Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site

#99 Team News Archive

NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages

2009 News

Races [3] that Subway is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2009:
Phoenix - 4/18
Daytona - 7/4
Talladega - 11/1

Races [1] that Claritin is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2009:
Talladega - 4/26

2008 News

Latest news on Edwards injured USAC driver: From Cameron Dodson.com: "Hello everyone! Thank you all for the continued messages of support and concern. Now that Cameron has continued to excel in his recovery and has been upgraded to the rehabilitational phase of his recovery, we will post updates weekly or immediately if there are significant updates. On that note, yes, he is doing remarkably well! In fact, I am thrilled to say that in a phone call from him this morning, he wanted to tell everyone thank you for their prayers and support and to have a Merry Christmas. He is fully alert, gracious of the support, and speaking clearly. His right eye is healing well following the surgery and he currently has 20/40 vision in that eye and 20/20 in the left. Doctors feel this will only continue to improve. He is also walking short distances on his own and working to build strength and endurance. The medical staff is in awe with the way his body is healing and how well he is doing with less than one month of recovery. As I expressed to Cameron, the best part is that he will be able to enjoy Christmas with his family and he is very humble in that opportunity and I believe this holiday will be a true celebration of the season and how much there is to be thankful for. Thank you to all of the friends, family, fans, fellow members of the racing community, and strangers for the kindness extended to all of us during this time. I know this incident has given me a renewed belief in miracles and reminder of patience, positive thinking, and hope. Stay tuned for additional updates next week (unless there is breaking remarkable news) but rest assured, Cameron is doing well and will soon be busy opening all of those cards and notes that you shared.(12-16-2008)

Loeb wins ROC: Five-time world rally champ Sebastien Loeb prevailed in the Race of Champions on Sunday, but NASCAR star Carl Edwards provided the night's biggest upset, downing Michael Schumacher in a second-round clash. Edwards, who represented the USA with drifting standout Tanner Foust, narrowly edged the seven-time Formula One champ on the Wembley Stadium course. Edwards lost in the semifinals to former F1 driver David Coulthard, who fell to Loeb in a closely contested three-heat final. Edwards defeated English Formula 3 champ Jaime Alguersuari in the first round. Foust also provided a big-name knockout, edging Jenson Button in a first-round matchup. In the Nations Cup team competition, Schumacher paired with Sebastian Vettel to lead Team Germany to a repeat title. Schumacher and Vettel swept through the preliminaries undefeated before turning back the Team Scandinavia contingent of Tom Kristensen and Mattias Ekstrom.(USA Today wire)(12-15-2008)

Edwards wins award as best racer: NASCAR ace Carl Edwards was awarded the inaugural TAG Heuer Racing Award at Saturday’s Race of Champions preview press conference. The Award was set up by TAG Heuer this year to attempt to determine who is statistically the best racing driver in the world. A team of eight jurors has statistically analysed the weekly performances of more than 150 drivers from F1, GP2, NASCAR and the World Rally Championship. Edwards’ nine victories in this year’s NASCAR championship saw him finish ahead of the likes of five times World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb and 2008 F1 World Championship protagonists, Felipe Massa and eventual champion, Lewis Hamilton.(F1-Live)(12-14-2008)

Laid off Roush Fenway crewman sues team: A former Roush Fenway Racing fabricator and over-the-wall crew member is suing the team for money he alleges he is owed for being laid off prior to the completion of his three-year contract. Nick Bailey, signed a three-year deal in October 2006 to run through the 2009 season, according to the complaint and portions of his contract filed recently in North Carolina Superior Court in Charlotte. He initially worked in the Truck shop at Roush as well as on the pit crew for the No. 16 Nationwide team. He was then transferred to Roush’s ARCA team in April 2008. At the time he was laid off Nov. 10 , 2008, his base salary was $1,050 per week, according to the complaint. He also was eligible for bonuses depending on the performance of the team and the pit crew. Bailey is asking for $63,000 – his salary from Nov. 10, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2009 – and for whatever bonuses it is determined he deserves. Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith confirmed that Bailey had been laid off as part of a reduction in the company work force but declined further comment.(SceneDaily)(12-12-2008)

Tire Testing at Las Vegas UPDATE: there is a Goodyear Tire test scheduled at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on December 10-11, 2008, hearing the drivers to test will be #99-Carl Edwards, #5-Mark Martin, #83-Brian Vickers and #12-David Stremme.(12-4-2008)
UPDATE: #99-Carl Edwards, who won this year's Sprint Cup event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will be joined by #5-Mark Martin, #83-Brian Vickers and #12-David Stremme for a two-day Goodyear tire test this Wednesday and Thursday at LVMS. For Martin, it will be a chance to get acquainted with Hendrick Motorsports' #5 Chevrolet, which he will pilot in the 2009 season. Vickers will be in the Red Bull Toyota, and Stremme will be in his new Penske Dodge. Stremme has replaced Ryan Newman in the #12 car for next season. "These two days in Vegas are going to be, quite possibly, the two most important days of our 2009 season," said Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Martin. "With NASCAR's new ‘no testing' rule, we are very fortunate to have been invited by Goodyear to this test. This gives us two extra days on an intermediate track that only three other teams are getting. We need to maximize that time all we can." The race teams and Goodyear will be testing in preparation for the March 1 Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The test will be closed to the public. Tickets are available for the 2009 NASCAR Weekend, more info by calling 1-800-644-4444 or logging on to www.lvms.com.(LVMS PR)(12-9-2008)

Carl Edwards won't cancel trip to Thailand #99-Carl Edwards still plans to visit Thailand later this month, despite that country’s recent political turmoil. Sprint Cup Series champion #48-Jimmie Johnson canceled his planned trip after protestors targeted airports for sit-ins and even shut down the airport in Bangkok for a week. But Edwards and his fiancé, Dr. Kate Downey, are not changing their plans to bike through the country. “I am going to do it,” Edwards said. “If the airport is open, we’re going. I couldn’t be more excited about it. I talked to a couple of people, and they said it’s really a peaceful nation and even the protests are peaceful. I think it will be good.”(SceneDaily)(12-6-2008)

Latest news on Edwards injured USAC driver: From Cameron Dodson.com: “After responding to familiar voices and briefly opening his eyes on multiple occasions over the last 48 hours, we are thrilled to report that Cameron [drives for Carl Edwards' USAC team] regained consciousness this afternoon,” stated Michelle Petroff from Dodson’s representing agency – Rising Star Management Group. “He was able to respond physically to multiple verbal commands and showed the ability to move and sense pain so this is remarkable news just 10 days after his accident. The progress that Cameron has already made defies all odds but is a credit to the medical staff caring for him, support of his family, his determination and personal fortitude. Please continue to send positive wishes and encouraging messages of strength and, again, thank you.” More info at camerondodson.com.(11-30-2008)
UPDATE: Cameron's situation remains the same - showing positive signs and is alert. His temperature is also showing signs of stabilizing. Doctors will continue to monitor the fluid behind his right eye but they have tentatively scheduled a surgery to relieve that on Friday should it not improve on its own. That procedure will hopefully aid in healing. Thank you all again for the support and the Dodson's asked me to pass along the following statement: "Words cannot begin to express our heartfelt appreciation for the support and prayers extended to Cameron and our family. Thomas and I, along with our entire family, have been deeply touched by the compassion so many people have shown us. Please continue to keep Cameron and our family in your thoughts and prayers as he continues to recover. Our Heartfelt Thanks, Thomas, Cindy & Cameron along with our extended family". More info at camerondodson.com.(12-6-2008)

Edwards wins 4th Qtr Driver of the Year award: #99-Carl Edwards, who narrowly missed winning two NASCAR championships in the same year, was voted 4th quarter Driver of the Year 2008. In the voting period Edwards won three Sprint Cup races and had only two finishes worse than top four. Additionally he won three Nationwide races in the final quarter. You could say he threw everything he had at those championships, and in one race, at Kansas City, he literally threw his Roush Racing Ford in the wall in an effort to get past Jimmie Johnson the eventual race winner and Cup Champion. He was also the fourth quarter winner in 2005. Barry Schmoyer, President of the Driver of the Year Foundation, said "Carl made the final run to both championships exciting. He's the perfect example of an athlete who never gave up and I think the panel recognized that." In the voting Edwards took ten first-place ballots and received votes from the entire panel. With 128 points he beat Jimmie Johnson. Johnson, the reigning Sprint Cup Champion and the 2006 & 2007 Driver of the Year, received seven first-place votes and totaled 74 points. Tony Schumacher, NHRA's Top Fuel Champion and winner of the 3rd quarter Driver of the Year 2008, received one first-place vote and totaled 79 points. Cruz Pedregon, the NHRA's Funny Car Champion this year, was fourth in the voting with one first place vote. A total of 14 eligible drivers scored points in the fourth quarter voting. In its' 42nd year, the Driver of the Year title is unique. A panel of 18 leading broadcasters and journalists from across the U.S. determine the winner. In quarterly voting, points are awarded on a declining 9, 6, 4,3,2,1 basis. Edwards will receive a trophy and a Tissot wristwatch to be presented at a later date.(DOTY PR)(11-26-2008)

Self-Ban on testing contract? #99-Carl Edwards said a contract is circulating among teams that would impose a self-ban on testing. The deal would go beyond NASCAR's one-year moratorium at venues that host races in the top three series. "I've seen a contract that was written that (owner Jack Roush) said he's willing to sign, I'm willing to sign, that says if everyone will agree to this, then we won't test at all," Edwards said. "I think that's fine. That's great." Edwards favors two-day race weekends, though he knows it would cost tracks a day of gate receipts even as it saves teams travel expenses. His ideal weekend is "showing up and throwing the green flag."
"As long as everyone does the same thing, I mean, hell, what does everyone need all this practice for?" he asked. "…This is NASCAR Sprint Cup racing. We all know how to race. We've all been to these tracks before. Maybe you do a deal where guys who haven't been there before, they get a few hours of practice."(St Petersburg Times)(11-24-2008)

USAC driver critically injured in accident UPDATE: U.S. Auto Club driver Cameron Dodson has been critically injured in a crash along a rural Hancock County road. The 20-year-old Dodson drives for Carl Edwards' team and was the USAC Silver Crown series rookie of the year in 2007. He won one race in four starts this year. Methodist Hospital spokesman Gene Ford said Dodson was in critical condition Wednesday evening but did not disclose the nature of the injuries. The Daily Reporter in Greenfield reported that authorities said Dodson was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from his car when it went off a county road into a ditch about 20 miles east of Indianapolis early Wednesday.(AP/ESPN)(11-19-2008)
UPDATE: Injured USAC driver Cameron Dodson remained in critical condition Friday at Methodist Hospital. Dodson, a 20-year-old from Greenfield, was injured when he was ejected from his passenger car as it veered into a ditch Tuesday in Hancock County. Cards may be sent to the driver in care of Rising Star Management Group, 6199 SW Leland Ave., Des Moines, Iowa, 50321.(Indianapolis Star)(11-23-2008)
UPDATE 2: "On this Sunday, we are fortunate to be able to report more good news about Cameron's condition. The intracranial pressure has continued to decrease and that is a great step in showing the swelling and pressure of his brain is subsiding. This morning, the doctors were so confident in this step that they were able to remove that monitor. This will allow them to continue to proceed with other treatments. They are also adjusting medication and treatments to slowly allow his body to start controlling some of its own regulating and functions. Additionally, the preliminary stages to hopefully start the gradual process of regaining consciousness has started. Early measurements will be used to try and monitor when he is awake or asleep; so while it may seem that this process is moving slowly, he is doing well considering the condition he was admitted in. By no means is his status upgraded yet but we are all thankful for these small notches towards our goal of having Cameron healthy and back to his vibrant self. Deep thanks go out to the staff at Methodist Hospital, the greater Greenfield and Indianapolis communities, and all of his friends, sponsors, fans and fellow competitors who are sending encouraging messages of support. In the coming days, those positive words will continue to be very important so please keep them coming as we approach Thanksgiving." Camerondodson.com.(11-24-2008)

No major layoffs at Roush: Jack [Roush] said he would have to "displace" half a dozen employees involved with his test program as a result of NASCAR banning testing at its sanctioned tracks in 2009. But his core staff -- those involved with his Sprint Cup and Nationwide team operations at his race shop in Concord, N.C. -- "will remain intact," he said.(Detroit Free Press)(11-21-2008)

Roush: No plans to build test track: Back in the day, NASCAR team owner Jack Roush had contemplated building his own test track. On Saturday, the day after NASCAR had announced that it was banning all testing on the tracks it sanctions, Roush was asked if he had revived the idea. “I have neither the money nor the inclination to build a test track,” Roush said. Roush also said he has no intention of circumventing NASCAR’s ban. “If we could organize a situation where all the established teams could hold hands and resolve not to test outside of the NASCAR mandated or approved testing, not go to the skid pads, not go to Canada, not go to Pikes Peak or any of the places they are checking on,” he said, “I’d be happier with that than to skirt around.” Roush said, however, that if other teams started skirting, he would be forced to as well.(Kansas City Star)(11-20-2008)

All repeat winners at Texas: It proved to be a Texas Trifecta this weekend. Every winner this past spring also won this weekend. On Friday, Ron Hornaday Jr. won the Craftsman Truck Series race. On Saturday, Kyle Busch won the Nationwide Series race. Edwards capped it off with Sunday's win.(Fort Worth Star-Telegram)(11-3-2008)

Edwards wins at Texas: #99-Carl Edwards won the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for his 8th win of the season and the 15th of his career and swept both Texas races this year.He took a fuel mileage gamble, running the final 69 laps of the race without pitting. #24-Gordon finished second, also gambling on fuel. #26-McMurray was third followed by #07-Bowyer, #16-Biffle, #18-Busch, #29-Harvick, #1-Truex, Jr., #17-Kenseth, and #44-Reutimann. Point leader #48-Johnson struggled through much of the race, finishing a lap down in 15th.There were 5 cautions for 26 laps and 16 lead changes among 9 leaders.
For race results, awards and more, see my Texas Race Results Awards Page.
See Classic and Chase Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Texas.(11-2-2008)

