#31 Team Past News and Rumors
2007 News

  • AT&T #31 Driver Jeff Burton honored as 2007 Person of the Year: Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 AT&T Chevrolet and winner of the Busch race in Miami on Saturday, is well-known for his skill and tenacity on the track, but he is also a noted philanthropist off of it. Today, Burton was named the 2007 Person of the Year by NASCAR Illustrated for his efforts both on and off the track. As part of this honor, Old Spice has agreed to donate $5,000 to Duke Children's Hospital in his name. To congratulate Burton for the award, AT&T has matched the donation with a $5,000 contribution of their own to the hospital. "AT&T wants to congratulate Jeff for this wonderful honor," said Tim McGhee, director of national sponsorships for AT&T's wireless unit. "We have always known that Jeff is not just a great driver, but a great person. We're proud that others will be aware now, too." In addition to being one of the top drivers in the sport, Burton has been an advocate for improved driver safety as well as a top supporter of the Duke Children's Hospital. Burton and his wife Kim have raised well over a million dollars for the hospital and devoted countless hours of personal time to brightening the lives of seriously ill children. The Person of the Year award is an annual honor decided on by NASCAR Illustrated staffers. This is the first time Burton has won the award, and he appears on the cover of the December issues.(AT&T PR)(11-20-2007)

  • MLB team owner Hicks to join RCR? Nextel Cup team owner Richard Childress hasn't joined the trend of adding an individual partner to his organization. Not yet, anyway. Childress paused and had a big smile on his face when asked if Texas Rangers team owner Tom Hicks might become a future partner of Richard Childress Racing. "Tom's a friend of mine," Childress said with a grin. "We talk a lot about different things." Hicks, who also owns the Dallas Stars NHL team, attended the Cup race at California Speedway on Labor Day weekend as Childress' guest. Hicks also is a business partner with George Gillett, who bought majority ownership in Ray Evernham's Cup team earlier this year. Gillett, who owns the Montreal Canadiens NHL team, partnered with Hicks to buy the Liverpool, England, soccer team earlier this year for $430 million. Childress said he has been approached this year by several corporations wanting to invest in RCR, but he already has a relationship with the New York firm of Chartwell Investments. "I brought Chartwell in here in 2002," he said. "They're still involved in a small percentage of the company. At this time, we still want to go in the direction we've been going."(ESPN.com)(11-17-2007)

  • Jeff Burton Racing to Win Ultimate Souvenir for Local Texas Resident: Nikki Kelly, winner of the Dickies Race For The Riches promotion, announced her driver selection Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. Jeff Burton will not only be trying for the "Texas two-step" during the Dickies 500 on Sunday, but he will be trying to win the ultimate souvenir for Nikki and her family - half a million dollars. Kelly not only has a chance to take home $500,000 if Burton takes the checkered flag, but she and her sister, Lori, will also receive an "all-access" VIP weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. In the third consecutive year of this successful promotion, Dickies, the leading global workwear brand, has teamed up exclusively with Richard Childress Racing bringing together a legend in work with a legend in NASCAR. Nikki was announced as the Dickies Race For The Riches grand prize winner during the Texas Motor Speedway "Cut To The Chase" Brunch in September. Her NASCAR experience will be complete with pit and garage tours, the opportunity to meet Richard Childress and his drivers, exclusive seating and participation in pre- and post-race ceremonies. The Dickies Race For The Riches promotion call for entries kicked off on May 1, 2007 with participants visiting www.dickies500.com to enter for a chance to win. The winner was chosen on September 5, 2007.(Edelman PR)(11-3-2007)

  • NASCAR studying how Hamlin, Blaney had water in fuel: MORE Denny Hamlin, who thought he had enough gas while leading when his car sputtered and didn't start with three laps remaining in the Pep Boys Auto 500, actually had water in his fuel cell at the time. Whether that caused him not to accelerate and get hit from behind by Martin Truex Jr. is uncertain, Joe Gibbs Racing Senior Vice President Jimmy Makar said Sunday night at Atlanta. But what is certain is that Hamlin and Bill Davis Racing's Dave Blaney had water in their fuel cells, and Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle also might have had a similar situation. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said that no water was found in the Sunoco pumps following the race. Darby said all of the Sunoco documentation from the weekend shows no water in the tanks.(SceneDaily.com)(10-28-2007)
    UPDATE: Water found in the fuel tanks of cars driven by #11-Denny Hamlin and #22-Dave Blaney during Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Atlanta was not isolated to those teams, a NASCAR official said Monday. Water also was discovered in the fuel of the Penske Racing cars driven by #2-Kurt Busch and #12-Ryan Newman after returning to Charlotte, N.C. In addition, water was found in the fuel cell of all three Richard Childress racing team cars belonging to #29-Kevin Harvick, #07-Clint Bowyer and #31-Jeff Burton. #16-Greg Biffle believes his car may have had water in its fuel, although no evidence was found. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series director John Darby said the problem is more widespread than originally thought and that NASCAR has issued bulletins to all Cup and Truck Series teams to check for evidence of contamination so they can locate the source. Darby said everything from the underground fuel-holding tank at the track to the fuel trucks that deliver the gas to the individual gas cans are being analyzed. He said the underground tank is the least likely source because there is an alarm system located that can detect the slightest amount of contamination. Darby dismissed sabotage as a possible explanation, saying too many teams were affected for anyone to have been singled out.(ESPN.com)(10-30-2007)

  • Holiday Inn Renews with RCR: Holiday Inn has exercised the option in its current contract with Richard Childress Racing by signing a multi-year contract extension as the Official Hotel of RCR and the primary sponsor of RCR's #29 Chevy in the Nationwide Series with co-drivers Scott Wimmer and Jeff Burton. At the same time, Wimmer has reached agreement with RCR on a contract extension with the 10-time NASCAR championship-winning organization. The 2008 season will once again feature Wimmer and Burton as co-pilots of the #29 Holiday Inn Chevy [in the Nationwide Series]. Wimmer will also run a limited schedule of Sprint Cup Series events next season.(RCR PR)(10-25-2007)

  • Childress likely sticking to three full-time teams: Richard Childress said Friday he would likely not expand to four Sprint Cup entries for 2008 because he can't find the "right situation." Childress fields three Nextel Cup cars - for #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer - and wanted to add a fourth team next year. But the lack of sponsorship appears to be the main issue. Busch Series driver Scott Wimmer would "probably" be the driver of the fourth team, Childress said. Cars were already built for the fourth Cup team, Childress said, but those would be used among the three current teams.(SceneDaily.com)(9-28-2007)

  • Court papers confirm AT&T-NASCAR settlement: NASCAR, AT&T and Sprint have filed paperwork in U.S. District Court in Atlanta confirming they have settled the lawsuit over logos on the #31 Richard Childress Racing car. All sides announced Sept. 8 that a settlement had been reached, allowing the AT&T logos on the Jeff Burton car through the end of the 2008 season. AT&T, which had a deal to sponsor Burton through 2010, cannot sponsor a Cup car beyond 2008. The paperwork was filed with the court Sept. 14. No terms were part of the filing, although it indicated that each side would pay its own costs and attorney fees.(SceneDaily.com)(9-17-2007)

  • AT&T logos back on the #31 Chevy UPDATE 2: on SPEED's NASCAR Live Friday, Bob Dilner reported and it was shown at Richmond International Raceway, the AT&T decals are back on the #31 Chevy that Jeff Burton driver for Richard Childress Racing, no word on details...yet.
    UPDATE: AT&T, NASCAR and Sprint apparently have settled the lawsuit involving the primary sponsorship logos on the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy. With NASCAR approval, the AT&T logos were being put on the car of Jeff Burton on Friday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway. Details of the settlement were not immediately released.(SceneDaily.com)
    UPDATE 2: NASCAR, Sprint Nextel, AT&T and Richard Childress Racing have agreed to end the legal dispute over branding of the #31 car. The agreement immediately permits AT&T to continue as primary sponsor of the #31 car, using the AT&T name and logos, through the 2008 season. “This agreement represents compromise from all sides that ultimately serves the sport well,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “No one likes litigation, most of all the NASCAR fans, and it was time to find a mutually agreeable resolution. We’re now happy to move forward with the exciting conclusion of the season as we approach the Chase for the Nextel Cup.”
    “This is a great solution for NASCAR, the fans, Richard Childress Racing and Sprint Nextel,” said Tim Kelly, chief marketing officer for Sprint. “We accomplished our ultimate goal of protecting our unique position with NASCAR while giving the #31 team ample time to transition to a new sponsor. We will continue to focus on bringing new and unique innovations to NASCAR fans for the betterment of the sport.”
    “We’re very pleased to have the AT&T logos back on the #31 Chevrolet and to have AT&T continue as a primary sponsor for Jeff Burton and Richard Childress Racing,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We’re excited to have AT&T back on the car for Richmond and that they will continue to be a big part of what we do,” said Jeff Burton, driver, RCR’s #31 AT&T Chevrolet. “Now we can move forward and concentrate on winning races and competing for the championship.”
    “This agreement is the right step taken at the right time. It provides a clear path forward for the sport and its fans, for Richard Childress Racing and Jeff Burton, and for AT&T, which can use its brand on the #31 Car,” said Dave Garver, executive director of business development and wireless sponsorships for AT&T’s wireless unit.(NASCAR PR)
    AND Garver said at the end of 2008, AT&T must leave the Cup Series. He said the telecommunications company could stay in the sport in a lower series.(Associated Press)(9-7-2007)

  • Childress Could Lose Sponsorship For #31 Team: Richard Childress said on Sunday at California Speedway, that he could be in danger of losing sponsorship for the #31 car if the lawsuit between AT&T and NASCAR/Sprint goes the wrong way. "If they would go away, we definitely could, they couldn't afford to stay in (the sport) to run a blank car. It's all up to Sprint to make the decision. It's in Sprint's hands. NASCAR is being controlled by what Sprint is going to let them do. The sad part of it is, the money AT&T spends with Richard Childress Racing, they will spend three times as much in media, FOX, ESPN, newspapers, magazines, and everything else they do -- they'll spend millions of dollars promoting their products and in that product, they are helping to promote our sport. It's just sad to see it where it is. If they (AT&T) get beat and end up having to leave, naturally we're going to lose them. Not only will RCR have a loss -- but the sport will lose. Again, it's in Sprint's hands."(Insider Racing News)(9-3-2007)

  • Sports Teams Owner is Childress' Guest at California: [MLB's Texas] Rangers and [NHL's Dallas] Stars owner Tom Hicks and members of his family were scheduled to attend the Sharp Aquos 500 Nextel Cup race at California. Hicks said it was a social invitation by team owner [#s 07, 29, 31] Richard Childress. He wouldn't comment on whether he has any interest in investing in a NASCAR team. But his sports empire has grown this year. In February, he became co-chairman of the Liverpool Football Club, one of the most storied soccer franchises in the English Premier League. Hicks' partner in that purchase was George Gillett, the owner of the NHL's Montreal Canadians and now a major investor in Ray Evernham's NASCAR team.(Dallas Morning News)(9-3-2007)

  • Blank #31 at Calif: AT&T will again field an unbranded car this weekend at California Speedway. The #31 Richard Childress Racing car driven by Jeff Burton will carry a plain paint scheme of orange and black, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel confirmed Thursday. It will be the second week that the car has run without logos from its primary sponsor. AT&T, NASCAR and Sprint are in a contentious legal battle over the paint scheme of the car. In addition to not having the AT&T logos on the car, the AT&T logo also cannot be worn by team members nor be used on any items - haulers, pit boxes, etc. - inside the NASCAR garage.(SceneDaily.com)(8-31-2007)

  • Chevy and RCR continue partnership: Chevrolet, the winningest nameplate in NASCAR, will continue its partnership in NASCAR competition in 2008 with one of racing's elite organizations, Richard Childress Racing (RCR). "2008 marks Richard Childress's 39th year as a team owner and his cars proudly carry the Chevy bowtie," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "At Chevrolet and GM Racing, we are very excited to continue a long and successful relationship with one of the best racing organizations in NASCAR, both on and off the track." RCR's lineup includes #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer in the Cup Series and Harvick and Tim McCreadie in the #21, Burton and Scott Wimmer in the #29 and #2-Bowyer in the Buscg Series.(GM Racing PR)(8-18-2007)

