place for fine money to be distributed,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “We are excited to be able to work with our charities and help them develop a program that will maximize the impact they can have with their organizations,” said Sandy Marshall, executive director of the NASCAR Foundation.(NASCAR PR)(1-21-2008)

Judge rules on discrimination lawsuit against NASCAR: A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed virtually all claims in a racial discrimination and breach of contract lawsuit against NASCAR and other parties stemming from a highly publicized 1999 incident at New Hampshire International Speedway. The incident occurred when former Penske Racing motorcoach driver David Scott, who is black, was greeted by a pair of motorcoach drivers, one of whom was wearing a white pillow case over his head as if he were a member of the Ku Klux Klan. NASCAR indefinitely suspended the two motorcoach drivers involved. In his complaint, Scott said he was promised a job with NASCAR in response to the incident. NASCAR had claimed in its filings that Scott "was given several work opportunities which were declined" and "was not qualified" for the racing official job he wanted. Judge Deborah A. Batts ruled Thursday that the three-year statute of limitations had passed for all of the allegations, except for one on whether NASCAR did not award Scott a minority vendor contract in 2005 and 2006 based on race. Scott must re-file his lawsuit within 45 days to focus on that claim.(SceneDaily.com)(1-19-2008)

NASCAR to increase age requirement? MORE A reliable inside source tells rowdy.com that NASCAR is seriously considering raising the age limit for drivers in the Sprint Cup Series from the current 18 years of age to 21. Should the change happen, and a decision has not yet been made according to the source, the driver who comes most quickly to the mind of Rowdy listeners is phenom Joey Logano. Logano, currently with Joe Gibbs Racing, turns 18 on May 24th of this year (he's scheduled to make his Nationwide Series debut at Dover shortly afterward), and under the current rules he would be eligible for Cup duty in 2009. Presumably any change would affect the Sprint Cup series only.(Rowdy.com)(1-16-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR sources confirmed Wednesday that the sanctioning body is considering raising the minimum age for drivers racing in the Sprint Cup Series from 18 to 21. Currently, drivers must be 18 to compete in the Cup, Nationwide or Craftsman Truck series. If a change is made, drivers between 18 and 21 would remain eligible for Nationwide and Truck competition but would have to wait to make the move into stock-car racing’s top series. There are concerns that young drivers are being moved up through the ranks too soon, and that more time in the second-tier series would give them time to develop their skills on the track and to mature off of it. Such a change could, theoretically, also bolster interest in the Nationwide and Truck series, since it would ensure that promising young drivers could build fan followings and attract sponsorships while competing at those lower levels.(Thats Racin)(1-18-2008)

Rules Change Before Daytona? NASCAR is still evaluating data from Sprint Cup Series testing at Daytona International Speedway, but it looks as if there likely will be a change in the gear rule when competitors return in February. Teams currently have a choice of a 370 gear or a 375 gear, but their RPMs are above what NASCAR is looking for. A change in gear - likely a 364 gear - would reduce RPM. That would make the engines more durable. It could even make the cars faster. "If we change the rule, we won't do it officially until all of testing is completed," NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said Wednesday during testing. "I think all of the teams are already anticipating a change. I know a lot of teams last week tried a 364 gear and a lot of teams here have got 364s in." NASCAR would like to keep the RPMs below 9,000, Darby said. Darby said no one has reached 9,000 RPM. "We're getting too close to that," Darby said. "The key to it is if 10 cars are drafting and they see 8900, when we put 43 out, they're going to be over 9000." Darby said NASCAR is fine with the overall speeds, which have hit 188 mph in drafting.(SceneDaily.com).(1-17-2008)

NASCAR Settles with Family of Plane Crash victim: NASCAR has agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement with a man who lost his wife and son when a NASCAR owned plane slammed into their Sanford Florida home. That plane crash last July set off a massive fire. Joe Woodard lost his wife Janice and his 6 month old son Josiah. In the home next door four year old Gabreila DeChat died and her brother 10 year old Daniel Happy is still recovering in the Shriners’ Burn Center in Cincinnati. The plane was piloted by Dr. Bruce Kennedy the husband of Lesa France Kennedy president of International Speedway Corporation. NASCAR pilot Michael Klemm was also killed. DeChat’s parents were also burned but have since recovered from their injuries. Woodward’s attorney wouldn’t discuss the terms of the settlement.(Fox News Orlando)(1-12-2008)

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Jayski's® is a registered trademark of Jayski LLC
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.