Edwards to represent Team USA at Race of Champions: #99-Carl Edwards and motocross guru Travis Pastrana will team up this December to represent Team USA in the 2008 Race of Champions held at Wembley Stadium [December 14, 2008], as the USA aims for its first Race of Champions Nations Cup title since 2002. The back-flipping duo will take on an all star line-up including Michael Schumacher, Troy Bayliss and Sabastien Loeb. A daunting task but one that both Edwards and Pastrana, are up for. "Its great to be able represent the United States in the Race of Champions this year in England," stated Edwards. "I’ve never been to Europe and expect it will be spectacular. To race with the top drivers in the world is the opportunity of a lifetime. I will be teaming up with X Games Champion Travis Pastrana, which will be a great experience in itself. He’s the man, and the goal is to bring back a trophy. I can’t wait. It should be a lot of fun." Tickets for The Race of Champions are on sale now by calling 0844 412 1743, or online at www.raceofchampions.com.(RFR PR)(10-29-2008)

Edwards wins at Atlanta: #99-Carl Edwards won the Pep Boys 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his 7th win of the season and the 14th of his career. #48-Johnson came back from a speeding penalty and being a lap down, getting the lucky dog and finishing 2nd, followed by #11-Hamlin, #17-Kenseth, #18-Busch, #2-Busch, #26-McMurray, #6-Ragan, #24-Gordon and #16-Biffle. There were 10 cautions for 43 laps and 18 lead changes among 8 leaders.
For race results, awards and more, see my Atlanta Race Results Awards Page.
See Classic and Chase Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Atlanta.(10-26-2008)

#99 Hauler Driver wins the 2008 Pilot Truck Driver Challenge: Pilot Travel Centers announced the winner of the 2008 Pilot Truck Driver Challenge. Bob Decker, transport driver for the #99 Office Depot team from Roush Fenway racing, was awarded $50,000 for capturing the 2008 title. He narrowly defeated Peter Jellen, Joe Gibbs Racing and Tom McCrimmon, Joe Gibbs Racing who both tied for second place, receiving $12,500 each. The yearlong competition is open to all NASCAR Sprint cup transport drivers and promotes safe and responsible driving on the highways, offering over $75,000 in cash and prizes. Throughout the competition, participants were judged in various categories including safety quizzes, a DOT check and chicane courses designed to test driving skills. “This competition is designed to encourage and inspire the professional truck driver. Pilot recognizes their commitment to this sport, as well as to this nation’s economy,” shared Mark Hazelwood, executive vice of Pilot Travel Centers. Decker revealed top-notch driving abilities and skill level as a professional truck driver by exhibiting perfect driving scores in three out of four chicane courses. He also showcased his knowledge by scoring the highest on the total of three safety quizzes. “Bob Decker has been an efficient and reliable transport driver for Roush Fenway for several years. I am pleased to hear that he has won the Pilot Truck Driver Challenge Award, but not surprised. His pleasant demeanor has made the #99 transporter a welcoming place for employees and sponsors alike. He is a valued employee and is truly worthy of this award,” stated Jack Roush, team owner. The Pilot Truck Driver Challenge will return in 2009, giving Pilot Travel Centers the opportunity to honor the hardest working members of any race team, the professional truck driver.(Marketing 500 PR)(10-25-2008)

#99 Team Wins 3rd Quarter Mechanix MVPC Competition: The #99 Office Depot Ford over-the-wall team from Roush Fenway Racing has earned third-quarter honors in the 2008 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition. The #99 crew is the third team to qualify for the 2008 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award title. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award is given quarterly throughout the Sprint Cup season. At the end of each quarter, the winning pit crew is determined by a vote of each team's crew chief. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award and a check for $100,000. The presentation will be made at the 2008 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association Myers Brothers Media Luncheon in New York City in December. The #18 Joe Gibbs Racing team of Kyle Busch won the first quarter and the #9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports team of Kasey Kahne won the 2nd quarter.(Roush Fenway Racing site)(10-20-2008)

Ford re-ups with Roush BUT no support for Trucks: Ford Racing has reinforced the importance of NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series to the manufacturer under tough economic times by reaching a five-year deal to remain with Roush Fenway Racing. BUT Ford will pull its financial support in the Craftsman Truck Series beginning next season. Team owner Jack Roush assured that Ford has not pulled support from the Cup program. "Ford has made us a commitment for five years going into the future that we feel is adequate to our needs for the support that comes from manufacturers," Roush said before Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway. Roush has been with Ford since he got into NASCAR in 1988. His organization owns five of the eight Cup teams currently funded by the manufacturer and has an alliance with two more at Yates Racing. The single-car team [#21] of the Wood Brothers is the only other one that runs fulltime in NASCAR's premiere series, although Yates plans to expand to three teams [#28,#38 and Paul Menard] in 2009. The withdrawal of financial support in the Truck Series was purely an economical decision. It is the second big hit for that series, which lost Dodge support earlier this year. Unlike Dodge, Ford will continue to provide technical support and engineering. "We remain positive about the performance of our teams and their dedication to the company during these challenging times," said Brian Wolfe, the director of Ford Racing Technology.(ESPN.com)(10-19-2008)

Congrats: hearing that congrats are due to #99-Carl Edwards and his girlfriend, Dr. Katherine Downey, who have just become engaged to be married!(10-17-2008)

Harvick/Edwards confrontation: UPDATE 2: hearing there was a confrontation in the Nationwide Series garages at Lowe's Motor Speedway between Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick over last Sunday's Talladega wreck. Details as they are found will be posted.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(10-9-2008)
UPDATE: Witnesses said Edwards approached Harvick in the garage stall housing Harvick's #33 Chevy and engaged in conversation. Following what a witness called a heated discussion, Harvick turned to walk away and Edwards grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. According to reports Harvick then shoved Edwards in retaliation, forcing Edwards onto the hood of the #33 Chevy. #33 crew chief Rick Ren pointed to a dent in the hood where he said Edwards landed. Others on site then proceeded to separate the drivers, and witnesses said Edwards was grabbed around the neck in a headlock by Harvick's motor-home driver, Jeff Smith. No punches were thrown, witnesses said. NASCAR did not immediately comment on the issue. Edwards and Harvick were not immediately available to comment. Witnesses claim the verbal exchange Thursday was in reference to a handwritten note Edwards left in a seat on Harvick's airplane following the AMP Energy 500 last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The note facetiously thanked Harvick for disparaging comments he made toward Edwards on ABC following a multi-car wreck on Lap 174 of 188, which was triggered when Edwards tapped teammate Greg Biffle. Harvick was collected in the incident.(ESPN)(10-9-2008)
UPDATE 2: Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick were warned before Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway not to let the physical confrontation they had on Thursday spill over onto the track. Edwards and Harvick met with NASCAR president Mike Helton, vice president of competition Robin Pemberton and series director John Darby following the drivers' meeting. There will be no fines and neither was placed on probation.(ESPN.com)(10-12-2008)

Office Depot Names "Small Business of NASCAR": Office Depot announced that Mystique Salon and Spa of Boise, Idaho, will be the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, courtesy of Office Depot" for the remainder of the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season. Mystique Salon and Spa owner Julie Catalano is the first female business owner to be named as the Office Depot "Official Small Business of NASCAR" since the annual promotion began in 2005.(Office Depot PR)(9-29-2008)

Milestone starts for Sadler and Edwards: A pair of Sprint Cup Series drivers will be making milestone starts this weekend. #19-Elliott Sadler will be making his 350th career NSCS start. Points leader Carl Edwards will be making his 150th career start.(NASCAR PR)(9-24-2008)

Edwards gives MIS trophy to wheelchair-bound teen: A wheelchair-bound Michigan teen got a special gift from one of his heroes over the weekend. Pat and Teresa Byrnes took their son Cody to the Michigan International Speedway so he could see his favorite driver, #99-Carl Edwards, race. "Carl happened to be walking by and we gave him a thumbs up and Cody gave him a thumbs up and he saw his flag waiving on the back of Cody's chair. And so he stopped, turned around and came back and he came over and he signed his wheelchair and he signed his shirt," said Teresa Byrnes. The Byrnes were already excited that Cody got to meet his hero, but they weren't prepared for what Carl Edwards told Cody next. "He looked at him and he said, 'Hey buddy, I'll tell you, if I win that trophy today, now that's if I win, I'll give you that trophy'," Teresa recalled. The Byrnes say they began to realize Edwards could win the race when he moved from the 27th spot to first place in about 60 laps. Pat Byrnes says that's the most nervous he's ever been during a race. Edwards did win that race. Carl Edwards signed the trophy for Cody with the initials NGU, which means never give up. "Cody, everyday he wakes up and sees it. It's like he's realizing it's really his and he'll get excited and squeal, for someone to work so hard to get that trophy and then to say, 'Here, you can have it'. That is the kindest gesture anybody has ever done," said Teresa.(wlbz2.com)(8-26-2008)

New Hire by Roush Fenway Racing: Fenway Sports Group (FSG), a premier sports marketing agency that specializes in representation, sponsorship sales, event marketing and strategic marketing consulting, announced it has appointed Brian Corcoran as Executive Vice President, Business Development & Motorsports. Corcoran will oversee day-to-day operations for FSG's NASCAR division which includes Roush Fenway Racing and Yates Racing. He is tasked with identifying and developing new sponsor and revenue opportunities for both teams. Corcoran comes to FSG after spending the last six years as Managing Director, Corporate Marketing for NASCAR. He was instrumental in securing Nextel Communications as the entitlement partner of the Nextel Cup Series and Nationwide Insurance as lead sponsor of NASCAR's secondary circuit which is often compared to Triple-A baseball. Corcoran also played key roles in securing new sponsors, including Enterprise, Office Depot, AMD, TISSOT, AutoZone and Domino's Pizza. In February 2007, FSG purchased 50 percent stake in Roush Racing, one of NASCAR's largest and most successful teams, to form Roush Fenway Racing (RFR). The team fields five cars in the Sprint Cup Series and currently has three drivers, Carl Edwards (2nd), Greg Biffle (7th) and Matt Kenseth (10th) in the Chase for the Cup and four drivers in the top 13 in Cup standings with David Ragan currently in 13th place. This merger marked the first time that owners of a professional franchise in one of the four major leagues have partnered with a NASCAR team. Through RFR, FSG also provides marketing and sponsorship services to Yates Racing.(PR)(8-25-2008)

Edwards wins at Bristol: #99-Carl Edwards won the Sharpie 400 at Bristol Motor Speedway for his 6th win of 2008 and 13th of his career. #18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #29-Harvick, #24-Gordon, #12-Newman, #07-Bowyer, #17-Kenseth and #6-Ragan. #88-Earnhardt Jr. finished 18th after getting a lap down at the beginning of the race when he passed before the drop the green flag. #18-Busch didn't like the way he was passed late by #99-Edwards and ran into the #99 after the race, Edwards then came back down and wacked the #18 car and spun it, Busch went to chase down the #99, but NASCAR told Busch to get off the track, so he did. #48-Johnson lost a tire early and finished 33rd and #9-Kahne got caught up in a wreck and finished 40th, dropping him out of the chase with 2 races to go. #31-Burton got wrecked and finished 42nd but stays in 5th the points. There were 4 lead changes among 3 drivers and 8 cautions for 56 caution laps.
For race results, awards and more, see my Bristol Race Results Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Bristol page.(8-23-2008)

Edwards wins at Michigan: #99-Carl Edwards won the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway for his 5th win of 2008 and 12th of his career. #18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #6-Ragan, #16-Biffle, #17-Kenseth, #8-Martin, #83-Vickers, #29-Harvick, #19-Sadler and #26-McMurray. #88-Earnhardt Jr. finished 23rd after leading 43 laps, when he hit the wall late. There were 18 lead changes among 9 drivers and 7 cautions for 27 caution laps.
For race results, awards and more, see my Michigan Race Results Awards Page
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Michigan page.(8-17-2008)

Subway to sponsor Edwards in 2009? U.S. Army? Subway is completing a deal with #99-Carl Edwards that will make the ultra-fit NASCAR driver a spokesman for the big-spending restaurant chain, industry sources said. Subway is expected to be the primary sponsor for Edwards' #99 Ford in three Sprint Cup races next year and sign him to a personal-services agreement to use him in its advertising. The three-race primary sponsorship will run Subway about $2.25 million. Terms on the personal services agreement were not available. Edwards could end up replacing driver Tony Stewart, who has pitched for Subway since late 2006, and whose contract with the brand ends this year. Stewart has been prominent in Subway's advertising, but it is uncertain whether the company will continue with that relationship. Subway went to Aflac, Edwards' primary sponsor on the #99 car beginning in 2009, to broker the deal. Aflac is replacing Office Depot as Edwards' chief sponsor in a three-year deal with Roush Fenway Racing that is worth $26 million a year. But Aflac is working with its agency, Career Sports & Entertainment, Atlanta, to sell off a portion of those races. Aflac has been negotiating with U.S. Army to take anywhere from nine to 12 races. Those go for about $750,000 a race, sources say. One of Subway's three races with Edwards is expected to be the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix next spring. Subway will be an associate sponsor on the #99 car the rest of the season.
The deal comes as Stewart is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to start Stewart-Haas Racing and drive the #14 Chevrolet sponsored by Office Depot. Stewart Haas will field two cars next year, the #14 and #39, and sources say Stewart has been negotiating with Burger King for the #39 car, which will be driven by Ryan Newman. A Burger King deal would create a category conflict with Subway, in which case Subway would not renew with Stewart, sources said.(Sporting News/SportsBusiness Journal.)(8-19-2008)

Roush's Smith to retire? Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith is putting plans in place to retire after the 2009 season. "More than likely," Smith said before Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway. "That's what we're building for. We've been systematically elevating the responsibilities of several key people, training and training." Smith runs the business and marketing side of Roush Fenway. He has been instrumental in putting together one of the top sponsorship programs in the garage. He'll be 63 when his contract expires after next season. "I've done this for a lot of years," Smith said. "I owe my wife time together before we're dead."(ESPN.com)(8-18-2008)

Edwards wins at Pocono: #99-Carl Edwards won the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway for his 4th win of 2008 and 11th of his career. #20-Stewart was 2nd, followed by #48-Johnson, #29-Harvick, #6-Ragan, #07-Bowyer, #9-Kahne, #8-Martin, #26-McMurray and #24-Gordon. #88-Earnhardt Jr. ran out of fuel and finished 12th and points leader, #18-Busch was running 4th with 2 laps to go and made a pit stop for a splash of gas, took a while to get the car re-started and finished 35th. There was a 41 minutes red flag for rain from 4:51pm to 5:32pm/et. Then a few laps under yellow not long after that but then the rains went away and the race finished all 200 laps. There were 25 lead changes among 13 drivers and 7 cautions for 31 laps.
For race results, awards and more, see my Pocono Race Results Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Pocono page.(8-3-2008)