  • RC: Burton not leaving: Jeff Burton will not be on the market any time soon, even if the NASCAR/AT&T legal wrangling doesn't fall AT&T's way, car owner Richard Childress said Friday at Michigan International Speedway. Burton signed a contract to drive for Richard Childress Racing in June, with AT&T signing on as sponsor. But that was before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an injunction that had allowed AT&T logos on the #31 Chevy in place of Cingular signage. "We've got contracts with AT&T and Jeff Burton," Childress said. That means Burton isn't going anywhere, Childress indicated. Childress did not want to comment on the NASCAR/AT&T situation "because it's still in the legal system," he said. "We hope we can come to some kind of agreement we can all live with," Childress said. Should there be further trouble for AT&T, it could affect RCR's plans for a fourth team in 2008, though Childress was confident the fourth team would go on as planned. "It's something we'll probably have to take a harder look at," Childress said. "But we feel that team's pretty safe." Childress confirmed his team had talked to representatives of J.J. Yeley, the driver who recently announced he would not return to Joe Gibbs Racing next year, about the possibility of driving for RCR. "We've spoken to Yeley's people," Childress said. "He's someone that we definitely would very highly consider."(SceneDaily.com)(8-18-2007)

  • Jeff Burton to be Featured on ABC News Special Series: Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) Jeff Burton is one of several drivers to be featured in a five-piece, non-narrative, unscripted series, "NASCAR in Primetime," beginning August 15 on ABC News [at 10pm/et]. The nationally syndicated show will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation, logistics, drama and competition of America's most popular motor sport. "NASCAR in Primetime" will take an inside look at Burton's life in the fast lane by illustrating his passion and dedication for racing in addition to the importance of having support from his family. "I'm excited that viewers can get a glimpse of what it takes to be competitive and successful in this sport," said Burton. "This sport strives on dedication - not only from your team members, but from your family, as well. Hopefully, this series will show viewers how exciting this sport really is and make new fans out of them as well." Burton, along with wife Kim and the entire #31 AT&T Racing team, will be featured in episode three, scheduled to air August 29. Other drivers slated to be featured in the five-part series are Stanton Barrett, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya, Johnny Sauter, Tony Stewart and David Stremme.(RCR PR)(8-13-2007)

  • "NASCAR in Primetime" Premieres Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 10/9c: Stock car racing has its origins in Prohibition-era bootlegging and until recent years was popular mainly with Southern white men. Today, NASCAR casts a far wider net. NASCAR is a multibillion dollar empire built on brilliant marketing, speed and the American dream. It already has a firm hold on the hearts and minds of Americans and now it's fixing its eye on the rest of the world. NASCAR in Primetime is the first time that NASCAR has given any news organization uncensored access to its inner workings. ABC News spent six months following drivers, fans and officials, documenting everything that happened on and off the racetrack. Our cameras saw people and places that NASCAR has never before allowed to be filmed for TV. For the first time, viewers will get an inside look at the real world of NASCAR. The show will air the next five Wednesday's, starting August 15th, at 10:00pm/et on ABC.(ABC)(8-13-2007)

  • RCR to honor Prosser at Indy, run Wake Forest decals: Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) Nextel Cup Series teams will honor Skip Prosser, the former Wake Forest University men's basketball coach who died unexpectedly on Thursday, with Wake Forest decals in Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. RCR's three Chevys driven by Kevin Harvick (#29 Reese's), Jeff Burton (#31 AT&T) and Clint Bowyer (#07 Jack Daniel's) will carry a Wake Forest decal on the B-Post of each machine. Scott Wimmer will also attempt to qualify the #33 Holiday Inn Chevy for this weekend's Nextel Cup race. If the Wimmer makes the race, the #33 machine will also display the decal. "I grew up in Winston-Salem and have spent my entire life living and working in the area," said RCR president and CEO Richard Childress. "We just want everyone in the Wake Forest Community to know that we're thinking about them during this difficult time." Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, N.C., just 14 miles north of RCR's campus in Welcome, N.C.(RCR PR)(7-28-2007)

  • Harvick and Burton Say NASCAR Needs More Drug Testing: #29-Kevin Harvick questioned NASCAR's drug testing policy after Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike was arrested and charged with possession of drugs last weekend. "I believe that every driver and every national series should be drug tested a couple of times a year randomly regardless of who you are, what you are doing," Harvick said on Friday at Chicagoland Speedway. "We owe it to the sponsors and the fans to 100 percent know this is a clean environment. It would eliminate a lot of those problems of the younger guys that disrespect the sport and the system."(ESPN.com)
    AND: Jeff Burton said he would like to see series officials do even more drug testing. "I honestly wish that we would test more than we do," Burton said. "I wish that we would have a random number of drug tests throughout the year - you know you're going to do five or six every year, or whatever the number is. There's too much at stake for this sport, too much at stake for the drivers, the racetrack, the crew members on pit road," Burton said.(Associated Press/Fox Sports)(7-14-2007)

  • #31 Spotter getting hitched & special guest in #31 pits at Chicago: Following race weekend in Chicago, #31-Jeff Burton spotter Rocky Ryan will marry Kathy Moore in a ceremony at Childress Vineyards on Tuesday, July 17. The newlyweds plan to honeymoon at the end of the 2007 NASCAR season in Maui. Ryan will resume his spotter duty the upcoming [Busch Series] weekend at Gateway International Raceway for driver Scott Wimmer. Chicago Bulls basketball player Chris Duhon will attend Sunday's USG Sheetrock 400 as a guest of Jeff Burton. Duhon, a former Duke Blue Devils hoops player, will spend the day as an honorary pit crew member with the AT&T Racing team. He won the experience from a charity event hosted by Duke Children's Hospital.(RCR PR)(7-11-2007)

  • RCR-DEI Engine Debut at Daytona: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will debut the new common engine package this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. All six Richard Chiledress Racing [#07,#29,#31] and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) cars [#1,#8,#15] will run the new engine.(RCR PR)(7-4-2007)

  • LENOX colors on the #31 at NHIS: #31-Jeff Burton wil carry the red, white and blue colors of LENOX Industrial Tools at New Hampshire International Speedway with the running of the LENOX Industrial Tools 300. This is the second year that LENOX has been the title sponsor of New Hampshire's classic summer race. It's also the second time in 2007 that the East Longmeadow, Mass., based company will be the primary sponsor of Burton's Nextel Cup Series car. It's appropriate that the LENOX Industrial Tools 300 is so close in proximity to Independence Day, a holiday in which we honor individuals who went the extra mile for our country. LENOX is also honoring those who go the "Extra Mile" in construction and industrial trades with their recently announced 2007 national promotional sweepstakes - the "Extra Mile Experience with Richard Childress Racing Driver Jeff Burton." LENOX is represented throughout the season as an associate sponsor on Burton's #31 AT&T Chevy as well. The LENOX logo appears on the rear quarter panels of the car just behind the rear wheels. LENOX, a leading manufacturer of premium band saw blades, power tool accessories and torches has an extensive product line including the LENOX Gold bi-metal reciprocating saw blades; LENOX Gold bi-metal utility blades and knives; and LENOX ARMOR Rx+ bi-metal coated band saw blades for cutting structurals and tubing, just to mention a few. More info at lenoxracing.com.(LENOX PR) See images of the scheme on my #31 Team Schemes page.(6-26-2007)

  • AT&T Signs 3yr Contract Renewal with RCR, Burton extends: AT&T has exercised the option in its current contract with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) by signing a contract extension that will ensure that the #31 AT&T Chevy remains a competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series for years to come. At the same time, Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 AT&T Chevy, has reached agreement with RCR on a contract extension with the 10-time NASCAR championship-winning organization. "As long-time supporters of racing and its fans, we are very pleased to continue our involvement with the sport as a team sponsor in the wireless category," said Dave Garver, executive director of high growth segments and sponsorships for the wireless division at AT&T. "We've enjoyed our relationship with Jeff and RCR, and look forward to continuing to work with them through many more winning seasons. In the past decade, we've developed innovative ways to bring fans closer to racing, with interactive content that can be accessed via their wireless handsets, alerts sent directly to their phones and on-the-ground activities promoting wireless services at and around racing events. We're looking ahead, planning even more engaging ways to bring the latest in wireless technology to fans."
    AT&T, as Cingular, has been the primary sponsor of RCR's #31 team since 2002. In that time, with Burton and Robby Gordon behind the wheel, the team has earned four wins, four pole positions, 22 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes. "AT&T has been an important part of RCR since 2002 so we're very excited about renewing our contract with them and continuing that great relationship," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "AT&T has been a tremendous supporter of RCR's fans and racing fans throughout the sport for more than a decade and I am eager to turn our full attention back to winning a championship. Jeff has been an important piece of the puzzle since he arrived at RCR in 2004. He's helped our entire organization since that time and will continue in that role. He's a true professional, whether it's with his crew or with sponsors, so we're very pleased to have him signed to a new long-term contract."
    Burton began driving for RCR in August 2004 and was named the driver of its #31 team for the 2005 NASCAR Cup Series season. He has earned two victories, four pole positions, 15 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes in 85 races driving the #31 AT&T Chevy.
    "I'm really excited about AT&T extending their involvement with RCR. They've been a great company to work with," said Burton. "They have great people and great products. It's a real honor to represent AT&T both on and off the track. My enthusiasm about what we are doing at RCR is as high as it's ever been. I've never even considered doing something different. I'm glad we were able to re-sign with AT&T so that Richard and I could get our deal done. It's a real honor to drive for Richard and I am looking forward to continue working with him over the next few years." AT&T, formerly Cingular, has sponsored a NASCAR Cup Series team for 10 years, and is in its sixth season with RCR's #31 Chevrolet program.
    Key dates
    * 1994 - BellSouth branded car makes debut in the Busch series
    * 1997 - BellSouth car makes debut in the Cup series
    * 2001 - Cingular branded car makes debut in the Cup series
    * 2002 - Cingular and RCR sign a three-year contract through 2004
    * 2004 - Jeff Burton named driver of No. 31 Cingular Chevrolet
    * 2005 - Cingular renews its contract with RCR through 2007
    * 2007 - AT&T branded car makes debut in the Cup series
    * 2007 - AT&T and RCR sign contract extension through 2010.(RCR PR)(6-18-2007)

  • Childress close to signing extension with Burton: Richard Childress said he hopes to have an announcement soon that he has signed #31-Jeff Burton to a contract extension. Childress is also working on an extension with sponsor AT&T. Burton's deal runs out at the end of this year. "Hopefully we get a few things sorted out here in the next week or so, and we'll be able to make some type of a release on that," Childress said Saturday. "It's definitely the plan for him to stay but we can't do anything at this point. We're working on hopefully being able to do something to release it here in the near future."(SceneDaily.com)(6-17-2007)

  • Childress interested in Kyle Busch: Car owner Richard Childress was unable to sign Dale Earnhardt, Jr., but his team is hardly hurting as is. The car owner said Saturday that like a lot of car owners in the garage, he’s very interested in talking with newly minted free agent Kyle Busch, possibly for a long-rumored fourth Richard Childress Racing car. “Anybody would look at Kyle right now - any team in here,” said Childress. Childress, one of the most independent minds in the Nextel Cup garage, is not someone even remotely daunted by Busch’s reputation as a hot head. “I can name you eight or 10 guys in here at his age that were a handful. He's learning." Of Busch, Childress added, “He's the hottest property on the market right now.” In fact, some in the garage believe that Busch’s driving talent is equal to or even ahead of that of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(SPEEDtv.com)(6-17-2007)

  • Some teams looking to add 4th team: The season is not even half over and several teams say they want to expand for next season. Officials from Dale Earnhardt Inc., Evernham Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing have said they'd like to expand to four cars next year. There have been hints other teams might look add a team. How many actually do will depend on what kind of sponsorship they can find.(Greensboro News and Record)(6-16-2007)

  • Burton says RCR 'likely' to add fourth team next season: #31-Jeff Burton thinks Richard Childress Racing will add a fourth Nextel Cup Series team in 2008, citing much recent discussion about the subject as partial evidence. "I think it's likely," Burton said of adding a fourth full-time team to the RCR stable. "Obviously we can't divulge what's on our minds but we have some exciting things that could happen." Burton wouldn't divulge details, rather said "there's a lot up in the air right now that we don't 100 percent know what's going to happen." The addition isn't a no-brainer, Burton said. He was quick to point out the negatives of adding another program: 25 percent more challenges, 25 percent more problems. The chief benefit of adding a fourth team is the additional knowledge added to the resource pool.(ESPN.com)(6-9-2007)

  • Childress and Burton hope to sign long term deal soon: Team owner Richard Childress hinted strongly that he will soon announce a new long-term contract with driver #31-Jeff Burton. “Jeff and I have a plan that we are going to announce pretty soon,” Childress said Friday. “I am sure we will start talking to AT&T pretty soon. Jeff is very happy where he is at and I am very happy with Jeff. We will be making some announcements pretty soon.”(SPEEDtv.com)(5-19-2007)