New look for the #99 in 2009: Aflac unveiled its sleek new look for Roush Fenway Racing's #99 Aflac Ford driven by Carl Edwards. Beginning next season, Edwards, who has a multi-year primary sponsorship with Aflac, will race in one of the most formidable-looking cars in 2009. With the main color jet black and the secondary colors shades of green and blue, this ride will be hard to miss -- even at speeds of 200 mph. Aflac revealed the new color scheme during a circuit stop in Indiana with Edwards present. The new paint scheme will debut in February 2009 at Daytona International Speedway. The current scheme [which can be seen on my #99 Team Schemes page] will run at Indy this weekend [July 27th]. at the Auto Club Speedway [Calif] on August 31st and at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Oct 11th.(PRN Newswire), see images of the car on my new 2009 #99 Team Schemes page.(7-25-2008)

Edwards helping Stenhouse at ARCA test: Tuesday at Nashville Superspeedway 18 drivers took part in preparation for the upcoming Nashville ARCA race. On hand for the open test was NASCAR veteran Carl Edwards, who was assisting Roush Fenway Racing development driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. as Stenhouse was turning his first laps at Nashville.(ARCARacing.com)(7-23-2008)

Special Office Depot scheme for Edwards at Chicago: When Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Office Depot Ford in the Sprint Cup Series, competes in the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 12, he'll have some special passengers along for the ride. For this race only, Office Depot will showcase a one-of-a-kind 'Taking Care of Business' paint scheme featuring the individual signatures of close to 8,000 Office Depot associates from around the world. The signatures collected from all regions of the world are representative of the fact that Office Depot associates serve customers in more than 40 countries across the globe. The Office Depot 'Taking Care of Business' paint scheme features the unique signatures of associates from Office Depot sales offices, retail stores, distribution centers, crossdocks, corporate and administrative offices in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. More info at officedepotracing.com.(Office Depot site), see an image of the scheme on my #99 Team Schemes page.(7-8-2008)

Office Depot to Stewart UPDATE and Newman and Jack Daniels: been told that Office Depot will be the sponsor for Tony Stewart in 2009 when he drives for Haas CNC Racing which is will buy in to. Hearing the announcement of the buy and deal will be made in Indianapolis the week NASCAR is in Indy for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, July 27th.(7-3-2008)
UPDATE: Tony Stewart is expected to announce a 2009 move to Haas-CNC Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in three weeks. Reliable sources tell Sirius Speedway that Stewart will also announce sponsorship from Office Depot and Old Spice as part of a new, multi-year package with Haas CNC, and that Penske Racing’s Ryan Newman will join him as a teammate, with sponsorship from Jack Daniels. That surprise move comes as the result of an enviable situation at Richard Childress Racing, which now has five potential sponsors for next season, and only four teams. Sirius Speedway has learned that UPS will move from Michael Waltrip Racing’s #44 Toyota to the quarterpanels of Clint Bowyer’s #07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in 2009, leaving Jack Daniels in search of a new driver. That driver will be Newman, who is set to sign-on with Stewart at Haas CNC.(Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway)(7-7-2008)

Roush Fenway hopes to have drivers locked in soon for ’09: Roush Fenway Racing hopes to soon solidify its current driver lineup in the same positions for 2009, team president Geoff Smith said Sunday at Infineon Raceway. The first item would be locking in #16-Greg Biffle, who said Friday he expects to complete the deal this week. As far as #6-David Ragan, Smith also was optimistic. “We’re working through a final contract now with a sponsor, and unless Tony Stewart puts a wheel under us [in his sponsorship quest], it should be over very shortly,” Smith said. The team’s other three drivers – #99-Carl Edwards, #26-Jamie McMurray and #17-Matt Kenseth – are already signed for next season. Roush Fenway Racing can have five teams in 2009 but will have to cut down to four for the 2010 season.(SceneDaily.com)(6-23-2008)

Office Depot to MWR? UPDATE 3 AFLAC to be primary for #99 in 2009: hearing Office Depot, currently the sponsor for #99-Carl Edwards, is considering a move to Michael Waltrip Racing with driver #00-Michael McDowell. UPS has been rumored as a possible sponsor for Edwards and Roush Racing in 2009.(5-8-2008)
UPDATE Exclusive negotiation period ends between Roush & Office Depot: The exclusive negotiating period between Office Depot and Roush Fenway Racing in regards to sponsorship of Carl Edwards beyond his season has expired, Office Depot Public Relations Director Mindy Kramer confirmed Friday afternoon. "We're looking at options for 2009, including Carl and other things at Roush nothing to report yet," Kramer said at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "When you're talking about a significant investment, it's difficult to get those things done in a short period of time," said Kramer, who declined to say whether Office Depot had started talking to other teams besides Roush Fenway. "Carl was not signed until almost the very end of our period of exclusive talks, so that was a hindrance to us being able to have some meaningful discussions. How do you have meaningful discussions with a team when he may have ended up somewhere else?" The company, which has official NASCAR status as well, wants to stay in the driver sponsorship side of the sport. "We like this sport; we don't want to drag this out," Kramer said. "It's an important decision, and there's a lot to go into it. We don't pay attention to the rumors and speculation out there. ... We just try to focus on what's going to be right for our business in 2009 and beyond. Obviously we've had a great four-year relationship with Carl and have had tremendous success." Office Depot sponsors the car for 23 races, and other companies, including some Office Depot business partners such as Aflac, fill out the rest of the schedule.(SceneDaily)(5-17-2008)
UPDATE 2 - AFLAC signs to be Edwards full sponsor in 2009? hearing that AFLAC, already a sponsor of Carl Edwards, also had an exclusive window of negotiation once Office Depot passed on sponsorship with Roush Fenway and AFLAC has signed to become the new full-time sponsor of the #99 Ford in 2009.(5-19-2008)
UPDATE 3: Aflac Incorporated announced its signing of a full-season multi-year primary sponsorship of Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards and the #99 Ford Fusion. Additionally, Aflac continues its relationship as the official supplemental insurance company for Roush Fenway Racing and Carl Edwards. Racing fans can visit AflacRacing.com for exclusive videos, track analysis, merchandise, promotions, screen savers and other features. Racing fans can also watch Edwards and the #99 Aflac Ford Fusion at the remaining 2008 races, including: June 8 at Pocono; July 5 at Daytona; July 27 at Indy; Aug. 31 at Auto Club Speedway; Oct. 11 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.(PR Newswire)(5-21-2008)
AND Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal estimated the deal at $78 million over three years ($26 million per year). Edwards had recently signed a reported three-year deal that will keep him at Roush Fenway at least through 2011.(5-21-2008)

Couple to have marriage proposal featured on the #99: Phillip Pruzensky and Janice Scarfe of Orange County, Calif., will have their marriage proposal featured on the back of Carl Edwards’ #99 Office Depot Ford during the Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and receive a VIP prize package worth more than $10,000. The couple were chosen as winners of the “Say Yes To A Winning Proposal” national contest sponsored by Harlequin, a leading publisher of women’s fiction worldwide, and Office Depot. In addition to having their proposal highlighted on the back of Edwards’ #99 Office Depot Ford, Pruzensky and Scarfe will also receive a diamond ring, customized stationery provided by the Office Depot Design, Print & Ship Depotä and a romantic trip for two to Red Rock Country in Sedona, Ariz.(Office Depot PR)(5-17-2008)

Humpy picks Edwards to win All-Star race: H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler named Carl Edwards as his pick to win Saturday night's Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Wheeler revealed his selection today in uptown Charlotte with assistance from a pack of four-legged friends, including Princess, the back-flipping dog. "Carl Edwards is a racer's racer in the mold of Dale Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough," said Wheeler. "He will put his car in places angels fear to tread and beneath that big smile and his trademark back flip, Carl has an abnormal fire in his heart to win that I have seldom seen. Known for his promotional flair and Karnac-type ability, Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, has correctly picked the winner of the Sprint All-Star Race 10 times in the past 19 races. While Edwards' burning determination was key in Wheeler's decision, it was the early season performance of the #99 Office Depot Ford that proved to be the determining factor [Wheeler also picked Edwards to win in 2006, he finished 4th]. In preparation for making his selection, Wheeler analyzed early season race results and studied Sprint Cup Series testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway. His final decision came down to a choice between Edwards and Kyle Busch. Each year since 1994, Wheeler has also named a dark-horse selection who he thinks could pull off a surprise victory. This time he's going with #20-Tony Stewart to fill that role. Good seats, in various price ranges, are still available for Saturday's Sprint All-Star Race and include the 3 Doors Down pre-race concert. Tickets start at $40 and may be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-14-2008)

Problems with #99 rear housing? #24-Jeff Gordon would like NASCAR to look into the way Roush Fenway Racing is adjusting the rear housing on Carl Edwards' #99 Ford to create a competitive advantage. Edwards has won three times on 1.5-mile tracks this season and was in position to win a fourth before having late engine problems. Many in the garage said during testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway earlier this week that the yaw created -- Edwards' car appears to be going sideways on the straightaway, creating more side force heading into the turns -- by turning the rear housing to the right gives Edwards a competitive advantage. " ... NASCAR knows it's happening," Gordon said on Friday at Darlington Raceway. "They are the ones that see the cars come through inspection. They see it. When cars can't even get on the scales because they're running sideways, it's something they need to address." Series director John Darby said there are no plans to further police the rear housing adjustment, noting NASCAR already has a rule restricting more than a quarter-inch change plus or minus. He added that Hendrick Motorsports, for which Gordon drives, was the first to experiment with the rear-housing adjustment on the new car and that Edwards' #99 team was one of the last. "They [complain] when we've got too many rules and then they want us to create more," Darby said of teams in general. "The process is so simple. There are limits on how far they can go."(full story at ESPN.com)(5-10-2008)

Truex to Penske? with UPS? UPDATE UPS denies: hearing that Martin Truex, current driver of the #1 DEI Chevy, could be headed to a 4th Penske Racing team with UPS as the sponsor.(5-4-2008)
UPDATE - UPS denies negotiating with any team: UPS officials released a statement Monday saying the company is not currently in negotiations with any specific Sprint Cup team or driver. UPS currently sponsors the #44 driven by David Reutimann. Michael Waltrip Racing Vice President Cal Wells has said that UPS has had preliminary discussions with six teams about what cars and drivers they would have open for 2009 and "UPS is doing exactly what they should be doing. We either earn the business back or we won’t." But to say that UPS has started negotiations with any team is not accurate, according to a company official. "As of this date, UPS is not engaged in formal active sponsorship negotiations with any NASCAR Sprint Cup driver or race team," read the statement, attributed to UPS Director of Sponsorship & Events Ron Rogowski. With Dale Jarrett's retirement this year, UPS is looking for another face for a long-term campaign. One of the drivers often mentioned is #99-Carl Edwards, who right now is sponsored by Office Depot. Roush Fenway Racing and Office Depot currently are in an exclusive negotiating period for Edwards. "UPS went to six or eight race teams, visited them, to get all the inventory that they all had," Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith said Saturday. "And from that, they told us they would cut it down amongst the teams. There's been no negotiating."(SceneDaily.com)(5-6-2008)

Edwards re-signs with Roush UPDATE 2: Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing has signed a multi-year stay with the team on Thursday. His old contract was thru the end of 2008.(PRN's Garage Pass)
UPDATE: Carl Edwards said Friday he signed a multiple-year contract extension to continue driving the #99 Ford, a decision that takes NASCAR's most sought-after free agent off the market. "I'm staying with Roush," Edwards said. "I looked at everything and I talked to everybody and, for me, the number one thing is looking into the future and saying, 'Where can I win the most races and have the most success?' I just feel like for me, personally, this is where I want to be for the near future." He negotiated the contract himself with Geoff Smith, president of Roush. "It took us about a week and a half of going back and forth with just little things and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world for the contract I got," he said. "If I was dealing with someone that I didn't trust or that I felt like I couldn't just kind of air everything out with, then I'd probably have to have an agent, but dealing with Geoff from day one has been very easy at Roush for me, so it was really pretty simple. Besides, I feel like I know what I need more than anyone else. I know what I want to make me happy and this is cool." It's not clear if sponsor Office Depot will remain on the car. A spokeswoman for the company said only they are continuing their negotiations with Roush.(ESPN.com/AP)(5-2-2008)
UPDATE 2: Roush said he was battling two rival car owners for Edwards' services. One of the men in the running for Edwards was apparently Chevy kingpin Rick Hendrick. The other was apparently Joe Gibbs, with backer Toyota; Joe and J. D. Gibbs and Toyota executives may well be resigned to the distinct possibility that Tony Stewart could be leaving their team at the end of this season and thus made a quick -- and high-priced -- run at Edwards to fill that seat. Whether that means the Gibbs and Toyota will play hardball to keep Stewart or will look for another championship-caliber driver is unclear.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-3-2008)
UPDATE 3: On Friday Edwards announced that he had renewed his contract with Roush Fenway Racing, keeping him behind the wheel of the # 99 Ford for an additional three years.(Athlon Sports)(5-3-2008)

Edwards gets his crew chief back: This weekend’s race at Richmond marks the return to the racetrack for Bob Osborne, crew chief of the #99 Office Depot team. Following a rule infraction at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 2, Osborne was placed on a six-week suspension from NASCAR. In the time that Osborne was away from the track, interim co-crew chiefs Chris Andrews and Robbie Reiser accumulated one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes. Had it not been for an engine failure in Atlanta, the win total may have been two. Edwards was leading the race when he was forced to retire from the event early.(Roush Fenway Racing)(4-29-2008)

Edwards talks contract: #99-Carl Edwards ON CONTRACTS AND NEGOTIATIONS. "For me, personally, just out of respect to everyone and sponsors, and the teams and the way we do business, for me it's always my mission to get that stuff out of the way and get it done as early as I can. That's how I've always tried to do it." WHERE DO YOU STAND ON YOUR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS? "I don't want to say anything." MORE ON CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS. "I'm working really hard to get my stuff, just because I think it's fair to get it done early, and once I get it done I'll let everyone know what I've done. But, we're working on it."(Ford Racing)(4-26-2008)