  • DEI and RCR team up to build engines: One of NASCAR's greatest partnerships - Childress and Earnhardt - has been expanded with the creation of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies. Richard Childress and Teresa Earnhardt announced today that the joint venture partnership will combine the Chevrolet engine departments of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), with engine development work to begin immediately. Construction of a permanent stand-alone facility located between RCR and DEI will begin later this summer with completion expected by mid 2008. A specific site has not been announced, although a location has been identified pending zoning approval. Until that facility is complete, all work will be divided between the RCR's engine shop in Welcome, N.C. and DEI's shop in Mooresville, N.C. It is anticipated that all six RCR and DEI cars will run the first common engine at Daytona in July. Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will develop and build engines for the Chevrolet Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series teams campaigned by the two companies. A long-term goal of the joint venture will include an engine leasing program for teams in NASCAR's top three divisions. The partnership also has long-term plans to diversify and expand beyond NASCAR by providing race engines to teams competing in series such as the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, various off-road and stock car series, sports car series, etc. This is not the first time RCR and DEI have worked together in a technology partnership. RAD, an acronym for the three teams owned by Richard Childress, Andy Petree and Dale Earnhardt, was formed in the late 90's as an aerodynamic consortium between the programs. The partnership was considered wildly successful with the three teams dominating the aerodynamically sensitive restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega for the next few years.(DEI PR)(5-18-2007)

  • Career Start #450 for Jeff Burton this weekend: #31-Jeff Burton is set to reach another career milestone when he takes the green flag at Saturday’s Dodge Avenger 500 at Darlington Raceway for his 450th start in NASCAR’s premier series. “It’s fitting that my 450th career start will take place at Darlington. It’s one of my favorite race tracks on the circuit,” said Burton. “What makes Darlington so special is the history that surrounds the track and how entrenched it is in our sport. It’s always an honor to race at Darlington and I’m looking forward to my 450th start at the track.” (RCR PR)(5-8-2007)

  • NASCAR donates $160,000 to Virginia Tech memorial fund: For the last three weeks, NASCAR's Nextel Cup cars have all displayed a Virginia Tech logo with a black background in a show of support for the victims and families of the massacre that left 33 dead in Blacksburg on April 16. On Saturday night the decals were just a symbol, and the support was something more tangible: money. In prerace introductions, Virginia drivers Jeff and Ward Burton, Elliott Sadler and Denny Hamlin presented Hokies football coach Frank Beamer with a check for $120,000 for the Hokies Spirit Memorial Fund. And Richmond International Raceway president Doug Fritz presented him with a check for $40,000, also for the memorial fund, that he said was given by RIR and some sister tracks also owned by International Speedway Corp.(Associated Press/ESPN)(5-6-2007)

  • NAPA looking? UPDATE 2 denied hearing that NAPA Auto Parts is looking at options for their sponsorship in the Nextel Cup Series. NAPA has been the sponsor for Michael Waltrip in the Cup Series since 2001, first with the #15 DEI Chevy, then since 2006 on the #55 car. Supposedly NAPA is talking to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as a possible replacement sponsor for Cingular, should AT&T not win its lawsuit against NASCAR to have the AT&T decals put on the #31 Chevy AND with Roush Fenway Racing as a sponsor for the #16 Ford Greg Biffle drives. Current sponsor Ameriquest has opted out of the sponsorship after the 2007 season.(4-25-2007)
    UPDATE: been told there is no truth to the rumor that RCR is in contact with NAPA regarding sponsorship for the #31.(RCR)(4-27-2007)
    UPDATE 2: Michael Waltrip knows that his team needs to overcome its struggles this season, but he is disputing published reports that his #55 Toyota sponsor, NAPA, is exploring options elsewhere. "NAPA has ... had a lot of trials and tribulations; they've been really very supportive of getting this whole thing turned around. ...," Waltrip said Friday morning at Talladega Superspeedway. "This is the first year. I read on the Internet that NAPA was looking. They are; they're looking for us to do a better job."(SceneDaily.com)(4-27-2007)

  • Jeff Burton to speak safety at a school: On behalf of Cingular Wireless, #31-Jeff Burton is scheduled to speak at Shelby County High School in Columbiana, AL. on Thursday, April 26 regarding Cingular's "Be Sensible" safe driving program. The South Boston, Va., native will speak to 650 students and answer questions regarding safe driving.(RCR PR)(4-25-2007)

  • Jeff Burton wins at Texas: #31-Jeff Burton won the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for his 1st win of the 2007 season, 19th career win and first since Dover in Sept 2006. Burton is the first driver in 13 Nextel Cup races to repeat as a winner at TMS. Burton passed #17-Matt Kenseth on the final lap to win, leading only the most important lap, the final one, Kenseth held on to 2nd, followed by #01-Martin, #24-Gordon [led the most laps], #26-McMurray, #16-Biffle, #1-Truex Jr., #42-Montoya, #11-Hamlin and #40-David Stremme scored his first ever top-10 finish. #8-Earnhardt Jr, was leading when he slowed for #20-Tony Stewart's spin, #5-Kyle Busch couldn't see and rammed into Earnhardt Jr. who spun and had serious rear-end damage. Busch declined comment and left the track, but the team fixed the car, and ironically Dale Jr. jumped in the car and picked up a spot for the #5 team, passing #48-Jimmie Johnson, who had retired the #48 late in the race. Jeff Gordon maintains the points lead, but only 8 points over Jeff Burton and even after missing two races, #01-Mark Martin is still 11th in the points chase. There were 7 cautions for 32 laps and 9 drivers lead the race with 13 lead changes.
    Race Results on my Texas Race Results/Awards Page.
    Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Texas page
    Race Rundown: see my Texas Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(4-15-2007)

  • Dangers of Children in Hot Cars #31-Jeff Burton, Safe Kids Worldwide and General Motors will try to educate families on the dangers children face in hot vehicles via a press conference scheduled for this Friday, April 13 at the Chevy Racing Display at Texas Motor Speedway. As temperatures heat up, children are at great risk for heat stroke when left even for a few minutes in a closed vehicle. At least 41 Texas children - 14 in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex - have experienced this type of horrible death since 1998. Burton, who spends many of his weekends driving in hot cars, will help warn parents and caregivers of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles - even on days when outside temperatures are as low as 70 degrees Fahrenheit.(GM Racing PR)(4-12-2007)

  • Jeff Burton to Receive Sportsmanship Award: Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton will join the ranks of some of the greatest names in motorsports when he receives this year’s Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Sportsmanship Award. The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame annually awards the best performers who exemplify excellence in racing both on and off the track. Nominees to the Hall of Fame are determined by a panel of motorsports media throughout Texas, including representatives from print and broadcast outlets in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. This year’s inductees include NHRA veteran racer Eddie Hill and NASCAR team owner Roger Penske. Fellow NASCAR driver Tony Stewart will also be honored at the induction ceremony. Burton, along with other award winners will be honored at the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 11 at Texas Motor Speedway’s Grand Ballroom. Proceeds from the event, in association with Speedway Children’s Charities, go to Happy Hill Farm in Granbury, Texas, an academy and home for disadvantaged children.(RCR PR)(4-10-2007)

  • Purple scheme at Texas for Jeff Burton: Richard Childress Racing rolls out its #31 Prilosec OTC Chevy Monte Carlo SS on April 15th, complete with a purple lightning paint scheme, for the first time this season at Texas. A good luck charm for the #31 team will be the addition of Prilosec OTC Victory of a Lifetime Sweepstakes Grand Prize winner Jim Farina as the team's Honorary Pit Crew member. The Pittsfield, Mass., native will spend the weekend with Burton and his crew helping with pre-race preparations as he proudly sports his purple #31 team uniform and firesuit. Prilosec OTC is a Major Associate sponsor of RCR's #31 Chevy. In addition to this week's purple paint scheme, Prilosec OTC supports Team Cingular throughout the year on the lower rear quarter panel of the #31 Chevy and on Jeff Burton's firesuit.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on the #31 Team Schemes page.(4-6-2007)

  • AT&T Lawsuit could be resolved by end of April: AT&T's lawsuit against NASCAR, in which it asks for an injunction to allow it to rebadge Jeff Burton's #31 car from Cingular-orange to AT&T blue this spring, may have quick resolution, perhaps even as soon as the end of this month, according to sources close to the situation. However, Sprint Nextel officials continue to have nothing to say about the issue, even though it is directly related to their series sponsorship contract with NASCAR, a $70 million a year sponsorship in its fourth year of a 10-year pact.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-2-2007)

  • Cingular/AT&T/NASCAR update: With no court date set for Friday, employees of Richard Childress Racing didn't even bother to pack the forbidden AT&T logos for the #31 Chevy. AT&T filed a lawsuit on March 16 and sought an immediate injunction earlier this week to allow the logos to appear on the #31 driven by Jeff Burton. NASCAR has so far refused the change, citing its contract with the series' title sponsor, Nextel. Since its merger last year with BellSouth, AT&T has begun to phase out the Cingular name. It submitted a paint scheme in January to NASCAR, but it was rejected. AT&T spokesman Chris Capo told USA TODAY earlier this week crewmembers could affix the logo to the car this weekend if a federal court judge grated the injunction. He was hopeful Friday that there would be a hearing sometime before the next Cup race, scheduled for Texas Motor Speedway on April 15.(USA Today)(3-31-2007)

  • AT&T wants logo on Burton's car immediately UPDATE NASCAR responds: Telecommunications giant AT&T filed a motion Monday, asking that its logo be added to Jeff Burton's #31 Chevy immediately. The motion was filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, where the company also filed its lawsuit against NASCAR. A hearing on the motion has not yet been scheduled. Burton is sponsored by cell phone service provider Cingular. AT&T recently took full ownership of Cingular as part of its recent merger with BellSouth and intends to eliminate the brand name. AT&T sued NASCAR on March 16 after racing series officials refused to allow AT&T to put its logo on Burton's car because of NASCAR's deal with Nextel, which sponsors NASCAR's top series -- the Nextel Cup. "We must bring this issue to resolution," John Burbank, vice president of marketing for AT&T, said in a statement. "The season is well under way and so are our rebranding efforts. This filing is a logical next step for us in the process, and one we must pursue so that we can simply move forward with our paint scheme -- something our agreement with NASCAR allows us to do." AT&T officials acknowledge they agreed to a contract with Childress' team that contains provisions saying Cingular can't increase the size or placement of its logo on the car and can't switch its sponsorship to another team. But they say the contract does not contain language preventing a logo change if Cingular is bought out by another company. NASCAR and Nextel officials declined comment when the lawsuit was filed. The lawsuit seeks permission to make the logo switch and damages for the "substantial harm" NASCAR has caused to the company. The lawsuit calls altering the design of the #31 car an "integral part" of the company's brand name switch, and that NASCAR's refusal to allow it inhibits the company's ability to "attract new customers and retain existing ones."(AP/ESPN.com), see past news on the AT&T lawsuit and Cingular on my #31 Team Schemes page.(3-26-2007)
    UPDATE - NASCAR fires back: AT&T has been pressuring NASCAR with its lawsuit over how to paint the quarter panels on Jeff Burton's Nextel Cup #31 Chevy car as it rebrands Cingular under the AT&T logo. According to papers being filed in the suit, NASCAR officials told Stan Sigman, the president and CEO of Cingular, five weeks ago that in April 2005, George Pyne, NASCAR's CEO at the time, told the Richard Childress-Burton team that it would not allow a change in paint scheme or logos if Cingular was bought and had its name changed. NASCAR further said that its grandfathering of Cingular - after Nextel signed on as the series sponsor - "was tied directly to the Cingular Wireless brand and not the Cingular company." The papers further say that "it is generally not in NASCAR's interest to limit sponsors' participation in the sport." NASCAR suggested that AT&T could sponsor a Busch team or a Trucks team instead, if it wished. That is precisely the route that Verizon has taken. NASCAR's filing refers specifically to Pyne's letter to Childress, dated April 4, 2005. It specifies that "should Cingular be acquired by a third party, the Cingular brand is continually welcome as a team sponsor. However, should the company's name change, we will not allow any paint scheme or branding on the car promoting this new name." The papers go on to say: "NASCAR certainly has no desire to eliminate the Cingular brand from NASCAR Nextel Cup series competition." But, "unfortunately AT&T's decision to purchase Cingular and then to eliminate the Cingular brand puts NASCAR in the position of having to now enforce the rights granted Nextel in the series sponsorship agreement."(in part from the Winston Salem Journal)(3-28-2007)