Edwards Tests in Iowa: Carl Edwards already owns three Sprint Cup Series wins this season, but continues to look beyond the immediate horizon. This weekend, Talladega. Next weekend, Richmond. So it made sense for the #99-Roush Fenway Racing driver to conduct a closed test today [4/23] at Iowa Speedway in Newton, a 7/8-mile asphalt track similar in terms of specifications to Richmond.(Des Moines Register)(4-24-2008)

Office Depot negotiating with Roush; if not UPS could replace: MORE Office Depot is in the midst of an exclusive 60-day negotiating period to extend its sponsorship of Carl Edwards’ #99 Ford, but industry sources say that UPS is waiting in the wings to make a run at the hot Roush Fenway Racing driver.(SportsBusinessJournal.com-sub)(4-21-2008)
UPDATE: Office Depot is in the final year of its three-year deal with the #99 team. Edwards and Roush Fenway appear to be in position to push the first of many sponsor dominoes in the coming four to six weeks. If Office Depot, which has used Edwards out front for its annual "Official Small Business of NASCAR" promotion, doesn't have a deal done by mid-May, industry sources say UPS will pursue sponsorship of Edwards' car. UPS has been considering several options, from staying at Michael Waltrip Racing to Edwards to Jeff Burton's #31, which is scheduled to lose AT&T as its primary sponsor at the end of this season, but sources said Edwards has emerged as the top option. The issue between Office Depot and Roush Fenway, sources said, is the price tag for the #99 car has increased significantly from three years ago when Edwards was considered more of an up-and-comer than a bona fide star. If Edwards stays in the # 99 as expected, Roush Fenway hopes to extract $22 million to $24 million a year in the next contract, sources said, a significant step up from the deal Office Depot signed three years ago in the $14 million to $15 million range annually. It's uncertain how aggressively Office Depot will pursue another three years on the #99 at the higher price. The office supply retailer is embroiled in a proxy fight with a shareholder group that is attempting to oust CEO Steve Odland from the company's board after an 85 percent drop in fourth-quarter net earnings year-over-year. Office Depot's stock price has dropped from a high of $37.05 nearly a year ago to $11.51 at Monday's close, which has prompted questions about its ability to win a bidding war for the #99 car. John Miller, a former Roush marketing executive who now owns his own agency, Xceed Sports Marketing, is representing Office Depot in these negotiations.(Sports Business Journal/SceneDaily.com)(4-22-2008)

Dunkin' Donuts teams up with Fenway Sports: As it expands nationally, Dunkin' Donuts is teaming up with a high-powered group of local sports marketers to bring in new customers. Dunkin’ now has 5,500 stores, but plans to triple that number over the next two decades, targeting markets like Dallas, Cleveland and Nashville that are outside its Northeast base. The Canton-based chain has hired Fenway Sports Group to help devise a national sports marketing campaign. That could mean rolling out Dunkin' ads featuring sports stars in some of its new markets across the country, said Mark Lev, executive vice president at Fenway Sports Group. The Dunkin' deal is a major coup for FSG, which has been building a broad portfolio of deals ranging from a 50% stake in a top NASCAR race team to consulting deals with a range of companies.(Boston Herald)(4-15-2008)

Edwards wins at Texas: #99-Carl Edwards won the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of 2008 and the 10th of his career. He domanated the race, leading 122 laps and surviving and green white checker finish. #48-Johnson was 2nd, followed by #18-Busch, #12-Newman, #11-Hamlin, #31-Burton [who continues to lead the points], #20-Stewart, #8-Martin, #17-Kenseth and #07-Bowyer. #24-Gordon wrecked early and finished 43rd, only the second time in his career that he has finished last [the other being Texas in 1999]. There were 16 lead changes among 6 drivers and 6 cautions for 27 laps.
Race Results on my Texas Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Texas page.(4-6-2008)

Aflac Sponsoring Edwards at Texas & Phoenix: Aflac, the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States, will be the primary sponsor of Carl Edwards’ #99 Roush Fenway Racing team this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Additionally, Aflac will also be the primary sponsor next weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Edwards will drive the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion in a total of eight races throughout the 2008 season.(Roush Fenway Racing PR), See images of the scheme on my #99 Team Schemes page.(4-4-2008)

RFR working on driver contracts: Greg Biffle’s contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing is nearly complete, and the team is working on extensions for David Ragan and Carl Edwards. Using Biffle’s words from earlier in the week, Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith said that the contract with Biffle is 90% along. He said the fact that Biffle is running second in points has not accelerated the deal. “We wanted to get it done over the winter,” Smith said Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. “We like to get them done so they don’t become a distraction of the team in terms of the race season.” The contracts for Edwards and Ragan, as well as those with the companies sponsoring [AAA announced they would leave at the end of 2008] their cars, end after the season is over. Smith indicated that the team would like to sign the sponsor and driver at the same time. He said the team also is working with a sponsor to finalize the Biffle deal. “For us, there’s a money equation that has to be met,” Smith said. “The sponsor has to pay [a certain amount] in order for us to pay the driver and so forth. We close all of that out at the same time.” Smith doesn’t anticipate having trouble finding sponsorship for Edwards. His organization currently is looking for sponsorship for the two Yates Racing cars. “It’s pretty early,” Smith said about the sponsor search. “Carl Edwards, even in this down economy, he’s the hottest property in the garage. We’ve got all the sponsorship we can handle for him. David, and Travis [Kvapil] and David Gilliland, they’re all in the mix. We’re hoping the economic climate improves here shortly and typically May and June are big months for significant prospects to come forward for us. We’re about to find out if that’s true.”(SceneDaily)(3-31-2008)

Roush Fenway Racing doesn't plan any legal action against MWR: Roush Fenway Racing doesn't plan to take legal action against Michael Waltrip Racing for what it characterized as the theft of a sway bar unless there is evidence that the piece has been duplicated. Team president Geoff Smith said the issue would not have surfaced at all had Toyota general manager Lee White not insinuated that Roush's team of Carl Edwards intentionally cheated at Las Vegas.(see full story at ESPN.com), so lets hope this whole thing is over.(3-30-2008)

MWR had [Roush] part, says it was a mistake UPDATE: Michael Waltrip confirmed Friday afternoon that it was his team that Jack Roush was alluding to when saying a Toyota team had stolen a sway bar from Roush Fenway Racing at Dover last September. “It was a mistake,” Waltrip said. “Look at the back of these toolboxes. There are sway bars, there’s jack handles, and it wound up in our possession. We called them and said, ‘We want to give this back.’ ”(full story atSceneDaily)
MORE: Michael Waltrip acknowledged on Saturday that his team had the sway bar that team owner Jack Roush accused a Toyota team of stealing last season. But Waltrip insisted that it wasn't a theft, that the bar accidentally wound up at his shop after the September race at Dover and that nobody realized it belonged to Roush Fenway Racing until that organization called to inquire about it in January. "Accidents happen, mistakes happen," Waltrip said. "If you look inside this garage area today there's over 70 racing vehicles in here and stuff gets slung everywhere ... I could see why he would be upset. He feels like he was wronged and he's mad about it." Roush said the sway bar was specially designed by Roush Fenway for his cars. He said they were larger than the old bars, unable to fit in the toolbox slot and were put underneath the box instead. Roush said a member of a Toyota team -- which turned out to be David Reutimann's #00 car -- parked next to him at Dover, then walked over and took the piece. "I don't know what makes him tick," Waltrip said of Roush. "But I do know that no one went to his toolbox and swiped his bar." Waltrip said he had no knowledge that the piece was sandblasted to hide its identity and that somebody from his team called a vendor to have it duplicated as Roush alleged. "I don't have knowledge of any of that," he said. "I heard it was painted blue and when we figured out that it wasn't ours then it was set off to the side and eventually returned."(ESPN.com)(3-29-2008)

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

Latest on the 'stolen' Roush "proprietary part" UPDATE MWR: Jack Roush said on Friday that a Toyota team stole a sway bar made specifically for Roush Fenway Racing from one of his Sprint Cup teams last season at Dover. "A theft did occur," the co-owner of Roush Fenway said during practice at Martinsville Speedway. "The part was recovered ... We are still considering what if any legal action to seek." One of Roush's options is asking for a restraining order to guarantee the team in question does not duplicate the bar, which has been determined legal by NASCAR, for a competitive advantage. "It's lawyer time," Roush said. Roush made his first comments since he was quoted in ESPN The Magazine as saying a proprietary part was found missing from his inventory and discovered with a Toyota team. He discounted comments made by Jim Aust, the president of Toyota Racing Development, that a valve spring was found during a teardown inspection, identified as belonging to Roush and returned. Roush said the theft occurred in the garage area at Dover in September [2007], where the only Toyota teams in the field belonged to Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull.
Lee White, the general manager of TRD, said his organization launched a full investigation into the allegation when Roush's allegations were published in ESPN The Magazine. He said a valve spring that did not belong to Toyota ended up at TRD's California location after the California race, that it was reported to NASCAR and returned. Roush said he became aware of the theft in early January when the vendor that produced the product for Roush Fenway was contacted by the Toyota team in question about duplicating the bar.
Roush said he's had several discussions with NASCAR officials about the situation. He was alarmed when Robin Pemberton, the vice president of competition for the series, said disappearing parts are a common occurrence and the teams needed to work it out amongst themselves. Roush said there is something fundamentally wrong if NASCAR doesn't intercede, reminding the governing body has no problem reacting when somebody uses an illegal part -- on purpose or not. Roush, noting he has been in the business 22 years, and said this is the first time he's heard of such a situation. He declined to respond to a question in which Michael Waltrip Racing was insinuated as the Toyota team. "I don't substantiate," he said. Waltrip declined to comment until he heard how the question was posed and the way Roush responded.(see full story at ESPN.com)(3-28-2008)

Roush Says Toyota Team Stole "Proprietary Part" UPDATE 2: ESPN the Magazine has an interesting and potentially explosive quote from Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush as part of its 10th Anniversary issue, which is on newsstands this week. Two weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the magazine quotes Roush as saying, “We had a proprietary Roush Fenway part go missing from one of my race teams, and we recovered it from a Toyota team. I’m not going to say which team it is, but we are considering legal action, or getting NASCAR involved.” If Roush’s allegations prove to be true, this could become NASCAR’s version of the recent spy scandal that rocked Formula One racing, in which the McLaren-Mercedes team was caught with confidential, proprietary test information belonging to rival Ferrari. We contacted Roush Fenway Racing today in search of further information – including team was involved and the specific part in question -- and we [SIRIUS Speedway w/ Dave Moody] hope to have a statement from them later today.(Motorsports Soapbox)(3-25-2008)
UPDATE: Jack Roush, co-owner of Ford-based Roush Fenway Racing, leveled another serious accusation at nemesis Toyota at Atlanta Motor Speedway -- one that took nearly three weeks to surface. No one from either RFR or Toyota was willing to comment on Tuesday, but no one was denying Roush told a reporter from ESPN The Magazine on March 7 that a Toyota team had been in possession of an RFR team part.(ESPN)(3-26-2008)
UPDATE 2: Toyota officials on Wednesday identified the Roush Fenway Racing part that owner Jack Roush said was found in a Toyota team's possession during a Sprint Cup post-race teardown as a spring. Jim Aust, the president and chief executive officer of Toyota Racing Development, said once the part was found to belong to RFR that it was returned. He was uncertain how the part, discovered on a table with other Toyota parts, got there or from which team it came. "I don't understand the whole procedure when a teardown happens," said Aust, referring to a post-race process in which several cars are broken down by NASCAR inspectors. "The only thing I know is it wound up with parts we had and [which were] returned to Roush. "It's unfortunate it happened the way it did. It wasn't anything intentional. There's no reason to be done intentional. I have no idea how it happened to begin with." Roush Fenway president Geoff Smith said the part in question was not a spring, but he would not elaborate. No one at RFR has identified which Toyota team had the part. "Jack is the only one to talk to at this time and he presently doesn't want to make any additional comments," Smith said.(ESPN.com)(3-26-2008)

#99 Roush Fenway Racing team will not appeal: Roush Fenway Racing announced today that it will not appeal the penalties imposed by NASCAR following its post-race inspection of the #99 car at Las Vegas. “We have conducted a thorough internal investigation and have found no evidence whatsoever that anyone intended for the bolt/nut fastener to fail to secure the lid for the entire race,” said Jack Roush, team owner. “We have subsequently added protective measures to insure that the lid will remain fastened even if a failure of this type should again occur.” Geoff Smith, president of Roush Fenway Racing said, “We realize in the NASCAR system of penalty administration that simple negligence, by itself, is never sufficient grounds to overturn or reduce a penalty. Consequently, no appeal will be made of the penalties assessed by NASCAR.”(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(3-12-2008)

EDWARDS, ROUSH RESPOND TO NASCAR PENALTY: Despite being blasted from nearly every angle by competitors for the loose oil tank lid that allegedly gave them an on-track advantage, Carl Edwards and Jack Roush defended their innocence while fielding questions from the media Friday afternoon. "I swear it was not an intentional thing," Edwards said. "It doesn't change what I'm gonna do; I just drive the race car as fast as I can. It's not my responsibility to tighten that bolt." Earlier in the day, nearly every fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup driver or owner who was asked about the penalty condemned Edwards and his Roush Fenway team for intentionally loosening the lid. "You can tell a lot about people by the way they act," Edwards said. "People get worked up about it; we've got 'em where we want 'em. It's not a big deal to me personally; it's almost comical." For owner Jack Roush, it's certainly not a laughing matter. While he wouldn't rule out appealing the decision, he did say he'd made a certain peace with what had transpired. "If NASCAR's decided that your car is out of variance, regardless if you're culpable or did it with intent, and then there's a penalty ... that's fine, just do it every time," Roush said.(AMS Pit Note)(3-8-2008)

Many Driver comments about the #99 oil tank lid controversy:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. ON HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SAGA SURROUNDING THE 99 THIS WEEK AND IF HE’S EVER LOOKED AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT: “We tested in the wind tunnel and it does add down force, about 19 pounds to our car but I’m not sure. I applaud them for being creative and that’s how we got to where we are today because guys are creative to find ways to get an advantage. That’s what makes our cars drive better, drive faster. Like I said, I applaud them for doing that and trying to get that edge. Mr. Smith or the guy that runs Roush, saying it was a bolt failure, that was ridiculous. He should just come out and be honest about it. That was unfortunate and turning the blame on NASCAR saying NASCAR assures every bolt won’t fail. The guy doesn’t even know how many bolts hold the lid on so how can he make any comment on it. I thought Carl (Edwards) drove a good race, he’s a great race car driver. Even with the lid on, he probably wins the race. We’re all out there trying to get an unfair advantage and you can’t hang one guy for it. You can’t really come down on one guy because we’re all trying to do that. If you’re walking around looking at all these cars you’d find little things that you wouldn’t like, you probably wouldn’t pass inspection on every one of them if you had them for a couple of days. I got to applaud them for being creative and trying to get that extra advantage. That’s what you try to do.”
Jeff Burton ON HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT THE OIL TANK LID COMING OFF THE #99 AT VEGAS AND IF HE BELIEVES IT CAUSED AN ADVANTAGE. “Taking the oil tank lid off of the oil tank is not something new. That’s something that has gone on for a long time particularly at Daytona and Talladega qualifying. You know people used to take the shifter boots off; they take the oil tank cover off, that’s not new. I can’t tell you by any means exactly what happens when you take the oil tank off, oil tank lid off rather from a down force or drag perspective. In the past we do know that it added down force and it decreased drag. Those are two things that typically don’t go together. Typically when you decrease drag, you decrease down force or when you increase down force you increase drag. Having said that, in no way do I believe is the 99 not going to run well this weekend because they have their oil tank lid taped down. It probably is an advantage. “Is that why they won the race? I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. One thing that I have learned about these race cars is typically things don’t fall off of cars that hurt the cars. That’s one thing I’ve learned. Crew members don’t typically leave a-frames loose, they typically don’t leave brakes loose, gauges don’t fall out of them. We have highly trained mechanics that have checklists but mistakes do happen. Mistakes do happen. I certainly don’t know if they did it on purpose or not, or nor would I claim to. It did happen and I guess that’s the end of the story.”
Jimmie Johnson WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THE PENALTIES ISSUED TO THE #99 CARL EDWARDS AND HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS OIL COVER DOWNFORCE EQUATION AT ALL? “We’re all aware of it, especially for Daytona and Talladega. That’s been a tool for years that people have used. NASCAR has gotten on to it and we saw a lot of fines there earlier in the year. I can’t say that we’ve seen it on a downforce track. So maybe there is more there than when we first saw it. But from being in that position before, NASCAR is not in the position to really defend or understand what you’re doing. It’s either right or it’s wrong. I’ve been there. I know how difficult of a time it is. It’s no fun. It’s something that no team wants to go through. So you’ve just got to take your lumps and move on. And it’s certainly going to affect the way the team runs. “At the end of the day, I know from my experience that it’s made us stronger as a team. And with how those guys have been running, from a selfish standpoint, I hope it doesn’t make them any stronger (smiles) because they’ve been awfully tough already this year.”
Kevin Harvick: ON HIS REACTION TO THE PENALTY THAT THE #99 TEAM RECEIVED FOLLOWING THE VEGAS RACE. “When you look at all the stuff that they did with the side window and the oil tank lid and the way the lid was designed to come off it sounds, I think the intent was for it all to happen. When you start messing with the safety devices and things on the side window, you’re doing things that are a pretty big no, no.”(GM Racing PR)
Kurt Busch: DO YOU ANY REACTION TO CARL EDWARDS PENALTY? “I don’t really have much on one. NASCAR is getting steeper with their penalties - that’s due to trying to even out the playing field. You have to look at it as the competition wants to get an edge on the next guy – at the same time NASCAR doesn’t want you to step out of the box to do so. And so it works in both favors – at the same time we want our fans to be happy. We want fans to watch our cars race around the race track in a legal position and know that when that car won the race -it’s because he was the fastest, not because he did some other creative things. It’s a tough double-edge sword – you’re racing out there trying to beat the other guy, but you have to stay in the box.”
Elliott Sadler: DO YOU THINK THAT ROUSH WAS TRYING TO CHEAT WITH THE 99 CAR LAST WEEK IN VEGAS? “I think that it insults my intelligence as a race car driver when you try and tell me that you accidentally left the oil tank lid off. If you go to any owner, any engineer, any driver any crew chief and ask them is that an advantage, ‘heck yeah it’s an advantage’. I’ve been doing that half of my career. When driving the 21 and 38 car, we pulled the shifter boot off and the oil tank lid off until NASCAR started to tech it. It’s 100 lbs of downforce. “Let me try and put this in perspective for you. We spend three to four million dollars a year going to the wind tunnel trying to change body shapes, trying to do underneath the car, changing crush panels and doing stuff like that all the time – trying to get a gain and trying to get and advantage - when all you have to do is take the oil tank lid off and you get 100 counts of downforce. There’s a beautiful picture of Carl Edwards doing a back-flip – I’m not taking anything away from Carl Edwards, he’s an amazing race car driver. But someone took a picture of him doing a black-flip in the right side of the car and the oil tank lid is eight inches off the top of the tank. That’s not just one bolt. And the right side safety window latches were loose – that’s were the hot air was going. They did a good job and figured it out and made it work. I’m impressed on how they did it – it was smart and it worked out for them – they won the race.” DID THEY LEAVE IT OFF BY MISTAKE? “One bolt isn’t going to raise it up seven inches off the top of the lid.” SHOULD THERE BE A DISTINCTION WHEN A RULES INFRATCTION IS OBVIOUSLY UNINTENTIONAL? “Yeah, I think there should be differences between pre-race and post-race. If they’re pretty happy with 100 points and 100,000 pre-race, make it 200 points and 200,000 after the race being the one you got to race that way. “When you present a car for inspection I understand slapping you on the wrist and saying ‘look, let’s make sure this doesn’t happy again’. I think that it should be more. If my team cheats this weekend on Sunday and I get a competitive advantage – and I get caught with it – I think that it should be more than what it is when somebody gets caught before the race. I just think that it keeps it all in line and keeps it all fair because you actually didn’t get to race with a competitive advantage.”(Dodge MS PR)(3-8-2008)

Article about the oil tank controversy and how leaving the cover off can create an advantage:
Stock Car Science:
The Science of ...Missing Oil Tank Covers by Diandra Leslie-Pelecky

Roush Denies Intentional Wrongdoing: Car owner Jack Roush strongly denied any intentional wrongdoing Friday in the wake of NASCAR penalties that knocked driver Carl Edwards out of first place in the Sprint Cup points and put crew chief Bob Osborne on a six-week suspension. "Jack is mad," a visibly upset Roush declared as he strode to a podium Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway to respond to Toyota official Lee White's claim in a published report that Edwards' #99 Roush Fenway Racing team had intentionally taken the cover off the car's oil tank to gain an aerodynamic advantage. "He's a real nice guy," Roush said of White, a former Roush employee. "I respect him, but he's also a great racer and would seek any advantage he might think he had an opportunity for." See more at the Associaated Press.(3-8-2008)

Toyota's GM says #99 knew what it was doing with lid UPDATE: Lee White, GM for Toyota Racing Development, said Carl Edwards' team knowingly caused a lid to come loose on an oil tank in his Ford because it increased the car's speed during Sunday's victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Edwards was penalized 100 points by NASCAR for the missing cover. Roush Fenway Racing has denied the infraction was intentional, saying a bolt broke because of a vibration. The team said it wasn't certain it achieved a gain in performance. White said the manufacturer's testing at wind tunnels in Germany revealed removing the cover on the oil tank (located in a steel box behind the driver's seat) resulted in 170 extra pounds of downforce, the aerodynamic measurement of keeping a car glued to the track. White also said video of a pit stop showed a member of Edwards' pit crew pulling on a right rear fender to open a 3-inch gap to an inner panel. Toyota testing showed that would create about 70 pounds of downforce, White said. NASCAR said the only issue with the car during inspection was the lid.(more at USA Today)(3-7-2008)
UPDATE: What began as a debate over whether the infraction was intentional -- which is the overwhelming opinion of the Sprint Cup garage -- has turned into personal warfare between Jack Roush and Toyota's Lee White. Roush has badgered White repeatedly since Toyota came into the sport last season, complaining about how the foreign manufacturer stole away crew members by doubling salaries and drove up the overall cost it takes to compete. He even referenced the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. So when NASCAR hammered Edwards with the penalty, which included the loss of 10 bonus points he would get should he makes the championship chase and a six-race suspension for crew chief Bob Osborne, White didn't hesitate to fire back at his former boss. White, the general manager of Toyota Racing Development, told USA Today on Thursday that Roush Fenway Racing knowingly caused the lid to come off to increase the car's speed. Roush fired back with claims that White basically cheated during his days as the manager of his road-racing team and that was the reason he didn't bring him to North Carolina when he moved into NASCAR. He also questioned why White would test a car without the lid or with the side panel pulled out when both are illegal. And then to throw fuel on the fire, Roush said Michael Waltrip's car wasn't the only Toyota at the 2007 Daytona 500 that had "jet fuel" in the engine. NASCAR never has revealed what the foreign substance was. Roush and White actually were once friends. White often tells how in 1986 his wife picked out Roush's first fedora that has become synonymous with the man known as the "Cat in the Hat." NASCAR officials declined to comment on that topic, but got a kick out of the way Roush and White were attacking each other. Maybe the two simply are following the edict of chairman Brian France and showing more of their personalities.(see full story and many quotes at ESPN.com)

Roush Fenway Racing Statement on #99 Penalty: Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith’s statement on the penalty given to the #99 team following Sunday’s Las Vegas race. “The bolt holding the lid in place failed in its purpose as a result of vibration harmonics generated by the car and the race track during the race. The bolt was secure enough to survive 225 miles of practice, perhaps up to 399 of 400 miles of the race and the scrutiny of numerous inspections. It’s a tough business for any race team to have to pledge $100,000, 100 points and a six race crew chief suspension as an indemnity payment to NASCAR against a promise forced from us by NASCAR that no bolt will ever fail its purpose under race conditions. We are currently evaluating whether or not the circumstances justify submitting to the unpleasantness of the appeal process, but from a competitive standpoint, we believe it is in our best interest to have Bob Osborne begin serving the penalty now. Chris Andrews, our chief engineer, will be at the track on Friday and Saturday to lead the #99 team and general manager Robbie Reiser will join Chris on the pit box Sunday during the race. We are confident that we have the depth of talent in our organization and the strength in Carl Edwards and the #99 team to overcome this penalty, should that end up being the final outcome of this unhappy episode.”(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(3-5-2008)

#99 Fails post race inspection at Las Vegas UPDATE 3 Penalties announced: been told the oil tank lid was not secured on the winning #99 Ford of Carl Edward's and found during post race inspection at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The car failed post race inspection and will keep the win, but will face points penalties and a fine. NASCAR usually announces penalties late Tuesday afternoons.(3-2-2008)
MORE: The #99 car had a problem in the postrace inspection. The lid of the oil tank reservoir was off, so NASCAR officials are taking the car to the Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. Any possible penalties would come later this week, probably Tuesday. Five Nationwide Series teams were penalized for a similar violation at Daytona.(ESPN.com)....the rule...the oil reservoir tank cover was not fastened securely, the five teams were penalized with the loss of 25 driver and owner championship points.(Jayski's Past NNS News page)
UPDATE: Carl Edwards said on NASCAR This Week [SPEED] that a bolt backed out, but he expects to be penalized.(3-3-2008)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR did not announce any penalties Tuesday and supposedly will make an announcement on their decision sometime Wednesday, March 5th.(3-4-2008)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR has issued penalties and fines to the #99 team that competes in the Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions found last Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The #99 car driven by Carl Edwards was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-2.1J (any device or duct work that permits air to pass from one area of the interior of the car to another, or to the outside of the car, will not be permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, the inside of the car to the trunk area, or the floors, firewalls, crush panels and wheel wells passing air into or out of the car) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during post-race inspection at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 2. As a result, Edwards and car owner Jack Roush have been penalized 100 championship driver and 100 championship owner points, respectively. In the event the #99 team qualifies for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the team will not receive the 10 bonus points for the UAW-Dodge 400 victory used for determining the Chase seeding order. Crew chief Bob Osborne has been fined $100,000, suspended from the next six Sprint Cup Series events, suspended from NASCAR until April 30 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR PR), Expect Roush Fenway Racing to appeal the penalties. The 100 pt deduction takes Edwards from leading the Drivers Points Standings to 7th, 79 pts out of 1st and #18-Kyle Busch retakes the points standings by 20 over #12-Ryan Newman.(3-5-2008)

Osborne named WYPALL Wipers “Crew Chief the Race” in California: Bob Osborne, crew chief of the #99 DISH Network/Office Depot Ford Fusion driven by Carl Edwards, was named “Crew Chief of the Race” Monday in Fontana, California for his team’s win in the Auto Club 500. Bob, who is a 2008 WYPALL Wipers crew chief representative, made the WYPALL brand proud Monday leading his team to a dominant win in the rain delayed two-day affair. Osborne will receive a $1,000 check as a result of his leadership and strategic thinking during the race.
Sunday’s effort to get the Auto Club 500 completed was thwarted late in the evening when rain returned to the two-mile oval, halting any chance at a conclusion to the race. NASCAR chose to postpone the race until Monday where Osborne and Edwards worked to make their car better and better on the sun soaked track. Edwards took over the lead from Jimmie Johnson with 13 laps to go and never looked back in rout to his first win of the season.
Osborne, Edwards and the #99 team continue to be a formidable threat to win every week, amassing their eighth win in three years together in the Sprint Cup series. Bob and his team use WYPALL Wipers to help improve their performance and keep their Roush-Fenway Racing Ford performing at its top level. “I am excited to be the WYPALL Wipers ‘Crew Chief of the Race’ once again and really proud to be part of the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Team in 2008,” Osborne said after his team’s victory Monday. “Every Crew Chief in the garage wants to win the WYPALL Wipers ‘Crew Chief of the Race’ award because its voted on by his peers and that’s what makes it so special.”
The 2008 WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge is a season-long contest that will determine the best crew chiefs in the Sprint Cup garage. Following each Cup race, a panel will vote to determine which crew chief demonstrated the most outstanding strategy and leadership during the race. It isn’t necessarily the crew chief that goes to victory lane, but the crew chief that made the biggest difference to his team. Representatives from WYPALL Wipers, together with FOX/Speed television analyst Jeff Hammond, and three of NASCAR’s top crew chiefs who represent WYPALL, including Todd Berrier of the Richard Childress Racing #29 Shell Pennzoil Chevy team, Bob Osborne of the Roush Fenway Racing #99 Office Depot Ford team, and Kenny Francis of the Gillett Evernham Motorsports #9 Budweiser Dodge team, make up the panel of judges. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly top wins will be honored as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead, FL. The WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the remainder of the 2008 season and spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto www.wypall.com.(WYPALL PR)(2-26-2008)