  • Burton hopes for resolution soon with AT&T suit: #31-Jeff Burton says his Richard Childress Racing team can't wait long for a resolution to its AT&T lawsuit against NASCAR. That's why he's keenly awaiting to see if AT&T will get the injunction it's asking for to be allowed to put the AT&T logos on the car in place of Cingular. AT&T and Cingular merged earlier this year, and AT&T is phasing out the Cingular brand. AT&T wants to put its logos on the #31 Nextel Cup car, but NASCAR has said that conflicts with NASCAR's sponsorship agreement with Nextel. No hearings have yet been set in AT&T's request for a temporary injunction as well as a permanent injunction for it to be allowed to remain as a Cup sponsor. NASCAR has not yet responded to the lawsuit, which was filed March 16 in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. "It can't linger," Burton said Friday. "An injunction will have a much quicker decision than a regular court case, and then it still will go to court later. ... If AT&T is told it can't come back, then we have people that we have to feed, people that have house payments and have a life they have to live and they have to be paid. We can't be caught in the position of not having sponsorship going into '08. And if AT&T raised their hand and say, 'We're going to get out and fight it later,' they might not ever be able to get back in." When NASCAR negotiated a 10-year deal with Nextel in 2003 worth an estimated, $700-$750 million, it grandfathered in Cingular but not AT&T. The Cingluar sponsorship was set to run out at the end of the year, and AT&T wants to renew but must now wait for the courts.(SceneDaily.com)(3-24-2007)

  • AT&T to sue NASCAR to place logos on #31 UPDATE and image: The cell-phone industry's ruthless fight has spilled over into NASCAR, and landed squarely on the hood of Jeff Burton's #31 Chevy. AT&T's wireless unit, formerly known as Cingular Wireless, planned to file a lawsuit later on Friday in Atlanta's U.S. District Court against NASCAR. The suit will center around AT&T's sponsorship on the #31 Chevrolet driven by Burton. The car has traditionally been sponsored by Cingular, with its familiar orange paint scheme. Though federal regulators approved AT&T's acquisition of BellSouth and its wireless unit Cingular on Dec. 29, NASCAR will not allow AT&T logos to appear on the #31 car because it would violate its current agreement with Sprint Nextel, which owns the naming right to NASCAR's top series. "We're filing a lawsuit to protect the right to transition from Cingular to AT&T on the #31 car," AT&T spokesperson Clay Owen said Friday afternoon. NASCAR officials were not immediately available for comment. Burton's car will continue to sport the Cingular Wireless paint scheme for this weekend's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-16-2007)
    UPDATE: AT&T Inc., owner of the largest U.S. mobile phone carrier, sued NASCAR after meeting resistance to its efforts to replace the Cingular brand with the AT&T brand on the #31 Chevy car that the company sponsors. “NASCAR’s refusal is apparently a result of its fealty to Spring Nextel Corp., a wireless provider that, since 2004, has been lead sponsor of NASCAR’s ‘Cup Series,’ which is a series of NASCAR’s highest profile races,” stated AT&T in a complaint for injunctive relief. The complaint, filed in federal court in Atlanta, also seeks a declaratory ruling and damages. AT&T, which acquired the remaining 40% ownership of Cingular Wireless L.L.C. in its acquisition of BellSouth Corp. late last year, has a sponsorship agreement with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) that runs from 2005 through 2007, with an exclusive right to negotiate a renewal beyond 2007, the suit said. RCR owns the #31 car, which is driven by Jeff Burton. “NASCAR granted Sprint Nextel a lead sponsor of the Cup Series, exclusivity as the sole communications provider sponsoring NASCAR racing, and it is apparently on this basis that NASCAR refuses to permit RCR to alter the design of the #31 car,” the AT&T suit stated. Andrew Giangola, director of business communications for NASCAR, said the motorsports organization does not comment on litigation. However, Giangola pointed out that NASCAR’s contract with Sprint Nextel grandfathered both Cingular and Alltel Corp. into the competition, allowing Cingular and Alltel to participate in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series as team sponsors indefinitely as long as the firms did not change the scope of their sponsorship (beyond a team) or the actual name and brand on the race car. He said only the “Cingular” and “Alltel” brands are permitted on cars competing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. “This has been and remains NASCAR’s position,” said Giangola. The issue is notable as Cingular and Sprint Nextel have previously battled over a variety of issues, including advertising claims.(source: rcrnews.com), see an image of the proposed Cingular/AT&T scheme on my #31 Team Schemes page.(3-20-2007)

  • AT&T Rolls Out Burton Blog: #31-Jeff Burton now sharing his views on this year's season in a new blog available only through the MEdia Net Racing Portal from the wireless unit of AT&T Inc. Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy and 18-time Cup Series winner, is launching the Burton Blog, a unique perspective on a variety of issues ranging from candid reviews of his race performances to light-hearted commentary on pop culture. Cingular, now AT&T, is making the unique content available to its more than 61 million customers exclusively on its MEdia Net Racing Portal. Continuing through the end of the Cup season in November, new Burton Blog entries will be posted several times a week in the "Cingular Exclusives" section of the MEdia Net Racing Portal. Fans can participate in the Burton Blog mailbag by submitting a text message with a question to "JB31" (5-2-3-1). Burton will answer select questions throughout the season. Other content available on the Racing Portal includes Jayski.com text alerts of news and in-race results, NASCAR.com To Go and racing-themed ringtones and wallpapers. Fans with 3G capable handsets can view weekly exclusive video insight on Burton and the #31 Chevrolet. Cingular Video features pre- and post-race video analysis from Burton and TEAM Cingular members, filmed on location at the Richard Childress Racing team shop. Customers can access the Racing Portal and the Burton Blog on their wireless handset by launching the MEdia Net option and then visiting the main Sports home page. Customers can access the Burton race reviews and previews on their 3G handsets by launching Cingular Video and visiting the Richard Childress Racing option on the main Sports page of MEdia Net. Standard MEdia Net data-usage charges and text-message charges apply.(Career Sports & Entertainment PR)(3-10-2007)

  • Childress to Speak March 8 at Neurosurgeon Convention: Richard Childress will give a speech March 8 to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (AANS/CNS). The speech, entitled "The Importance of Teamwork," is part of the 2007 AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves Annual Meeting at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix. The 10-time NASCAR championship team owner and winning team owner of the 2007 Daytona 500 was invited to speak to the group by his friend, Charles L. Branch Jr., MD, chair of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, and a practicing neurosurgeon at Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.(RCR PR)(3-8-2007)

  • Burton comments on Martin; Martin testing at Bristol: Mark Martin signed up to run 22 races in the #01 US Army Chevy in 2007. However, with his success in the first two races cause him to re-think that plan? “I’d bet almost anybody right now today that Mark Martin runs all 38 races” said fellow driver and long-time friend #31-Jeff Burton. “Matt (Kenseth) and I told him (Martin) before the Daytona 500 that we both bet that he would run every race. I believed it before the year started and I believe it even more today.” Burton felt all along that if Martin would be up front competing for wins it would be almost impossible for him to give up his ride to Regan Smith for 16 races. “I know him really well” said Burton. “I hate to use this analogy but he’s like a drug addict that can’t get away from it…and that’s a horrible analogy but this is an addicting thing and when you’re having success it’s much, much harder to walk away. The only way that he wouldn’t is if they’d gone to Daytona and got in a wreck or gone to California and had some kind of problem. Mark Martin isn’t going to have a car owner look him in the eye and say, “Hey, we have a chance to win a championship and him say well I’m not riding. I know he’s not going to. He can say all he wants to but he’s not scheduled to run Bristol but who’s doing the Bristol test? Mark Martin.” While the official Bristol scoring rundown indicates Regan Smith was testing both US Army cars, Martin was in fact turning laps in the teams’ “A” machine.(PRN's Garage Pass radio show)(2-28-2007)

  • #31 Jackman needs surgery: #31-Team Cingular jackman Josh Yost will undergo surgery to his left ankle Thursday at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C. During a routine pit stop in last Sunday's Daytona 500, Yost's left Archilles tendon ruptured. Adam North, the jackman for the #29 Holiday Inn NBS team, will fill in for Yost beginning this weekend at California.(RCR PR)(2-21-2007)

  • News on the two injured crew members: It appears that Josh Yost, jack man for Jeff Burton's #31 Chevy, suffered his second serious Achilles' tendon injury in less than two years in Sunday's Daytona 500. Richard Childress Racing team spokesman David Hart said Yost suffered an injury to his left Achilles' tendon that doctors described as showing "classic signs of a rupture." In May 2005, Yost suffered a laceration to his right Achilles tendon at Talladega Superspeedway when he was struck by Rusty Wallace's Dodge on the pit lane. That took months to heal. Yost required a wheelchair and had to learn how to walk again. Hart said Yost flew home to North Carolina on Sunday in a splint and will see an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible Monday. Yost wasn't the only crewman injured Sunday. Jeremy Geiter, a crewmember on Mike Wallace's #09 team, suffered an injury to his left foot and ankle after being struck by #26-Jamie McMurray during a pit stop on Lap 176. Geiter told ESPN.com that he and the #09 team were pushing Wallace from the pit stall when McMurray, pitting behind them, pulled out and ran over his left foot. Geiter said doctors informed him he might have a hairline fracture, but that a sprain and bruise was likely the extent of the injury.(ESPN.com)(2-19-2007)

  • New sponsor for Burton? UPDATE 2 no, sponsor extends with NHIS: Nextel Cup driver Jeff Burton and New Hampshire International Speedway will conduct a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 11:30am/et at Boston Park Plaza Hotel [Boston, MA]. With recent news that Burton's Cingular sponsor has decided not to extend its relationship [have not heard that, just that AT&T was taking over Cingualr name] with Richard Childress Racing, its expected that Danvers-based Sylvania lighting company will become the #31 car's primary sponsor for the 2007 season. Sylvania also partners with NHIS by sponsoring the Sylvania 300 each September.(Boston Herald)
    UPDATE: been told by sources that the press conference at NHIS will be about LENOX becoimg more involved with the team somehow and about re-upping at the title sponsor for the July race at NHIS. Sources tell me that Cingular/AT&T will stay as the primary sponsor of the #31 RCR Chevy and Jeff Burton at least thru 2007.(1-22-2007)
    UPDATE 2: LENOX Industrial Tools, a leading manufacturer of premium power tool accessories, hand tools, torches and band saw blades announced it has extended its sponsorship of the LENOX Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS). For years to come, the summer Nextel Cup Series race at “The Magic Mile” will be known as the LENOX Industrial Tools 300. The announcement was made during a luncheon at The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers in Boston, Mass. After much success with the race entitlement last year, LENOX, based in East Longmeadow, Mass. (just 150 miles from New Hampshire International Speedway), decided to join the track with a long-term partnership. In addition to the race entitlement, LENOX will also have another presence. Jeff Burton, the driver with the most Nextel Cup Series wins at NHIS, will race a special white and blue #31 Chevy in the event with LENOX Industrial Tools Chevy as his primary sponsor. LENOX is also an associate sponsor on Burton’s Richard Childress Racing car throughout the 2007 season. Advance tickets for the LENOX Industrial Tool 300 are on sale now, please call Speedway Guest Services at 603-783-4931 or visit the track website at www.nhis.com for more information.(Pro Sports Management & Marketing/LENOX PR), no terms were released.(1-25-2007)

  • More on the Cingular Sponsorship Story: Team owner Richard Childress is still hopeful a solution can be reached that will allow him to keep his sponsor on his #31 Nextel Cup car. Cingular is the current sponsor, but that company has been bought by AT&T. The AT&T brand cannot be put on the car because of Nextel's agreement to sponsor NASCAR's premier series. Nextel grandfathered existing sponsorships for Cingular and Alltel, but its NASCAR agreement does not allow any changes. "I'm going to let that ball roll on its own, that globe roll on its own," Childress said Tuesday in reference to AT&T's logo. "I laid some plans out there, and it's up to NASCAR to make that call." NASCAR is still looking for a possible solution. "We are positive we will be able to come to an amicable relationship with those guys and look forward to 2007," said NASCAR Vice President of Operations Steve O'Donnell. "We're working with folks at Cingular and Richard Childress Racing." O'Donnell said the AT&T brand cannot be on the car. "Is there a way that we can work with Sprint [which has taken over Nextel in a merger] and figure out what might work?" O'Donnell said about the discussions. "At the end of the day, we need team sponsors." Dean Kessel, who handles the Nextel Cup marketing program for Sprint, said he has not been involved in any discussions, leaving it up to NASCAR and RCR to figure out if there is a solution. "Paint schemes have to be approved, and [NASCAR officials] are charged with protecting our rights," Kessel said. The issue is not new. The team has been aware of the situation since the Cingular-AT&T merger was first discussed nearly a year ago. Childress called Nextel a great series sponsor, and the negotiations continue. "I'm going to leave all of that up to those guys to work that out," Childress said. "We're just going to try to win some races this year with Cingular Wireless. [NASCAR] controls the paint schemes and stuff like that. Right now, we're working through any details on that." Kessel said he didn't think the new iPhone, a product of Cingular and Apple, could be on the car.(SceneDaily.com)(1-24-2007)
    MORE: Dean Kessel, director of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series marketing for Sprint Nextel, said it is written in Nextel's contract that they can only have one name change . In other words, they can only change their name from the Nextel Cup Series once. But it's also written that if Cingular and Alltel want to sponsor cars while Nextel is the title sponsor, they can, but they can't make a name change. Kessel was very adamant about not altering his feelings on that point.(Larry McReynolds/FoxSports)(1-24-2007)