Edwards wins at California: #99-Carl Edwards won the Auto Club at Auto Club Speedway for his first win of 2008 and 8th win of his career. Edwards led 64 of 250 laps [#48-Johnson led the most]. #48-Jimmie Johnson finished 2nd followed by #24-Jeff Gordon, #18-Kyle Busch [new points leader], #17-Matt Kenseth, #1-Martin Truex Jr., #20-Tony Stewart, #29-Kevin Harvick, #9-Kasey Kahne and #12-Ryan Newman. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished the race after his early race wreck and finished 40th, 47 laps down. There were 33 lead changes among 15 drivers and 12 caution flags for 44 laps.
See some notes and lucky dogs posted on my California Race Info Page
Race Results on my California Race Results/Awards Page.(2-25-2008)

The DISH Network to sponsor Roush cars for 15 races: Roush Fenway Racing announced DISH Network has signed on as a sponsor in the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. DISH Network will have a team representative and serve as a primary sponsor in 15 Sprint Cup Races in 2008, alternating between three Roush Fenway drivers. Greg Biffle will drive the #16 DISH Network Ford Fusion in 11 Sprint Cup races, Carl Edwards will drive the #99 Ford in three races [this week at California is one] and Matt Kenseth will race the #17 Ford in one race [Bristol in March]. The DISH Network team of drivers will be dubbed the DISH Network AllStars. The DISH Network AllStars first race is Sunday, Feb. 24 featuring the 2007 Nationwide Series champion #99-Carl Edwards.(Roush Fenway Racing)(2-21-2008)

Edwards Honored: Columbia, MO race car driver Carl Edwards was honored by Missouri senators for his NASCAR championship. Edwards brought his 2007 Busch Series trophy to the Capitol on Monday to pose for pictures and sign autographs for fans. He drew a standing ovation from senators who unanimously passed a resolution honoring his accomplishments. Dressed in a blue suit, white shirt and tie, Edwards looked more like a lawmaker than a NASCAR driver. But he assured that he has no political ambitions. "The biggest difference between racing and politics is racing is probably a little bit safer," Edwards quipped.(Kansas City Star)(2-19-2008)

New Young Guns Named: #07-Clint Bowyer and #11-Denny Hamlin are the latest additions to the Gillette Young Guns program. The pair join #2-Kurt Busch, #12-Ryan Newman, #99-Carl Edwards and #9-Kasey Kahne as clean-shaven drivers in the campaign. #48-Jimmie Johnson and #26-Jamie McMurray are no longer participating in the program. The company is unveiling a new ad campaign featuring the drivers with WWE veteran John Cena attempting to teach the group to wrestle. Cena learned to drive a Sprint Cup car as part of a reality television show last summer. The Gillette program is entering its fifth season.(SceneDaily.com) .

Claritin to sponsor Edwards for a few races: Schering-Plough, makers of the non-drowsy allergy medication, Claritin, today announced a first-time sponsorship deal with allergy sufferer Carl Edwards for the 2008 Sprint Cup racing season. Edwards, a member of the Roush Fenway Racing team and 2007 Nationwide [then Busch] Series champion, will drive the #99 Claritin Ford Fusion during selected spring races, and Claritin branding will appear on his #99 Office Depot Ford Fusion and firesuit throughout the season. Edwards, who takes Claritin to treat his allergy symptoms, will serve as spokesperson for the Claritin "Clear to Drive" campaign. He will also be featured in the Claritin brand's new advertising campaign. Additionally, a sweepstakes launching later this year will give five lucky NASCAR fans the opportunity to win a trip around the track with Edwards, and one will win a Ford Mustang.(PR Newswire)(2-1-2008)

Super Bowl Commercials featuring some NASCAR drivers: The pulse of American pop culture is racing right through Super Bowl Sunday and it's hitching a ride on the back of Pepsi's unprecedented slate of Super Bowl advertising that features a lineup of brands, images and stars as diverse as Pepsi's portfolio of drinks. Promising a one-of-a-kind lineup for a one-of-a-kind day, Pepsi's Super Sunday lineup includes: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. getting a charge out of AMP Energy drink as he gets over the hump and harness the energy, focus and control he needs to compete in a camel race.(PepsiCo)
#99-Carl Edwards will appear on advertising's largest stage this Sunday, February 3 - Super Bowl Sunday in a 60 second Under Amour spot, the brand's first-ever Super Bowl Commercial. The commercial, showcasing several professional athletes will mark the first time audiences will see Under Armour's new performance trainers. "I am really looking forward seeing the commercial. I'm going to the Super Bowl and I hope that they show the commercials at the game," said Carl Edwards. "The scale of the production was huge and I'm looking forward to seeing the end product."(Roush Racing PR)(1-31-2008)

Roush looking to re-sign drivers: Roush Fenway Racing officials say they are working on contract extensions for #99-Carl Edwards and #16-Greg Biffle. The contracts for both drivers expire after this season.(Virginia Pilot)(1-26-2008)

Edwards testing at Nashville: #99-Carl Edwards is testing his Cup car at the Nashville Superspeedway today. Roush Fenway rented the facility for the one day test. Edwards won the two Nationwide [then Busch] races at the Nashville Superspeedway in 2007.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(1-23-2008)

CitiFinancial sponsoring Roush: CitiFinancial will be the primary sponsor on a variety of Roush Fenway Racing entries in all 35 Nationwide Series events in 2008. The sponsorship is part of Citi's new multifaceted, strategic marketing partnership with Roush Fenway Racing. As part of the relationship, CitiFinancial will tap into Roush Fenway's all-star driver lineup to pilot the CitiFinancial Ford. In addition, Citi will become a major associate sponsor on all Roush Fenway Racing teams, including the Sprint Cup Series entries of #16-Greg Biffle, #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth, #26-Jamie McMurray, and #6-David Ragan.(Roush Fenway PR)(1-19-2008)

2007 News

Roush Fenway Racing announces new GM - Robbie Reiser: Roush Fenway Racing announced Thursday that championship crew chief, Robbie Reiser, has been appointed General Manager of Roush Fenway Racing’s Nextel Cup team operations. “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to the next phase of my racing career,” Reiser said. “If it’s anywhere near as fun, competitive, and successful as the previous phase, then we’re going to be in good shape. It wasn’t an easy decision to stop being the crew chief of the #17 team, but now I get to work with all of our Cup teams and help improve our performance as a whole. I’m looking forward to the new challenge.” Reiser replaces Max Jones and steps into the GM role with well over 20 years of racing experience under his belt. Roush Fenway Racing is expected to name other crew changes to the #17 Ford team in the upcoming weeks.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(11-15-2007)

Doug Yates and Max Jones join forces: Yates Racing announced Thursday that Max Jones, long-time general manager for Roush Fenway Racing and former road-racing driver has joined Yates Racing as a co-owner and will also assume the role of General Manager . Jones, a native of Long Beach, Calif., joins Yates Racing after serving as general manager for Roush Fenway Racing’s Cup program in 2007. “We’re thrilled to have someone as respected as Max join Yates Racing,” said Yates Racing owner, Doug Yates. “With his experience in the sport and working with such a large and successful organization as Roush Fenway Racing for so many years, he will immediately step in and improve our race operations. As we continue to improve and restructure in preparation for a successful 2008 season, having someone with Max’s experience and credibility only accelerates the process of getting Yates Racing back to where it needs to be and that’s competing for wins and championships on a weekly basis.” Jones will add his experience to one of the most successful operations in motorsports. Since venturing into NASCAR’s Cup series in 1989, Yates Racing has recorded 57 wins, 269 top fives, and 427 top-10 finishes, including the Cup series championship in 1999.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(11-15-2007)

Aflac to sponsor Edwards in 2008 UPDATE: Aflac is close to announcing a 2008 NASCAR limited sponsorship deal with Roush Fenway Racing. Aflac will sponsor a #99 Ford driven by Carl Edwards. An Aflac executive would not confirm the deal with Edwards on Tuesday, but the company did not deny it either when asked about Edwards. "We are still working through the details," said Al Johnson, a second vice president responsible for sponsorships. "We like Carl and what he has done this year -- and what we expect him to do next year. We're very excited." The final terms of the deal could be announced in the next two weeks. The deal with Edwards is expected to be for eight races and could possibly include an associate sponsorship that would put the Aflac duck logo somewhere on the car for the entire season, said a source familiar with the deal. Edwards' primary sponsor is Office Depot. The eight races that Aflac will be the primary sponsor with the corporate logo on the hood have not been determined. Terms of the deal are not available. It is believed Aflac spent between $2 million and $3 million for the 2007 deal. Aflac broke into NASCAR racing this summer with an eight-race deal with Roush Fenway. That deal included four Nextel Cup races in California, New Hampshire, Chicago and Kansas City and four Busch Series races. #16-Greg Biffle drove the Aflac car on the Nextel Cup circuit, winning the race in Kansas City. Roush Fenway drivers Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray split the Busch races. Biffle, Edwards' Roush Fenway teammate, will be sponsored by 3M next year. In July, Aflac announced a deal with NASCAR to serve as the sport's exclusive supplemental insurance sponsor and provider through the 2010 season. It is not known what Aflac paid for that designation.(Ledger-Enquirer)(10-24-2007)
UPDATE: Aflac Incorporated and Office Depot announced a new business relationship within the sport of NASCAR that will help both companies reach new customers, engage the loyal NASCAR fan base and leverage opportunities to grow their businesses. Building on its successful entry into NASCAR in 2007, Aflac will serve as the primary sponsor of Carl Edwards and the #99 Ford Fusion for eight races. In addition, Aflac will be onboard the Office Depot #99 Ford Fusion as an associate sponsor for all other races during the 2008 Sprint Cup season. At the core of the affiliation are Edwards and the #99 Ford Fusion from Roush Fenway Racing. Aflac will be Edwards’ primary sponsor for the following 2008 Sprint Cup Series races: Atlanta [March]. Texas [April], Phoenix [April], Pocono [June]. Daytona [July], Indy [July], California [Aug] and Charlotte [Oct]. More information can be found at www.aflacracing.com.(Roush Racing PR)(11-2-2007)

Kenseth/Edwards altercation: UPDATES: on pit road at Martinsville Speedway after the Subway 500 Nextel Cup race, #17-Matt Kenseth and #99-Carl Edwards got into some sort of altercation which was aired on the SPEED Report Sunday night [and aired on Victory Lane the next hour]. SPEED's Bob Dilner was getting ready to interview Kenseth, when Edwards came over the wall to talk to Kenseth, Dilner backed away but the camera was rolling, Edwards pushed Kenseth away from Dilner down the pit wall, and was 'talking' to Kenseth, touching Kenseth the whole time, the camera then cut away to show Kenseth on the inside of the wall and Edwards on the outside, both drivers said something as they were leaving and then Edwards came back towards Kenseth and faked a punch at Kenseth, who flinched and looked surprised. Edwards then walked away and Kenseth came towards Dilner and that was it. No word on what the exchange was about or if there will be any penalties from Roush Fenway Racing or NASCAR. The video can be seen at SPEEDtv.com about 8 minutes into the Subway 500 video.(10-22-2007)
UPDATE: Owner Jack Roush has talked to both drivers with a simple message. "He told them they've got to settle this without wrecking our cars," team president Geoff Smith said on Tuesday. "He told them to get yourself at peace with one another, then go compete against one another as hard as you want to compete." Smith said neither driver would be punished by the organization, noting that Roush has a policy that teammates are allowed to compete against each other as though they are not teammates. Smith doesn't believe Edwards intended to hit Kenseth.(ESPN.com)(10-23-2007)
AND: Carl Edwards apologized Tuesday for his actions following Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway, saying he was wrong to show his anger toward Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth. Edwards said on a NASCAR teleconference that trouble has been brewing between the pair for a while and that it's probably been six months since they've had a conversation. Now, he wants to change all of that. Edwards is hoping that he and his Roush Fenway teammates can do a better job of having a "team spirit," and he says he plans to do his best to communicate better not only with Kenseth, but with all his Roush Fenway teammates. Edwards took full blame for his actions, pledged to get to know his teammates better and analyzed what could have brought on this type of display. He added that he would take the first step toward mending fences.(SceneDaily.com)(10-23-2007)
Kenseth Comments: Kenseth wasn't very surprised when Edwards accosted him shortly after the race. "His behavior has been real erratic lately, honestly," Kenseth said of his Roush Fenway Racing teammate. "You don't know what to expect with him. That's the thing that's a little bit troublesome. One minute, he has so much respect for you, and he's real friendly and everything's so much fun. The next minute he wants to kick your butt and he's swearing at you. It's a little scary. You never know what you're going to get. I thought it was good in a way that the cameras were there because a lot of us see that, and nobody else does because he kind of puts on a different front."(USA Today)(10-24-2007)

Edwards penalty upheld by Commission: NATIONAL STOCK CAR RACING COMMISSION STATEMENT: On October 9, 2007, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Roush Fenway Racing regarding the #99 car. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-race inspection on September 23, 2007 for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event at Dover International Speedway. The infractions concerned Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rule Book "Actions detrimental to stock car racing"; Section 12-4-Q "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules" and Section 20-12.8.1.C of the NASCAR COT Technical Bulletin #3 dated 4/10/07: "Failed to meet the minimum rear car heights."
The penalties assessed were:
* Loss of 25 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship Car Owner Points for car owner Roush Fenway Racing.
* Loss of 25 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship Driver Points for driver Carl Edwards.
* $25,000.00 fine and probation until December 31, 2007 for crew chief Robert Osborne.
The Appellants argued that the infraction was due to the failure of a clamp on a jack bolt and that the resulting low rear car height was a performance disadvantage. They further argued that penalties imposed during the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup should be assessed differently than during other portions of the season, and differently for Chase contenders than for other competitors.
In deciding the Appeal, the Commission considered several factors: * There was no indication that the infraction was intentional.
* The car failed to meet post-race height requirements. Whether this constituted an advantage, disadvantage or otherwise does not alter the fact that the car failed to meet the rules.
* All eligible competitors in each NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship race are awarded championship points per the NASCAR Rule Book. Accordingly, point penalties should continue to be assessed irrespective of a given competitor's overall standing in the championship points, or in which championship race an infraction occurs.
* The penalties imposed are consistent with those for other recent car height violations.
Therefore it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission (John Capels, Grant Lynch and George Silbermann, Chairman) to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.(NASCAR PR)(10-10-2007)

Edwards appeal to be heard Tues: Roush Fenway Racing will have its appeal hearing Tuesday in front of a three-person panel of the National Stock Car Racing Commission. #99-Carl Edwards was penalized 25 points after winning two weeks ago at Dover when a postrace inspection showed the rear quarter panel on his #99 Ford was too low. Edwards plans to attend the hearing with Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith. "If I go, maybe I can learn something about the process," Edwards said. "And I still believe we have a good case to get some relief." NASCAR officials admit the lower height of the car was not an advantage, but a rule is a rule. That isn't the argument for team officials. Smith and team co-owner Jack Roush have argued that the points penalty should be reduced from 25 points to 10 during the Chase because fewer points are available for the Chase competitors.(ESPN.com)(10-6-2007)

Gordon Says Penalties Get Teams' Attention: When NASCAR slapped the #24 and #48 Hendrick Motorsports teams with 100-point penalties for illegal aerodynamic modifications back in June at Infineon Raceway, the message was received loud and clear, according to Jeff Gordon. "I will be honest with you, right now, if we don't run as good as some other guys, it is because we are being conservative. We aren't pushing the limits because we know what the outcome can be," Gordon said at Kansas Speedway, site of Sunday's LifeLock 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup race. "We are making sure we go through inspection, we meet all the cold templates and every other thing that they have on the new car. We are doing everything we can to make sure that is the case going in to the race and that is the case coming out of the race. We might falter, too, but we are playing more on the conservative side, we might give up a few positions on the race track because of that, but we have been hit with it and we learned our lesson." Gordon said he thought that other teams would be erring to the side of caution, too, after seeing #99-Carl Edwards and the Roush Fenway Racing team spanked with a 25-point fine for being too in post-race inspection last Sunday at Dover. "We are playing it conservative, I would think that is going to be case with the #99 (Edwards) now," Gordon said.(SPEEDtv.com)(9-30-2007)

Roush Fenway to Appeal #99 Penalty: NASCAR advised Roush Fenway Racing today that it will issue penalties against Carl Edwards (25 driver points), Jack Roush (25 owner points) and crew chief Bob Osborne ($25,000) for violating a rear fender height rule following Sunday's race at Dover International Speedway. Roush Fenway Racing president, Geoff Smith gave a statement following NASCAR's announcement: "We have the misfortune of violating a rule which makes no sense. It was promulgated to address restrictor plate races, not downforce races. I say misfortune because we are being penalized for a violation that actually impaired the car's performance. We intend to appeal the unfair assessment of the point's penalty. What is unfair is that Carl is receiving a penalty that is 250% greater in its effect than a similarly assessed penalty against a non-'Chase' driver. 'Chase' drivers are competing for a total of 1,950 points. All drivers competed for 5,070 points in the first 26 races. Do the math. The net effect is that a 25 point penalty falls unfairly hard on a 'Chase' contender. That's simply not right. To equalize the penalty impact on all competitors not more than 10 points should have been taken from a 'Chase' contender."(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(9-25-2007)

Edwards winning car at Dover fails post race inspection UPDATE Penalty Announced: been told that #99-Carl Edwards Ford, which won the Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway, was too low on one side of the rear of the car. Supposedly NASCAR will take the car back to its R&D Center in Concord, NC to check it out further, but that they do not consider it as the team altering the COT [Car of Tomorrow] and probably would not be any fines or penalties unless they find something different. Edwards Statement: “The worse case would be 25 points, the right rear being low – any engineer or crew chief in the garage will tell you that’s the last thing you want,” Edwards said. “You want the right rear to be high. The only thing I can think of is at the end of the race, Greg came up and gave me a couple of love taps to say ‘good job, good race’ and hopefully they find that that bent the tail of the car down a little bit. There are some braces bent under the decklid so hopefully that’s what it is.”(PRN's Garage Pass)
AND #99-Carl Edwards' race-winning Roush Fenway Racing Ford failed postrace inspection Sunday at Dover International Speedway. The right rear of his car fell below the 1/2-inch tolerance for height, NASCAR said. The victory most likely will stand, but Edwards' team is expected to be penalized later this week. Team owner Jack Roush said that there were no changes made to the right side of the car and that he believes NASCAR will find the car is bent. He added it was his understanding that the right-rear was 3/8ths of an inch low, which doesn't make sense to him. Although this is a car of tomorrow entry, the likely penalty does not fall under the tampering-with-COT rules since the structure of the body has not been manipulated. The question NASCAR now will have to answer is what did happen. The sanctioning body is taking the car to its research and development center in Concord, N.C. for further review.(SceneDaily.com)(9-23-2007)
UPDATE 2 Carl Edwards Docked 25 Points, Crew Chief Fined $25,000: Carl Edwards, winner of this past Sunday’s Nextel Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway, has been penalized 25 driver championship points due to rule violations found in post-race inspection. The loss of points dropped Edwards from third in the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings to sixth, 28 points behind leader Jeff Gordon. The #99 Ford driven by Edwards was found to be too low in the right rear area, which violated Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment not conforming to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.8.1C (failed to meet minimum rear car heights) of NASCAR Car of Tomorrow Technical Bulletin #3 dated April 10, 2007. In addition, those infractions have resulted in a $25,000 fine for Edwards’ crew chief Bob Osborne, plus a penalty of 25 car owner championship points for Roush Fenway Racing. Osborne also has been placed on probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR PR)(9-25-2007)

100th Cup win for Roush: #99-Carl Edwards hit another historical marker Sunday winning his seventh career Nextel Cup race at Dover International Speedway and claiming win number 100 for Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing in NASCAR’s elite series [4th all-time]. Roush’s first Nextel Cup win came in 1989 with Mark Martin in the #6 Stroh’s Light Ford. Martin claimed Roush Fenway Racing’s first win at Rockingham Speedway and now, 18 year’s later, Edwards’ has brought home win number 100 in the #99 Office Depot Ford. Roush has won with seven different drivers in NASCAR’s top series, all in Ford’s. Three of the seven have moved on but not before leaving their mark in Roush Fenway’s history books. Martin has the most wins of the seven drivers with 35 while Jeff Burton took home 17 wins during his seven years at the company. Kurt Busch also claimed his share of wins beginning in 2002 at the first Bristol race. Busch went on to win a total of 14 Cup races under the Roush umbrella as well as Roush Fenway’s second Cup championship in 2004 (the very first Nextel Cup championship). Four of Roush Fenway’s current Nextel Cup drivers have all contributed to the win column including 15 from Matt Kenseth. Busch and Truck Series champion Greg Biffle has 11 total Cup victories to date. Jamie McMurray has one, this past July at Daytona. This brings Roush Fenway Racing’s win column to 364 total wins across Roush’s NASCAR, Trans-Am and drag racing endeavors.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(9-24-2007)

Edwards wins Dover wreckfest: #99-Carl Edwards won the wild Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway for his 3rd win in 2007 and 7th of his career. With 13 laps to go there was a big wreck that included 12 cars and took out Chase drivers #2-Busch [who caused the wreck when something broke in the car or lost a tire] and damaged the cars of #1-Truex Jr. and #48-Johnson. #17-Kenseth led 192 laps [the most led] until he lost his engine late and finished 35th. #11-Hamlin tangled with #45-Kyle Petty and even after the crew made repairs to the car, Hamlin only finished 38th and is now 12th in the Chase pts, down 158. #24-Gordon finished 11th and leads the points by 2 pts over #20-Stewart, 3 pts over #48-Johnson and 4 pts over #99-Edwards. #16-Biffle finished 2nd, followed by #8-Earnhardt Jr., #01-Martin, #5-Busch, #25-Mears, #31-Burton, #26-McMurray, #20-Stewart and #42-Montoya. Other chase drivers finished: #24-Gordon 11th; #07-Bowyer 12th; #1-Truex Jr. 13th [in a battered car]; #48-Johnson 14th; #29-Harvick 20th; #2-Busch 29th/accident; #17-Kenseth 35th/engine and #11-Hamlin 38th. There were 13 cautions for 66 laps with 2 red flags and 9 drivers led the race with 14 lead changes.
Race Results on my Dover Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Dover page
Race Rundown: see my Dover Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(9-23-2007)

Edwards and Mom team up to help PTA: Office Depot and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) announced that #99-Carl Edwards and his mother, Nancy Sterling, will serve as Co-Ambassadors for Youth for the nation's largest volunteer parent organization, PTA. Edwards and Sterling have both been strong supporters of PTA in the past, with Edwards serving as National Ambassador for Youth last year and Sterling having been President of her local PTA when Edwards and his younger brother Kenny were in grade school. Office Depot, a Proud Community Partner of PTA, will help Edwards and his mom Nancy work with the national organization to reach out to kids nationwide, encouraging parents to be more involved with their kids' education. Sterling isn't the only member of her family with a role in education on her resume - Edwards was a substitute teacher prior to his racing career taking off in 2005. Edwards and PTA are working with the Office Depot Foundation to help distribute more than 300,000 backpacks with school supplies to underprivileged children during this back to school season.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(9-20-2007)

Edwards to have different colors at Loudon: Marriott Vacation Club, the world’s leader in timesharing with resorts around the globe will partner with Roush Fenway Racing this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. The #99 driven by Carl Edwards will sport the Marriott Vacation Club colors this Sunday in Sylvania 300 at Loudon. For more information visit www.marriottvacations.com.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(9-13-2007)

Special Scheme for Edwards at California: The #99 Office Depot Ford of Carl Edwards will sport a special look this weekend at California to help promote the newly enhanced Office Depot Work Life Rewards Program. Edwards will participate in his second Office Depot Foundation backpack donation event of 2007. He will be at the Office Depot store at 8160 Day Creek Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Thursday, August 30 from 5:00-7:00pm/et.(Rosuh Fenway Racing)(8-28-2007)
IMAGE: see imag of the scheme on my #99 Team Schemes page.(8-29-2007)

Braun to make stock car debut in ARCA for Roush: Colin Braun, driver of the #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion, will make his Roush Fenway Racing debut in Friday night's ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Gateway International Speedway. Braun recently signed long-term contracts with Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Racing.(Ford Racing PR)(8-29-2007)

Win #99 for Roush in Cup: Car owner Jack Roush now boasts 99 Nextel Cup Series victories after Carl Edwards claimed the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night. It was also Ford's first victory with the Car of Tomorrow.(Daytona Beach News Journal) see the top 10 active and all-time owner winners on my Winners List page.(8-28-2007)

Edwards wins at Bristol: #99-Carl Edwards won the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway for his 2nd win in 2007 and 6th of his career. Edwards along with #20-Stewart and #17-Kenseth are now locked into the Chase. #9-Kahne, who led the most lap with 305, finished 2nd, followed by #07-Bowyer, #20-Stewart, #8-Earnhardt Jr., #2-Busch, #12-Newman, #43-Labonte, #5-Busch and #16-Biffle. Points leader #24-Gordon finished 19th, 2nd going into the race [now 3rd] #11-Hamlin lost an engine and finished 43rd, the first time in 53 straight races Hamlin did not finish a Cup race. Even with Earnhardt Jr.'s 5th place finish, he only picked up 5 points on Kurt Busch, who is 12th in points and in the final Chase spot with 2 races to go before the chase. There were 9 cautions for 61 laps and 8 drivers led the race with 12 lead changes.
Race Results on my Bristol Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Bristol page
Race Rundown: see my Bristol Glen Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(8-25-2007)

Roush to sell off one team, then help: In 2010, Roush Fenway Racing will have to shrink from five cars to four, but Jack Roush already has a plan in mind: Sell the fifth car to a group of investors as what he called "seed corn" for an investor-controlled four-car team owned and funded by a group outside of Roush but fueled with Roush crews and technology. "It shouldn't go without notice that we are unabated in our effort to find and identify new drivers and to build our crews and teams with outsiders to the extent that we can and advance them through the programs as they get experience," Roush said. "We're on a track to be able to help somebody come in and provide the technology and the manpower to get them started."(Ford Racing)(8-18-2007)

Edwards Wrecks in Late Model Race: UPDATE 4: An accident during a late model race at I-80 Speedway near Lincoln, Nebraska sent #99-Carl Edwards to an Omaha area hospital Sunday night with what appear to be minor injuries. Edwards was racing as part of a ‘Carl Edwards’ promotion for the Speedway and was scheduled to appear with his brother Kenny and father Carl Sr. The accident happened while racing in the 25 lap Super Late Model ‘A’ main Feature on a restart after the event’s single caution only a few laps in. A car slowed in the front of the field sending another car into the backstretch wall. Edwards crashed into the second car setting off a melee that involved 11 of the 28 cars in the field. Edwards was able to walk from his car to his hauler where paramedics treated him. Shortly after he walked to an ambulance with an ice pack on his left hand. He was eventually taken by ambulance to a hospital in West Omaha for precautionary x-rays. Hospital officials, citing privacy concerns, refused to give details of Edward’s injuries but one person did say that there seemed to be no indications of any broken bones.(Cup Scene Daily)(7-23-2007)
UPDATE: [Edwards] was involved in a third-lap collision and left I-80 Speedway in the back of an ambulance. One track official said there had been talk of someone in the collision having a broken bone, and Carl's father, Carl Sr., said his son's hand "looked broken." Edwards started the 25-lap race on the inside of row eight and was making a charge into contention early when he hit the back of a car that had spun out and gotten into the wall along the backstretch. A 10-car pileup ensued and left Edwards' car mangled. He walked to his trailer, where he received medical attention for nearly 20 minutes before emerging with a bag draped around his right hand. He gave the crowd one last wave before getting into the back of the ambulance. Younger brother Kenny Edwards said Carl had been transferred to Lakeside Hospital in Omaha and was awaiting results. Kenny said he thought it was a broken thumb, probably caused when it was caught in the steering wheel during the collision. Kenny Edwards suffered the same injury in the collision and was shaking hands with his left hand after the race but said it wasn't as severe as his brothers.(Omaha World-Herald)(7-23-2007)
UPDATE 2: Interviewed on Sirius Radio'sThe Morning Drive, Nick Rubek of the Omaha World-Herald said that Edwards has been diagnosed with a dislocated thumb.(7-23-2007)
UPDATE 3: [Edwards] is not testing today at the Milwaukee Mile and will not test a Busch Series car Tuesday at Bristol Motor Speedway but likely will race this weekend in the Busch and Nextel Cup events in Indianapolis. The Roush Fenway Racing driver was having his right hand examined today by a specialist in Columbia, Mo., to determine if there were any injuries, according to the team.(SceneDaily.com)(7-23-2007)
UPDATE 4: The early diagnosis for Edwards was a dislocated right thumb. Edwards also consulted a physician July 23rd in Columbia, Missouri, which confirmed the same.(Roush-Fenway PR)(7-24-2007)