  • Cingular / AT&T hope to stay as #31 sponsor: #31-Jeff Burton said sponsor Cingular would like to stay in the sport and is looking at ways to remain a car sponsor while changing its name to AT&T. When Nextel signed the title sponsorship for NASCAR's premier series in June 2003, it grandfathered in Cingular and Alltel as team sponsors. It prohibited other telecommunication companies from becoming team sponsors and prohibited any moves by Cingular and Alltel to other teams or, in case of a merger or name change, to a new brand. With Cingular's merger with AT&T and the Cingular name being phased out, the sponsorship of the #31 Richard Childress Racing team and Burton is up in the air because AT&T cannot be branded on the car. Cingular is in its final year of its deal with RCR. "I can tell you that Cingular is extremely excited about their involvement with AT&T," Burton said Monday. "I can tell you that they're extremely excited about being involved in this sport. They love their sponsorship opportunity and they're going to do everything in their power to continue it. It's an interesting situation to be in, and time will tell exactly what happens. But from a marketing standpoint, it certainly is going to require some creativity and it's going to require some interesting strategies. But they're committed to doing what it takes to make it work, and I'm confident that they will."(SceneDaily.com)(1-16-2007)

  • Cingular name going away? UPDATE yes: The largest wireless service provider in the United States, Cingular Wireless, will soon undergo a name change. This carrier had been jointly owned by AT&T and BellSouth, but last week AT&T finally got Federal permission to acquire BellSouth. As the sole owner of Cingular, AT&T has said in the past that it intends to change the carrier's name to "AT&T Wireless". The re-branding is expected to happen over the next several months. This wireless service provider's headquarters will remain in Atlanta.(cdrinfo.com)
    MORE: Cingular's sponsorship contract with Richard Childress Racing expires at the end of the 2007 season, but the Cingular name will expire before then, leaving the branding of the #31 car driven by Jeff Burton up in the air, according to a story in this week's NASCAR Scene. With the Bell South-AT&T merger approved Dec. 29, AT&T has announced that it is phasing out the Cingular name and replacing it with AT&T. That's a problem for RCR's #31 team because it cannot change the name on the hood of the car. When Nextel became NASCAR's top series sponsor in 2004, the sponsorship agreement grandfathered in existing team-sponsor telecommunications relationships, but it does not permit any changes. Sprint Nextel's Dean Kessel confirmed that remains the group's position Jan. 3. Cingular spokesman Clay Owen would not speculate about the future of the sponsorship. "We look forward to the start of the 2007 NASCAR season with Jeff Burton behind the wheel of the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet," Owen said in a statement Jan. 5. "It's an exciting time as we begin the early planning stages of transitioning our brand into the AT&T family." Kessel said there is no wiggle room to allow a change. "We grandfathered in the companies that were involved in the sport, and that was our take," he said. "We're not looking to renegotiate anything." Part of the Bell South-AT&T merger includes yellowpages.com. Kessel said Sprint hadn't investigated whether that would be permissible as a possible replacement for the team. Cingular could still sponsor a car in the Busch Series or Craftsman Truck Series.(SceneDaily.com)(1-10-2007)
    UPDATE: AT&T Inc. will begin next week to extinguish the brand of cellphone operator Cingular to imprint its more-than-century-old name firmly across its services. AT&T (Charts), which took full control of No. 1 U.S. mobile carrier Cingular with its $86 billion purchase of BellSouth Corp. last month, will launch a campaign Monday to mark the change. In its first stage, Cingular will share its orange logo of a bouncing jack with the AT&T globe logo on everything from television ads to sales uniforms and monthly bills. AT&T's name and logo will eventually replace Cingular in a process expected to take several months, with the exact timing determined as more customer feedback comes in, Wendy Clark, vice president of advertising at AT&T, said. One new ad will portray a familiar Cingular image - grain harvesters mowing a field to represent "bars" showing maximum cellphone reception. But in a new take, the harvesters will change direction and mow the AT&T globe out of the stalks. The new AT&T was formed in the merger of SBC Communications and AT&T Corp. in late 2005. Adding to the mix, in late 2004 Cingular bought AT&T Wireless, eradicating that brand because of its poor reputation among customers.(CNN)
    NO WORD how this effects the sponsorship of the #31 Chevy Jeff Burton drives for Richard Childress Racing as it is not mentioned in the article and have not heard.(1-12-2007)

  • Jeff Burton tests COT at Phoenix: #31-Jeff Burton wrapped up a day of testing the COT [Car of Tomorrow] Goodyear Tire test at Phoenix International Raceway on Wednesday.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(1-11-2007)

    2006 News

  • Testing at Nashville: been told #55-Michael Waltrip, #00-David Reutimann and #31-Jeff Burton were testing on Wednesday, Dec 13th at Nashville Superspeedway AND also....Darrell Waltrip was helping brother Michael by testing a Toyota Camry.(12-14-2006)

  • Neighbors not happy with RCR engine noise, RCR working on problem: Until a few months ago, racing the engines at the Richard Childress Racing [#'s 07,29,31,33 in Nextel Cup] garage in Welcome, NC was never a problem, according to residents. Then, the team cleared 10 acres of forest between its buildings and nearby neighborhoods for its expansion. Those trees served as a muffler for the noise. Now that they're gone, people say the noise is unbearable. Some neighbors said the noise rattles their windows. Monday night, the Davidson County Commissioners granted RCR a zoning request that green lights the expansion. While the neighbors were disappointed with the decision, RCR spokesman Bill Patterson said the racing team will plant cypress trees along the back property line to create a buffer. Patterson also said the team has spent $500,000 on reducing noise and will do more. Neighbors said they'd like to see a sound reduction wall.(wxii12.com)(12-12-2006)

  • Headbanger Rachtman to get head shaved on NASCAR Raceday: In February, at the Daytona 500, TV and Radio personality, Riki Rachtman, was on stage at the Chevy fanfest in front of thousands of fans. As a fan of Nextel Cup driver #31-Jeff Burton, Riki told the audience that when the driver of the # 31 Cingular Wireless Chevy won a race he would shave his head bald. After a winless streak of 5 years, Jeff Burton scored a victory at Dover. That was Sept 24th. Live on “NASCAR Raceday” (Speed TV) host and NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace challenged Riki to come to the Phoenix NASCAR race and have his head shaved live on the show. “NASCAR Raceday” is the definitive pre-race program that gets fans pumped and ready for the adrenaline rush of each race. After taunts from the other hosts Jimmy Spencer and John Roberts, Riki reluctantly agreed. "You gotta respect a man of his word," said Chris Long, Speed VP of Production. "NASCAR Raceday” is the ultimate fan show and we love that Riki is going to honor his promise to Jeff Burton on our show and in front of the NASCAR fans."
    “I have always been a fan of the program “NASCAR Raceday,” said Riki Rachtman. “At first I thought, how cool. I get to be a guest on the show. Then when it sunk in why I was going to be on the show, I got a little nervous.” Riki also claims he dug up some dirt on Kenny Wallace and he will reveal it on the program.
    Who is Riki Rachtman ? The answer depends on who you ask. Many remember Riki as the host of the highly rated MTV show, “Headbangers Ball” [a huge Jayski Fave]. Today he is a regular on the music channel, VH1. Yes, many people still know Riki from the world of rock n’ roll. Riki has a passion for NASCAR as much as he has for music. In the spring of 2003, “Racing Rocks! with Riki Rachtman,” debuted. In October of 2006 United Stations EVP/Programming Andy Denemark, made the announcement from the network’s New York City Headquarters that “Racing Rocks with Riki Rachtman” had secured its 100th affiliate. “Racing Rocks with Riki Rachtman” is a two-hour weekly long-form program that provides rock fans coast-to-coast with news, exclusive insights, interviews and dedicated coverage from the world of NASCAR, primarily the Nextel Cup racing series. The show is driven by the star power of its host and NASCAR’S massive fan base.(PR)(11-10-2006)

  • Holiday Inn/RCR Cup debut Nov 19th UPDATE: no real details, but on the Holidayinn.com site, it shows [bottom right corner] a #29 Holiday Inn Chevy [which has been raced by Jeff Burton for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the Busch Series] but it has a driver 'greened' out and says "November 19: The Last Race, A Cup Debut, A New Teammate", the teammate could be Scott Wimmer, who has been testing for RCR lately and has been rumored to be running a partial Busch/Cup scheduled for RCR in 2007, possibly in the #33 4th RCR Chevy.(11-8-2006)
    UPDATE: Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts will expand its winning Busch Series program with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in 2007 to a full season of competition with co-drivers Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer. The program is the next step of this season’s 10-race program with Burton behind the wheel of the #29 Holiday Inn Chevy. In those ten starts, Burton earned one victory (June 3 at Dover International Speedway in Delaware), five top-five and seven top-10 finishes. Wimmer is also scheduled to drive RCR’s #33 Chevy with sponsorship from Holiday Inn, in this season’s Nextel Cup Series season finale, Nov. 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “It’s an honor to be able to continue and grow our relationship with an American icon like Holiday Inn,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Jeff Burton, Pat Smith (crew chief) and the entire team have done a solid job on the competition side and the folks at Holiday Inn have done a great job in promoting their program to their customers. We’ve had pretty good success the past couple of years running a two-driver program and we think that will only continue with the Holiday Inn team in 2007.” Burton and Wimmer will split the 35-race season down the middle, though which driver runs an 18th race is yet to be determined. Plans for 2007 also call for Wimmer to compete in two still-to-be-determined Nextel Cup Series events in RCR’s #33 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS with primary sponsorship from Holiday Inn. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to drive for Richard Childress and his Busch Series program,” said Wimmer. “Being teamed up with Jeff Burton, and having Kevin and Clint (Bowyer) to draw from, is one of the big reasons why I decided to drive for RCR. I’ve raced in NASCAR for almost six years and have never had a teammate. It’s something I’ve always been missing in my career so I’m really looking forward to it, especially with someone the caliber of Jeff Burton. Growing up in the Midwest, I think I had every birthday party from the time I can remember until I was 14 or so at a Holiday Inn Holidome so it’s great to be driving for them. We had a lot of fun in those Holidomes and I’m looking forward to having just as much fun in their race cars.” Call 1-800-HOLIDAY or log onto www.holidayinn.com for more information or to book a reservation.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(11-9-2006)

  • Outside the Lines ESPN Sunday 9:30am/et: #31-Team Cingular driver Jeff Burton is scheduled to be a guest on ESPN's 'Outside the Lines' Sunday, November 5 from Texas Motor Speedway. The Emmy Award winning series will air live at 9:30am/et.(11-2/4-2006)
    MORE In a garage in High Point, N.C., Toyota is preparing for its debut on the NASCAR scene. Its entry marks the first time a Japanese manufacturer will be allowed to compete in NASCAR and some are criticizing Toyota's lavish spending and technological onslaught. Toyota insists it has earned its way here and that, with 10 U.S. manufacturing plants, Toyota has become a part of the American automotive landscape. "Outside the Lines," (Sunday 9:30am/et - ESPN) takes a look at Toyota's arrival in stock-car racing. For more, click here.(11-5-2006)

  • Franchitti visits Texas: During Saturday's Nextel Cup Happy Hour practice session at Texas Motor Speedway, open wheel veteran Dario Franchitti was an observer on top of Jeff Burton's hauler. His visit was purely business. Franchitti shares a business relationship with one of Burton's team sponsors and the Scotsman was invited to attend and speak at a dinner in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Yahoo's Bob Margolis had a chance to chat with Franchitti, and the conversation turned to Franchitti's future. There had been some speculation during the summer that Franchitti perhaps was interested in a NASCAR ride. Obviously the interest was in passing – or maybe a way to leverage a better deal from his current team – as Franchitti acknowledged that he would be back in his Indy Racing League ride with Andretti Green Racing for the entire 2007 season. He also expects to race the entire season in the American Le Mans Series with AGR teammate Bryan Herta in AGR's recently announced Acura/Courage program. Might there be a NASCAR ride somewhere down the road for Franchitti? "Not in the immediate future," Franchitti said.(Yahoo Sports)(11-5-2006)

  • Burton and Childress to announce new partnership UPDATE 2: on Friday, November 3rd at Texas Motor Speedway, #31 team owner, Richard Childress and driver Jeff Burton, along with a New Sponsor Representative will be announcing a new partnership for the 2007 NASCAR season.(RCR PR)(11-3-2006)
    UPDATE: on Speed Channel's NASCAR Live, Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 Cingular Chevy for RCR, said LENOX Industrial Tools will be a major associate sponsor for the team in 2007 and be the primary sponsor at Richmond in May and New Hampshire in July.(Speed Channel's NASCAR Live)(11-3-2006)
    UPDATE 2: Lenox Industrial Tools has partnered with Richard Childress Racing and driver Jeff Burton in a multi-year sponsorship agreement beginning with the 2007 Cup season. LENOX will be an associate sponsor throughout the season on Burton’s #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy. The LENOX logo will appear on the rear quarter panels of the car just behind the rear wheels. In addition, LENOX will serve as the primary sponsor of the #31 in two races during the 2007 season – May 5 at Richmond International Raceway and July 1 at New Hampshire International Speedway (located less than 150 miles from LENOX’s home headquarters). This season’s July New Hampshire event was known as the LENOX Industrial Tools 300. LENOX, which will utilize the partnership through marketing and advertising initiatives, has an extensive product line including the LENOX Gold bi-metal reciprocating saw blades; LENOX Gold bi-metal utility blades and knives; LENOX ARMOR Rx+ bi-metal coated band saw blades for cutting structurals and tubing; and the LENOX all-in-one screwdriver, just to mention a few. For more information see www.LENOXsaw.com.(RCR PR)(11-4-2006)

  • #31 Pit Crew to be honored: The #31 Team Cingular pit crew will be awarded Mechanix Wear's third quarter 'Most Valuable Pit Crew Award' during the Bank of America 500 pre-race ceremonies. The award was voted on by the NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs. An outstanding pit crew is selected each quarter of the season and one of the quarterly winners will be chosen as the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew at season end and awarded $75,000.(RCR PR)(10-11-2006)

  • RCR Cars to carry special sticker: Each of the three RCR Cup Series entries [#07, #29, #31] will carry a Down Syndrome Awareness Month decal this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway to promote acceptance and inclusion of individuals born with this genetic condition. The Down syndrome community has been celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month each October since 1981.(RCR PR)(10-11-2006)

  • Wimmer to RCR? hearing that Scott Wimmer, who parted ways with Morgan-McClure Motorsports on Tuesday, will have a ride with a Richard Childress Racing Busch Series team in 2007.(10-4-2006)

  • #31 back in the winners circle: Jeff Burton is only the 2nd person to ever win a Cup race running the #31 after winning at Dover on Sept 24, 2006. Robby Gordon [also for RCR] was the last winner in the #31, at Watkins Glen in August 2003 and was the first winner ever in the #31 at New Hampshire in November 2001, the #31 has now won four times, see more about wins by car numbers on my Wins by Car# page.(9-26-2006)

  • Jeff Burton wins at Dover: #31-Jeff Burton won the Dover 400 at Dover International Speedway for his 1st win of 2006 and first in 175 races ago, at Phoenix in Oct 2001, the 18th of his career and vaults the #31 Cingular Wireless driver into the points lead for the first time since May 1999. Burton led only 6 laps, the final 6 laps, dueling with #17-Matt Kenseth [who led the most laps 215] until passing Kenseth on lap 394. Kenseth then ran out of fuel on the final lap and finished 10th. Rounding out the top 10 were: #99-Edwards, #24-Gordon, #2-Busch, #16-Biffle, #1-Truex Jr. [best career finish], #43-Labonte, #07-Bowyer and #17-Kenseth. Points leader, #29-Kevin Harvick was running in the top-10 when his engine failed on lap 366, dropping him out of the points lead. Three other Chasers had rough days with #9-Kasey Kahne getting caught up early in a #20-Stewart spin finishing 38th, #5-Kyle Busch lost an engine and finished 40th and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. had some tire issues, finishing 21st down 3 laps. There were 9 leaders with 12 lead changes and 10 cautions for 48 laps.
    Race Results on my New Hampshire Race Results/Awards Page.
    Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after New Hampshire page
    Race Rundown: see my Dover Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(9-24-2006)

  • RCR Forms Partnership with Metris: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) is investing in a multi-million dollar partnership with Metris to utilize the Belgium-based company’s integrated metrology solutions for use in the production of the nine-time NASCAR champion racing organization’s engines and race cars. Metris, with U.S. operations in Detroit, California and Virginia, will supply RCR with proven high-technology metrology systems, both contact and optical, and the expertise to improve the aerodynamics and boost the performance of its engines. The partnership is another strategic move in RCR’s continuing bid to boost the performance of its cars with winning technology. “We’re partnering with Metris because of its impressive range of advanced metrology products,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We’re confident that the expertise its engineers have demonstrated will help us to push the performance of our race cars to the next level. The technology involved in NASCAR today continues to grow and RCR’s partnership with Metris will put us on the cutting edge in both the engine and fabrication shops.” Metris provides integrated solutions for automotive and aerospace metrology. The portfolio comprises Coordinate-Measuring Machines (CMM), Optical CMM, 3D Laser Scanners, Laser Radar and iGPS systems along with Focus, the leading inspection and reverse engineering software. “Having Metris’ equipment on-site at RCR will help facilitate our engine and body fabrication sides of the business,” said Bobby Hutchens, RCR’s vice president of research and development. “On the fab side, it will provide us with the technology to more precisely duplicate our bodies and, on the engine side, will ensure that both the parts we purchase from outside sources as well as those produced by RCR’s Okuma Technology Center meet our current specifications.” More info about Metris at www.metris.com. (RCR PR)(9-22-2006)

  • Ex-employee's lawsuit claims improprieties in engine shop at RCR UPDATE Statement by Childress: .A lawsuit filed by a former Richard Childress Racing employee includes specific allegations that engines the team used in events at 2006 Speedweeks at Daytona were designed to defeat NASCAR rules. The team denies the allegations. Anthony Corrente, who lost his job as assistant manager for engine research and development for RCR earlier this year, filed his suit Wednesday in Mecklenburg County superior court. It alleges wrongful termination, defamation and breach of contract against the team, which fields Nextel Cup cars for #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer. Corrente said he inspected an engine from Harvick’s #29 Chevy after the Budweiser Shootout and found it had been altered to allow more air to enter, which would be contrary to the purpose of carburetor restrictor plates used at the Daytona track. “Inserts were placed in the four outside corners of the cylinder head where the manifold is attached,” the lawsuit says. When tightened, the bottom of the bolts hit these inserts, leaving room for air to get in between the intake manifold and the cylinder head. Such air would get to the engine beneath the restrictor plate, which is designed specifically to limit the flow of air. More air means more power, at least in theory. The suit also says that Burton won the pole for this year’s Daytona 500 with another engine that had the same modifications. Burton’s engine passed NASCAR inspection following the qualifying session. David Hart, a spokesman for Richard Childress Racing, said Thursday that Corrente’s allegations are untrue. “We will deal with them in the courts,” Hart said. Corrente left Joe Gibbs Racing in July 2005, signing a three-year contract with a two-year renewal option at RCR. He said he was fired after a conversation with Harvick in May during a test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, where Harvick’s team had tested an engine built to Corrente’s specifications that differed from what the team had been doing. See full story by David Poole at ThatsRacin.(9-21-2006)
    UPDATE Statement by Richard Childress: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), regarding allegations made in a lawsuit filed by a former employee: "The allegations made about RCR in a lawsuit filed by a disgruntled former employee are absolutely untrue. Specifically, our cars passed NASCAR inspection both before and after qualifying for the 2006 Daytona 500. Additional allegations made are also untrue. We will make no further comments until after the issue is resolved in a court of law."(RCR PR)(9-22-2006)

  • More on the Speed Channel/RCR Wheels Report: per NASCAR Live with Eli Gold, Kevin Harvick comments, "We have an inspection process that happens every week. The ironic part about it is that our wheels are taken to the racetrack by a wheel company every week. Really, the only thing you can touch is the valve stem. And the report was, that, you know, I don't even know, laser cut holes in the wheels. So, there's really no possible way that you could even wind up knowing what corner that the wheels are going to be mounted on, because the tires are already mounted when you get to the race track. If somebody would have just done their homework for thirty seconds or a couple of minutes and just figured out exactly what they were doing, they would have realized they would have realized that it's virtually impossible to do what they reported. So, it's just unfortunate that we've spent the whole week talking about Bob Dillner instead of talking about our win, and that's unfortunate for the Speed Channel that they are where they are in their journalism state of reporters."(MRN Radio)(9-21-2006)

  • Issue with #29 and #31 cars after race at NHIS UPDATE's NASCAR denies; RCR & Speed's statements: FoxSports/Speed's Bob Dilner reports: have learned that there was an issue with the winning car of #29-Kevin Harvick and also his teammate, #31-Jeff Burton, in postrace tech [at New Hampshire Intl Speedway in the Cup race]. That issue surrounded the actual [wheel] rim of the race car. The team apparently manipulated that rim to act as a bleeder valve to release air pressure from that rim. In English, it was performance advantage for the RCR team. Now, it was not against anything in the rule book so there won't be any fines or points penalties later on this week, but they have been told not to do it again.(more at FoxSports)(9-18-2006)
    UPDATE: Race winner Kevin Harvick and his teammate, Jeff Burton, did not have any problems in post race tech Sunday night at Loudon. Late Sunday night, it was reported that the Richard Childress Racing teams had manipulated their rims to act as a bleeder valve to release air pressure from the rim. According to NASCAR however, the issue of the rims never surfaced during post race tech. “We’ve been checking valves and valve stems for about 4 months now,” said Jim Hunter Vice President of Corporate Communications for NASCAR said Monday. “What it was, was one reporter trying to make something that wasn’t there. Then another reporter went on TV and reported it as fact, when it was actually totally untrue. It was one reporter’s unsubstantiated fantasy,”(Cupscene.com)
    AND The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), regarding allegations in the media after the Sept. 19 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway that two of RCR's teams had manipulated the rules: "Reports in the media, specifically on SPEED TV, that one or more of our NEXTEL Cup Series teams was found by NASCAR to be manipulating the rules yesterday at New Hampshire International Speedway are false and misleading. Our cars passed post-race inspection and officials at NASCAR assured us last night and again today that no one from RCR was told at any time not to bring a part back to the race track. The reported events and conversations did not happen. Our focus remains on two of our teams competing for the championship and the other finishing as high in the points as possible.(RCR PR) SPEED statement: SPEED issues the following response to statements made by NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing regarding a story filed by SPEED reporter Bob Dillner during the Sept. 17 LIVE broadcast of The SPEED Report. "SPEED reporter Bob Dillner has a strong record of solid reporting from the NASCAR garage; so there is no rational reason for us to consider that the events and conversations he related to SPEED viewers are anything other than the truth," said Chris Long, SPEED Executive Producer for NASCAR programming.(SpeedTV.com) AND Kevin Harvick told Sirius Speedway that he believes a rival team was behind Sunday's SPEED TV report alleging that NASCAR had discovered issues with the team's right-front wheels. "I absolutely think it was a plant from another team," said Harvick. "NASCAR didn't say anything, so it's pretty obvious to me where it came from. It's an attempt to try and distract us from what we're doing, but they're going to have to do a lot better than that." Harvick said he knows who planted the story, but declined to name names. (Sirius Speedway/MRN Radio)(9-18-2006)
    UPDATE 3: Car owner Richard Childress told Benny Parsons during Monday night’s PRN's “Fast Talk radio show" that a Speed Channel report that RCR manipulated a rim giving the 29 car a performance advantage at New Hampshire was not true. Childress said reporter Bob Dilner “Got some bad information and he talked about it before he knew all the facts." Childress fielded many phone calls from various sponsors about the story, but he did not chastise Dilner. “I’ve got to say something for Bob Dilner. He did not report that on purpose. He didn’t do it out of anything derogatory to RCR or Jeff or Kevin. Its part of you guys (the media) job sometimes…you report things and maybe you don’t get the whole story.” Meanwhile the incident brought back some fond memories to the long-time car owner who won six championships with Dale Earnhardt. “All it did was made me think back to the days when Dale and RCR was winning and running good. You know, nobody ever loses…if you’ve ever heard that story...it’s because somebody’s doing something wrong to win. So, naturally with Kevin’s performance the last few weeks and RCR’s performance this year, people are going to say things.”(PRN's "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons" radio show)(9-19-2006)

  • Peters to RCR? UPDATE: Dodge released Timothy Peters as driver of the Craftsman Series #4 truck, Bobby Hamilton Racing announced Tuesday. However, Peters shouldn’t be without a ride for long. After racing for two seasons with Bobby Hamilton Racing, Peters is expected to sign with Richard Childress Racing as early as this weekend in New Hampshire. Phone messages left with Richard Childress Racing were not immediately returned, and Peters said he couldn’t comment on his future. “I’m not at liberty to say anything,” he said. In 17 Truck Series races this season, Peters has one top-10 finish - placing sixth on June 23 at Milwaukee. He has three career top-10 finishes in 33 Truck Series starts, and is currently 19th in the points standings. “We brought Timothy Peters in as a rookie, and with some seat time under his belt he has proven to be a hot commodity,” team owner Bobby Hamilton said in a release. A potential deal with RCR would join Peters with Danville native Peyton Sellers, who is in RCR’s development program, and South Boston native Jeff Burton. For now the plan is to team back up with his Bailey’s South Boston team for the Bailey’s 300 late model race at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 1.(Danville Register Bee)(9-15-2006)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has signed Timothy Peters as a driver for its 2007 NASCAR Busch Series program. Peters raced the past two seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Bobby Hamilton Racing. A determination is forthcoming as to which of RCR’s Busch teams he will drive for. RCR is also scheduled to field a car for Peters in the Oct. 7 ARCA race at Talladega.(RCRRacing.com)(9-19-2006)

  • Cingular Revs up "Race Talk: The second half of the race season is underway and the top drivers are positioning themselves for a run at the championship. Cingular Wireless, primary sponsor of the #31 Chevy driven by Jeff Burton, is giving one lucky fan a chance to experience all of this excitement VIP-style at the last race of the season in Homestead, Fla. Cingular "Race Talk", which launches this month during motorsports coverage on NBC and TNT, gives viewers the chance to win a VIP trip for two to Miami, spending money and a customized #31 Cingular-branded golf cart. The sweepstakes is part of Cingular's popular on-air polling program that will air through November on race telecasts on NBC and TNT. Viewers are prompted to text message "RACE" to 191 and answer a race-specific question, with the results revealed on-air during the race broadcast. Information about the sweepstakes can be obtained at www.cingular31.com.(8-10-2006)

  • Senator Jeff Burton? After his racing career is over the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy driver plans to explore the political arena. “I’ve had the good fortune to spend a little bit of time with Senator (John) Kyl of Arizona quizzing him a little bit about what he does and how the Senate works” said Burton recently. “One of the things I’ve become discontented with politics is that I think that there are a lot of people in politics for the wrong reason. I could go into it without really having an agenda other than trying to do the right thing. I’m not going to do it now, but at some point in my life I’m going to look into it and see if there it’s something I could be successful at and if it’s something that I would enjoy. We’ll see what happens when that time comes.” Burton, a Republican who lives nears Charlotte wouldn’t be satisfied running for local or state office. “No, I’m gonna run for U.S. Senate if I do it. I want to do it at a big level. I think I’d have a chance in North Carolina to win and I’d want to have an impact on a national level. The people I’ve talked to said I have a chance so we’ll see.”(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(8-5-2006)

  • CarMax on the #31: CarMax, the nation's largest retailer of used cars, will join RCR’s #31 Cingular Chevy as an associate sponsor for The Brickyard 400 and the upcoming Sony HD 500 at California Speedway Labor weekend. Based in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 71 used car superstores in 34 markets throughout the United States and offers consumers a no hassle way of purchasing a car.(RCR PR)(8-2-2006)

  • Burton to visit ESPN and Online Chat Today: Prior to his arrival at New Hampshire International Speedway for the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 race weekend, #31 Team Cingular driver Jeff Burton will spend Thursday, July 13 in Bristol, Conn. at the ESPN campus. Burton is scheduled for a day-long media tour of various ESPN programs including Mike and Mike in the Morning, Sportscenter, ESPNews, ESPN.com, Cold Pizza, ESPN Radio and EOE, ESPN's in-house production company.(RCR PR)(7-12-2006)
    CHAT: fans can chat with Burton at ESPN.com on Thursday, July 13th at 3:50pm/et.(7-13-2006)

  • Cingular Giving Fan a Chance to win Burton's Pay-Day at Daytona: Once the green flag drops at the Daytona Beach stock car race on July 1, Russell Tillson will be in the stands cheering for Jeff Burton and the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy harder than anyone else. That's because when Burton wins, he wins. Even if Burton doesn't win, Tillson still wins. Thanks to a unique promotion by Cingular, Tillson is guaranteed of winning the same amount of money that Burton earns during the race, no matter where he finishes in the 43-car field. Tillson was randomly selected for the opportunity to "Win Jeff Burton's Pay-Day" from more than one million entries submitted between February and June. The sweepstakes was part of Cingular's Virtual Crew Chief program that aired during race telecasts on FOX and FX this year, prompting viewers to answer race-specific questions via wireless text messaging or online at foxsports.com, with the results revealed on-air during the race broadcast. Information about the sweepstakes was provided on Cingular31.com. As part of the grand prize, Tillson will get to travel to his first ever Daytona Beach race and root for the bright orange Cingular Chevy at one of motorsports' most famous tracks. Regardless of how Burton performs, Tillson is guaranteed an attractive payout. During last year's race, payouts ranged from $368,261 for the winner down to $80,725.(Career Sports & Entertainment/Cingular PR)(6-28-2006)

  • Childress interested in Gilliland: [#07,#29,#31] team owner Richard Childress said Sunday [at Infineon Raceway] that he is among those interested in signing David Gilliland to a contract. Gilliland, currently driving without a contract for a part-time, unsponsored entry in the Busch Series, has seen his stock skyrocket since winning the June 17 Busch race at Kentucky, then getting a weak car into Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Sonoma. "He's probably the hottest young commodity out there today," said Childress, who currently fields three Cup cars and won six Cup championships with the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. "There are several teams here that will be after him, but he'd definitely be a good fit for us." Childress noted that Gilliland's good character and family background (his father Butch was also a NASCAR driver) play into the 30-year-old's favor. Childress didn't shy away from expressing his interest in Gilliland, but said the driver might be better served to get more time in the Busch Series. Gilliland has just seven career Busch starts and made his Cup debut Sunday. "I think he has all it takes to become a Cup driver, I'll put it like that," Childress said. "I think he could win races in the Cup Series. I believe if I was him, I'd run a few more Busch races (first)."(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)(6-26-2006)

  • Burton's Team Grabs Pit Crew Challenge Win In Dover; Jeff Burton's pit crew took home the $10,500 first-place check for winning the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge in Sunday's Neighborhood Excellence 400 at Dover International Speedway. The #31 crew, which assisted its veteran driver to a fourth-place finish in the 400-lap, 400-mile Nextel Cup race, spent the least amount of time on pit road -- 395.590 seconds. Burton's over-the-wall crew includes: Josh Yost (jackman), Kevin Nervegna (front-tire carrier), Joe Zielinski (front-tire changer), Jason Fowler (rear-tire carrier), Aaron Smith (rear-tire changer), Larry Hartle (gasman), Rich Burgess (catch can) and Wes Adams (windshield). The pit crew coordinator is Corrine Mauldin. The #31 team became the eighth pit crew of the season to win the weekly Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge. A bonus of $105,000 will be presented to the team with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(6-7-2006)

  • Burton could test in Canada UPDATE NO: Jeff Burton probably will be the driver chosen to test a 750-horsepower Chevy on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve June 19 or 20 [2006]. By then, Canadian Formula One Grand Prix race promoter Normand Legault hopes to have confirmed a summer 2007 race in the Busch Series, a circuit populated by many Nextel Cup stars and by drivers being groomed for the top league. Legault expects to renew an Ile Notre Dame race-site lease soon with the city of Montreal, his landlord. The ink might not even be dry on that document when he announces a NASCAR race. The timing of a mid-June stock-car test would be ideal - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a temporary road course, will be in full race trim for the June 23-25 Grand Prix weekend, and Burton will be a short flight away, having run a Nextel Cup race in Brooklyn, Mich., on June 18.(Montreal Gazette)(5-23-2006)
    UPDATE: Jeff Burton is not scheduled to test a Busch Series car in Montreal as speculated by the Montreal Gazette.(RCR)(5-25-2006)

  • RCR to Sponsor Local Soap Box Derby: Richard Childress will lend support to his racing roots June 3 at Hobby Park in Winston-Salem for the Winston-Salem Area Soap Box Derby presented by Richard Childress Racing. The winner of this All-American Soap Box Derby "local race" will advance to the 69th annual All-American Soap Box Derby presented by Levi Strauss Signature, July 22 in Akron, Ohio. Childress was a teenager in the late 1950s when he and his brother, Larry Childress, went door to door in downtown Winston-Salem soliciting shop owners for funding to purchase a soap box derby kit. Nearly 50 years later, the wheels and axles from that soap box derby racer are on display in the RCR Racing Museum on the RCR campus. For further information, visit the web site of the Winston-Salem Area Soap Box Derby at wsasbd.com.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(5-18-2006)

  • Childress Vineyards Set to Release Racing Collection: Childress Vineyards is set to release its first collection of race-related wine sets celebrating the championship style of RCR Racing, one of NASCAR’s most winning franchises owned by Richard Childress. The Collector’s Edition sets will feature “Champion’s Blend” Meritage Red Wine individually boxed with two etched crystal Childress Vineyards logo wine glasses. Each of RCR’s car numbers, #29, #31, #21, and #2, will have its own label while a special bottling, called “Legendary,” is planned for the #3. The “Legendary” Limited Collector’s Edition will come in a boxed set along with two etched crystal wine glasses, featuring the number 3. Members of Childress Vineyards Fast Track Wine Club will have the first opportunity to order the Collector’s Edition boxed sets until April 30. Remaining supplies will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 15 with a limit of 3 per person. The sets will be sold exclusively at the winery in Lexington, N.C. Each will retail for $99.99. Wine club members will receive a discount of 15%.(RCR)(5-3-2006)

  • 4th RCR team,,,with Mears? denied: RCR team sources tell [Marty Smith - NASCAR.com] the organization would like to add a fourth team with [Casey] Mears [current driver of Ganassi's #42 Dodge] as driver, but RCR spokesman David Hart discounted the speculation Wednesday. "No decisions have been made to add a fourth team with Casey Mears or any other driver," Hart said.(NASCAR.com)(4-27-2006)

  • #31 jackman returns to Talladega: #31 Team Cingular jackman Josh Yost will return to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the first time since he was hit on pit road during last season’s Aaron’s 499, severely injuring his right foot and ankle. Following multiple surgeries to repair damage to the tendons in his ankle, Yost started walking in mid-July, began physical therapy in August, returned to work in the shop at RCR in November and then resumed his role as Team Cingular jackman in the 2006 season opening Daytona 500.(RCR PR)(4-26-2006)

  • New Burton/Cingular Commercial: Cingular Wireless, primary sponsor on Jeff Burton’s #31 Chevy, will debut a new commercial during the Subway Fresh 500. The new spot titled ‘Golf Cart’ features Burton and was shot earlier this season in Las Vegas. It highlights Media Net, a new service which provides Cingular subscribers access to all things racing like insider info, driver stats and racing updates. Burton rides in on a customized high-speed golf cart carrying the same paint scheme as his Cingular Chevy.(RCR PR)(4-20-2006)

  • Prilosecotc to #31? UPDATE 2: hearing Prilosec OTC will become an associate sponsor for #31 Jeff Burton and that a Prilosec OTC paint scheme will run in 2006, Cingular Wireless is the primary sponsor for Burton and the #31 team. Prilosec OTC had been with the #40 Ganassi Racing team and ran a scheme once a year with Sterling Marlin..now with the #14 team.(12-28-2005)
    UPDATE: Prilosec OTC announced new sponsorships with Richard Childress Racing's #31 Nextel Cup Series team and NASCAR. Starting with the 2006 season, both relationships will elevate Prilosec OTC's marketing efforts within NASCAR. "Success in our business is measured by performance," said Richard Childress. "Prilosec OTC is all about performance in treating frequent heartburn with an over-the-counter medicine. Thanks to Prilosec OTC, frequent heartburn is something I don't worry about all of the time. We're proud to have Prilosec OTC as a member of the #31 Cup team." Later this season, Prilosec OTC, proud sponsor of NASCAR will unveil the Victory of a Lifetime Sweepstakes. This sweepstakes will award the Grand Prize winner and, accompanying friends and family, a NASCAR season, that up to now, fans have only dreamed of. 2006 will also mark Prilosec OTC's inaugural season as a "Proud Partner of NASCAR." Prilosec OTC's NASCAR relationship includes heartburn remedy category exclusivity and will allow Prilosec OTC to integrate NASCAR marks into all Prilosec OTC, NASCAR related marketing initiatives. Prilosec OTC's Major Associate sponsorship of RCR's #31 Chevy will be highlighted by a unique one-race paint scheme each season that will transform the orange #31 Cingular Chevy into a purple racing machine. Throughout the NEXTEL Cup Series season, Prilosec OTC will be positioned on Jeff Burton's firesuit and the lower rear quarter panel of the #31 Cingular Chevy.(Yahoo Biz), will run at Phoenix in April and Richmond in May, see the scheme on my #31 Team Schemes page.(2-16-2006)
    UPDATE 2: Prilosec OTC’s major associate sponsorship of RCR’s #31 Chevy kicks into high gear this weekend in Phoenix as Burton and the #31 team transform their bright orange #31 Cingular Chevy into a purple Prilosec OTC racing machine for the Subway Fresh 500. Prilosec OTC, marketed exclusively by Procter & Gamble, is available in food, drug, mass, and club stores in the U.S. Prilosec OTC is available over-the-counter for the treatment of frequent heartburn, with one pill taken every day for 14 days and is the #1 selling over-the-counter heartburn medication.(RCR PR)(4-20-2006)

  • #31 Crew Chief to throw out 1st pitch: As part of a promotion for Cingular Wireless, #31 Cingular Chevy crew chief Scott Miller will throw out the first pitch at Ameriquest Field for the Texas Rangers game Thursday, April 7 vs. the Detroit Tigers.(RCR)(4-6-2006)

  • Even more on Cingular/AT&T/Childress: Car owner Richard Childress could have sponsor trouble if AT&T changes the names of the brands its about to acquire. AT&T has said it will spend $67 billion to purchase BellSouth, the parent company of Cingular - which currently sponsors Childress' #31 Chevrolet. If the deal goes through, Cingular and BellSouth will be known as AT&T. That won't fly in NASCAR, where series sponsor Nextel Cup has an exclusivity contract that grandfathered in the Cingular and Alltel sponsorships and logos. But they can't be changed, and new names will not be permitted. "The contract NASCAR presented us is pretty straightforward," said Michael Robichaud, vice president of sports sponsorships. "It's really no different than the category exclusivity that Winston had for 33 years. We actually took it one step further, out of respect for Richard Childress and Roger Penske, and grandfathered in their existing sponsorships as it stood on the day we signed our agreement." Childress wasn't sure how it will play out. "It's too early to comment on all that," he said. "Cingular has said they're going to be here for the long haul, and we expect them to be in the sport for quite a while."(Associated Press)(3-27-2006)

  • Latest on AT&T and Cingular UPDATE #31 news - NASCAR says NO: Life goes on for Cingular Wireless, even though the brand is mere months from dying away. AT&T, which plans to take full control of the cellphone provider as part of its acquisition of BellSouth, intends to drop the 5-year-old Cingular name. Although Atlanta-based Cingular has spent more than $4 billion advertising itself since the company was born, its services will be renamed with the historic AT&T brand. Cingular's president and chief executive, Stan Sigman, supports the change, saying the company has been at a "competitive disadvantage" in pitting itself against rival Verizon Wireless, which shares the same name as other services offered by Verizon Communications. Cingular, meanwhile, has been distinct from its current corporate parents, AT&T and BellSouth. One thing isn't up for debate: Because the Cingular brand will continue to exist for months, the carrier can't afford to stop spending money on marketing. Thus you'll see plenty of Cingular ads, notably during the NCAA men's basketball tournament — which began this week — and during Fox TV's hugely popular "American Idol." Cingular will come full circle if, as expected, AT&T buys BellSouth for $67 billion in stock, taking full control of Cingular in the process. AT&T's plans to eliminate the BellSouth and Cingular names, and move to the single AT&T name, would save hundreds of millions of dollars on ads.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), no mention in the column what happens with the #31 team, but would assume it will be rebranded AT&T at some point.(3-18-2006)
    UPDATE: NASCAR officials say they have informed Richard Childress Racing that if Cingular Wireless changes its name to AT&T, as expected after a recent merger, AT&T would not be allowed on Jeff Burton's #31 car. NASCAR made the ruling based on its interpretation of its contract with series sponsor Nextel. Cingular and Alltel, as well as Samsung/Radio Shack with Texas Motor Speedway, were grandfathered in as existing sponsors when the Nextel Series sponsorship contract was signed in 2003. "It's pretty clear that they can't transfer a name due to a sale," NASCAR Vice President for Corporate Communications Jim Hunter said March 17. Executives from Cingular would not comment March 16 when asked about what would happen to the company's sponsorship. "Right now, Cingular is in it and is in it for the long haul," team owner Richard Childress said March 19. "That's about all I can say." Hunter said that Cingular could negotiate with Nextel to try to transfer the name and keep the sponsorship. But Michael Robichaud, vice president for sports marketing for Sprint Nextel, said there are no plans to negotiate. One option could be for Cingular to move to the Busch Series, where any cellular company can provide sponsorship.(SceneDaily.com)(3-22-2006)

  • RCR Announcement UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing and #31 driver Jeff Burton have scheduled a press conference Friday, March 17 at Atlanta Motor Speedway to announce a new partnership for the 2006 season.(RCR PR)(3-15-2006)
    UPDATE: Holiday Inn is expected to join a growing list of Atlanta companies that sponsor cars and drivers in NASCAR. Richard Childress Racing and driver Jeff Burton will be backed by Holiday Inn in as many as 10 Busch Series races this season, according to team officials. The team has scheduled a press conference today at Atlanta Motor Speedway to reveal details of its new sponsorship.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-17-2006)

  • Latest on AT&T and Cingular: AT&T announced a $67 billion dollar merger with BellSouth that could create the largest telecommunications company in the country. The purchase of Atlanta-based BellSouth would give AT&T total control of Cingular, the nation’s largest cell phone provider, and BellSouth’s nine-state network. Together, the three companies employ more than 316,000 people. The Cingular brand would likely be phased out in favor of the AT&T brand. The name will be familiar to wireless customers: AT&T Wireless Inc., a spin-off of AT&T, was acquired by Cingular in October 2004. The BellSouth name also would be absorbed in the deal.(MSNBC), no word on how this will effect the Cingular sponsorship of the #31 RCR team.(3-6-2006)

  • Rachtman to serve as #31 honorary crewman: Riki Rachtman, host of the nationally syndicated radio program ‘Racing Rocks’ [racingrocks.com] and original host of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball [a Jayski fave - still have tapes of it], will join #31 Team Cingular this weekend as an honorary crew member, serving as gas runner. Rachtman is a big fan of Team Cingular driver Jeff Burton and has vowed to shave his head when Burton claims his next victory.(RCR PR)(2-22-2006)

  • Cingular Launches New Media Net Racing Portal: With the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet in the pole position for the big race in Daytona on Sunday, Cingular Wireless is giving race fans the chance to follow all of the exciting racing action this weekend and all year from their wireless handset. Cingular's new MEdia Net Racing Portal will allow many of its 54 million customers real-time access to the most up-to-date and content-rich motorsports information available from any wireless carrier, putting them almost as close to the action as the drivers.
    The Cingular MEdia Net Racing Portal will showcase a wide variety of exclusive motorsports content available only from Cingular. In-depth information will include top stories from around motorsports, as well as pre- and post- race reports, real-time statistical information on in-race leaderboards and individual driver news. Speed freaks and gear heads will also be able to show off their forecasting skills with Fantasy Racing presented by Cingular, one of the most user-friendly fantasy racing games available in wireless format. Driver selections and up-to-date score-tracking can be managed from the ease and convenience of the wireless handset. Fantasy participants will be able to compete against other Cingular customers nationwide for the chance to win great prizes.
    "The Cingular MEdia Net Racing Portal will give motorsports enthusiasts quick access to the most comprehensive racing information available," said David Garver, Executive Director of High Growth Segments and Sponsorships at Cingular Wireless. "We want to feed the passion of the race fan by providing compelling interactive content and creating a unique wireless experience for our customers."
    "The Cingular MEdia Net Racing Portal is a great way for fans to follow me - and my fellow competitors - throughout the entire season," said Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet and pole-sitter for this weekend's race in Daytona. "With all of the news alerts and race reports, fans won't miss a minute of racing excitement. This is another example of how Cingular is leading the way in providing wireless motorsports content."
    For the second year in a row, Cingular has reached a deal to become the Official Wireless Sponsor of Jayski.com, one of the most popular fan destinations on the Internet for breaking racing news, information and statistics. The deal makes Cingular the exclusive wireless licensee to all Jayski content, allowing it to offer popular Jayski content, including up-to-date driver news, race summaries and "Silly Season" gossip. Cingular will continue with its Jayski text alerts throughout the season. "I am looking forward to continuing my relationship with Cingular and adding their customers to the hundreds of thousands of fans who already rely on Jayski.com for NASCAR news," said Jayski Founder Jay Adamcyzk. "Partnering with Cingular to create Jayski content into a wireless format is yet another way that we are able to deliver breaking NASCA R news and information to fans in the quickest way possible. We will continue to look for new ways to develop interactive content as the season progresses."
    Additional Cingular MEdia Net Racing Portal features include a variety of action-packed racing games, the Virtual Crew Chief Enter-to-Win sweepstakes, challenging motorsports trivia questions as well as racing-themed ringtones and wallpapers. Cingular customers can access the MEdia Net Racing Portal on their wireless handset by launching the MEdia Net option and then visiting the main Sports home page. There is no subscription fee to access the Portal but standard MEdia Net data usage charges apply. Download charges start at $1.99 for games, ringtones, and wallpapers. MEdia Net can be purchased on a pay-as-you-go basis ($.01 per KB), or included in a MEdia Net or MEdia Bundle package. These packages range in price from $4.99 for 1MB of data usage to $19.99 for unlimited data usage.
    About Cingular Wireless: Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 54.1 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corporation, has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVERTM network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com.(PR)(2-16-2006)

  • State Farm teams up with Burton and Sorenson: Beginning with the Daytona 500 on February 19, 2006, State Farm will begin partnerships with NASCAR drivers #31-Jeff Burton of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and #41-Reed Sorenson of Chip Ganassi Racing. During the Daytona 500 on February 19, State Farm will debut two commercials featuring Jeff Burton and his State Farm agent. Throughout the 2006 NASCAR season, State Farm will advertise in nearly every NASCAR race. Commercials featuring Reed Sorenson will begin later this year.State Farm logo will appear on Burton's driver uniform and uniforms of pit crew during Nextel Cup and Busch Series races, on RCR trailer/transporter and pit equipment and in "fan walk" of RCR headquarters, museum, and RCRacing.com. The State Farm logo will appear on Sorenson's driver uniform and uniforms of pit crew during Nextel Cup and Busch Series races. In both cases, State Farm is sponsoring the drivers and not the cars. The State Farm logo will not appear on either car.(State Farm PR)(2-10-2006)

  • RCR Personnel Moves: Mike Brown has been named director of licensing for Richard Childress Racing (RCR), replacing Chuck Spicer who has assumed the new position of director of competition business operations. Brown is responsible for all aspects of RCR's licensing programs. He has been involved in the sales, marketing and licensing end of the NASCAR industry for more than a decade, most recently in a three-year stint as director of sales and marketing with Team Caliber. Prior to that, he spent more than four years as director of licensing for International Speedway Corporation (ISC), establishing and then supervising the sales, marketing, licensing and purchasing activities of its Charlotte office. Spicer's new responsibilities include RCR's driver development and diversity programs, team travel, engine department business opportunities, and to serve as the liaison between the competition and business sides of the company. He served as RCR's licensing director since moving from Bill Davis Racing in December 2000.(RCR PR)(1-22-2006)

  • #31 Jackman back: #31-Jeff Burton's jackman, Josh Yost, who suffered cut tendons and ligaments and a shattered ankle when he was hit by Rusty Wallace's car on pit road in May at Talladega, returned to RCR in November and is expected to return to the roster for Daytona.(Sporting News)(1-9-2006)

    2005 News

  • Hamlin leaves RCR for BDR? hearing that crew chief Kevin Hamlin has left Richard Childress Racing and will be the new crew chief at Bill Davis Racing for Dave Blaney and the #22 Caterpillar Dodge with former #22 crew chief Derrick Finley moving over to the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Dodge atj Michael Waltrip will drive in 2006.(11-29-2005)

  • Cingular name to AT&T, RCR signed thru 2007: SBC, which closed its merger with AT&T on Friday [Nov 18th], plans to sell Cingular Wireless under the fabled AT&T name, Ed Whitacre, the chairman and CEO of the combined company, has confirmed to USA TODAY. Cingular, the USA's No. 1 wireless company, is 60% owned by the new AT&T; BellSouth controls 40%. SBC recently said it would adopt AT&T's name, putting to rest questions about what would happen to the famous name. But speculation had also swirled about what would happen to the Cingular brand name once the AT&T deal closed. In an interview with USA TODAY on Friday, Whitacre left no doubt about his plans. Asked if the company planned to drop the Cingular name in favor of the AT&T brand, Whitacre said, "Yes, we do."(See full article at USA Today), how will this effect the #31 Richard Childress Racing team and Cingular's sponsorshjip? No word if they At&T will take over BUT Cingular is signed with RCR thru 2007.(11-21-2005)

  • Cingular Wireless gives fan a chance at over a $1mil: Cingular Wireless is finishing the 2005 racing season with a bang