Roush COT Testing in Full Swing: Entering this weekend's USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicago, Ford and Roush finally look like a match for the Chevys. "The big thing that has helped us with the Car of Tomorrow is we now have a test team," [Jack] Roush said. "We are doing the things I thought we weren't going to be allowed to do when NASCAR told us we couldn't take tires from the racetrack because they didn't want us to test. I thought they would put teeth in that, but they didn't. We got behind. But five weeks ago I hired six people and dedicated a tractor-trailer [for testing]. We've been to Iowa, Milwaukee four times in the last month, and Road Atlanta and VIR [Virginia International Raceway]." Roush's three 2007 victories have come with NASCAR's current car, and the Chicagoland race also will feature the current car. But if Roush Fenway is going to compete with the Chevy teams for the championship, it will have to have a strong COT program. "We're not caught up yet," Roush said. "But we're certainly on the path, and we'll be heard from more before the year is over."(Tampa Tribune)(7-13-2007)

New York Investors Looking for Cup Teams: The buzz in the garage in New Hampshire is that at least two New York-based investment banking firms have been making the rounds among Nextel Cup teams, looking to invest in one or more teams, eventually taking a race team public with a stock offering. So far, there have been no takers among the NASCAR team owners. At least one of the investment firms has talked with multiple teams in the garage, including Robert Yates Racing [#38 & #88], Dale Earnhardt, Inc. [#1, #8, #15] and Roush Fenway Racing [#6, #16, #17, #26, #99], multiple sources said. The idea has been for the companies to make cash investments of upwards of $50 million in a team and then at some point sell their interests, perhaps by public stock offering. “We looked at their business plan and it didn’t make sense to us,” said Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith, who confirmed his team had been contacted by a New York-based investment fund that he did not identify by name. Robert Yates talked extensively with the potential investors and reached the same conclusion. “You sit in a room with about 20 bankers and you spend about 18 hours in there with them and you realize that they didn’t contribute anything to the gross national product except maybe going to the bathroom,” said Yates, who also has entertained merger and/or partnership offers from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Robby Gordon Motorsports and Hall of Fame Racing, among others, before deciding to go it alone. Another team principal who spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday morning at New Hampshire, said the team he works with was approached by investors, but chose not to get involved with them, either. “They had a ton of money, but they didn’t know anything at all about racing,” he said, adding the team was not in need of a cash infusion and would only consider an outside investor if that investor could add significant value to the team.(SPEEDtv.com)(7-2-2007)

Lumber Liquidators and Gillette to sponsor #99 at NHIS, images: Roush Fenway Racing announced that Boston Red Sox sponsors, Lumber Liquidators and Gillette, have signed on as sponsors of the #99 Ford Fusion driven by Nextel Cup driver Carl Edwards during this weekend's race at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS). The companies will celebrate their relationship with the Boston Red Sox and NASCAR fans by featuring the Red Sox logo on the #99 Lumber Liquidators/Red Sox Ford Fusion during the race in Loudon, N.H. on July 1. As Red Sox sponsors Lumber Liquidators and Gillette have secured the rights to utilize Boston Red Sox marks for marketing and promotional activation. These rights allow the companies to feature the Red Sox logo on the #99 Ford Fusion and Edwards as a means of further leveraging their association with the Red Sox through regional sponsorship of Roush Fenway Racing at Loudon. In addition to being highlighted on the Roush Fenway Racing entry, the sponsors will look to reach a broader audience of NASCAR fans by tapping into Roush Fenway Racing's public relations and marketing services. With this agreement, Lumber Liquidators, the largest independent retailer of hardwood flooring in the country, is expanding it's involvement in NASCAR after entering the Craftsman Truck Series as a team sponsor [#30-Todd Bodine] in 2006. To celebrate Roush Fenway Racing competing for the first time at NHIS under their new name this weekend, the Boston Red Sox will host Roush Fenway Racing Day at Fenway Park presented by Gillette on Friday, June 29 as the Red Sox take on the Texas Rangers. Festivities will include Roush Fenway Racing themed displays and exhibits throughout the ballpark as well as a special pre-game ceremony that will formally introduce Red Sox Nation to the drivers of Roush Fenway Racing. On Monday, July 2 fans are invited to visit the #99 Lumber Liquidators/Red Sox Ford Fusion at the Lumber Liquidators Braintree location located at 240 Wood Road. The show car will be on display between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. In addition, Mike Lowell of the Boston Red Sox will make a special appearance between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 pm. You can also see the #99 Lumber Liquidators/Red Sox Ford Fusion paint scheme by logging on to lumberliquidators.com.(Roush Fenway Racing PR) and see some images of the car on my #99 Team Schemes page.(6-28-2007)

Sponsor announcement for Roush next week in Boston UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing to make a major announcement around the upcoming NASCAR race at New Hampshire International Speedway on July 1st. Roush Fenway Racing owners Jack Roush and John Henry are joined by #99-Carl Edwards on Thursday, June 28 at 10:00am/et, Fenway Park in Boston, MA.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(6-20-2007)
UPDATE: This weekend the #99 will run a special New England-themed paint scheme. Edwards and his Roush Fenway Racing teammates will participate in the pre-game ceremonies this Friday, June 29 at Fenway Park. All five drivers, along with team co-owners Jack Roush and John Henry will be on hand as the Boston Red Sox take on the Texas Rangers.(Roush Racing PR)
AND on the New Hampshire Entry List, the sponsor is listed as Lumber Liquidators.(6-26-2007)

Edwards buddy to lose beard on SPEEDs Trackside Friday: Tom Giacchi, a childhood friend and motorcoach driver for #99-Carl Edwards, will shave for the first time since Nov. 6, 2005 when he takes the stage Friday for Trackside on SPEED this weekend from Sonoma at 6:00pm/et [just before Nextel Qualifying at 7:00pm/et]. Trackside, hosted by Steve Byrnes, Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond and NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler. Giacchi, playfully known as "The Yeti," gained popularity around the motor sports community, including sporting his own Web site (www.tomgiacchi.com) and fan club, when he committed to growing his facial hair until Edwards scored his next victory. Edwards went 52 races between victories, before winning last weekend in Michigan.(SPEED PR)(6-22-2007)

Carl Edwards wins at Michigan: #99-Carl Edwards won the Citizens Bank 400 at Michigan International Speedway in his 100th career starts. It is Edward's 5th career win and first win since he won at Texas in November 2005, 52 races ago. Tom Giacchi, pit runner for the #99, he can now shave his ZZ Top like beard, Giacchi has not shaved since Edwards last win [has done a little trimming]. Edwards led 63 of the 200 laps. #1-Truex, Jr. was dominant early in the race, but couldn't catch Edwards late and finished 2nd. #20-Stewart was third, followed by #25- Mears, #8- Earnhardt, Jr, #5- Busch, #29- Harvick, , #26-McMurray, #24-Gordon, and #55-Waltrip. #48-Johnson was running in 3rd when he ran out of gas with 7 laps to go. He finished 19th. There were 4 cautions for 19 laps and 11 leaders with 22 lead changes.
Race Results on my Michigan Race Results / Awards page
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Michigan page
Race Rundown: see my Michigan Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(6-17-2007)

Roush: Aflac deal could be sign of things to come: Jack Roush says that his team's new partnership with Aflac could highlight how future sponsorships will work in the sport. The company is sponsoring eight Nextel Cup races as primary sponsor for #16-Greg Biffle this season. It is also sponsoring four Busch Series races with drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. It's a business move that gives the company access to four of the organization's drivers. "The time may be waning when a new sponsor could come into our business and understand how to make their marketing program be configured in order to give them the value for a full schedule," Roush said Friday at Michigan International Speedway. "I think that the way that Aflac is coming in with a limited schedule, with some races in the Busch as well as the Cup side with multiple drivers I think is a prudent way to do it."(SceneDaily.com)(6-16-2007)

Roush not interested in Busch: His ride gone for next season and then his agent, #5-Kyle Busch faces more changes. He'll search for a new ride and could be barred from some Hendrick Motorsports team meetings [as Brian Vickers was in 2006] even as he tries to make the title chase. Although Dale Earnhardt Jr. replaces him next year, Busch wouldn't mope about his situation Friday at Michigan International Speedway. "I'm interested in talking to ... whoever's got an open seat," Busch said before qualifying third for Sunday's race. "Let's sit down. Let's have dinner." Many owners are expected to answer, but not Jack Roush, for whom Busch drove before moving to Hendrick in 2003. "I am not interested in Kyle Busch," Roush said. "I've been there and I've done that."(Roanoke Times)(6-16-2007)

100th career start for Edwards: #99-Carl Edwards will make his 100th Nextel Cup Series start this weekend at Michigan. Edwards made his Cup Series debut at Michigan in August 2004 – started that race 23rd and finished 10th.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(6-14-2007)

Roush to test COT more: Ford team-owner Jack Roush [#6,16,17,26,99] will use B.F. Goodrich and/or Hoosier tires to test his Car of Tomorrow fleet on non-Nextel Cup tracks in coming months. The team owner believes Roush Fenway Racing is slightly behind rivals that are skirting the spirit of NASCAR’s testing policies. By rule, Cup teams are limited to a handful of closely-monitored official tests. Teams must test together at the same Cup venue, and on Goodyear Eagles. But several organizations have gotten around that limit by using Goodrich and/or Hoosiers for unofficial testing at outside tracks. “NASCAR wanted to start everybody in the Car of Tomorrow on an even basis, with [the same] four or five tests,” Roush said at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “Well, the teams that have been successful—the Hendrick organization, the Gibbs organization and the Childress organization—have tested their cars multiple times a week. They’ve gone to tracks outside NASCAR’s control with tires that were not from Goodyear. Right now, Goodyear is sitting on millions of dollars worth of tires that are growing obsolete and hard in their warehouses. Teams have gotten around NASCAR’s policy by buying other people’s tires and testing at tracks that aren’t on the Nextel Cup schedule. I got behind on that; I didn’t do that. But two weeks ago I hired six people and dedicated a tractor-trailer, and I’ve gone public. ‘OK, I’m getting in the testing game, too.’ If you don’t want us to test, have us sign something in the application. Something that says, ‘We agree we won’t test with Goodyears or anybody else’s tires, except for the tracks that NASCAR approves.’ But they didn’t do that; they left the door open and we got behind… but we’re going to catch up.” Strictly speaking, there’s nothing illegal about what the Hendrick, Gibbs and Childress teams are doing. Jeff Gordon, who’s won two CoT races—teammate Jimmie Johnson has won two and Kyle Busch the other—said Hendrick Motorsports shouldn’t apologize for its CoT success. “If the Roush teams aren’t doing that, then that’s their mistake,” the series points-leader said. “We’re doing everything we can to be competitive and we’re not doing anything wrong. It’s definitely playing a role in helping us get to where we are.”(Ford Racing)(5-29-2007)

Roush, Red Sox Plan New England Bash: The first major collaboration to come from the partnership between Fenway Sports Group and the former Roush Racing will take place next month in Boston and New Hampshire with an event called Roush Fenway Days. Roush Fenway Racing will have two days of activities at Fenway Park June 28-29, culminating with a baseball game between The Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers on June 29th. “We’re having our midyear sponsor summit there, followed by the game,” said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. “We’re having our big racing displays and event displays, like you would here at a racetrack, surround the park and be somewhat in the park. People get to participate in batting practice and there will be a big P.R. rollout inside the park with the drivers and players and so forth.” From there, Smith said, the action will move to New Hampshire International Speedway, site of the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 NASCAR Nextel Cup race July 1. “I think you’ll see one of our cars with a special paint scheme and some special guests,” said Smith. “It’ll integrate NASCAR and the whole Fenway Red Sox experience kind of all in one big weekend.” Smith also said the team is close to announcing a title sponsor to the event.(SPEEDtv.com)(5-28-2007)

2007 Official Small Business of NASCAR Announced: Office Depot announced that Kentuckiana Engineering Company, Inc. (KEC) of Louisville, KY, will be the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, courtesy of Office Depot" for the remainder of the 2007 Nextel Cup race season. KEC owner Bryan Handy was introduced by Office Depot Senior Vice President Tony Ueber today during a press event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Ueber and Handy were joined by driver Carl Edwards, Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush, ESPN Vice President of Sports Management Rob Temple and NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Marketing Jim O'Connell. Handy helped Edwards unveil the special edition Office Depot #99 car featuring the logo of KEC. The logo will make its on-track debut during the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. As the "Official Small Business of NASCAR," KEC, an environmental consulting company specializing in air quality issues, is receiving invaluable exposure on television. Handy worked with Logoworks, part of the Office Depot Design, Print & Ship Depot, to create KEC's first-ever company logo, which will be on the TV panel (rear panel on a NASCAR racecar) of the #99 Office Depot Ford Fusion during this weekend's race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Throughout the rest of the season, the logo will be on the car's b-post (located between the front and rear windows). As part of the prize package given to KEC, Office Depot is printing a year's supply of new business cards, letterhead and envelopes. The Office Depot Design, Print & Ship service is also designing a new website for KEC that will showcase its newly-created logo. Plus, KEC receives a $10,000 small business makeover from Office Depot, a tour of the ESPN at-track production operation, and a special marketing consultation with representatives from NASCAR to help guide KEC on how take advantage of their new business assets. One of the new and exciting elements of this year's promotion is the additional television exposure for KEC. ESPN is showcasing KEC as the "Official Small Business of NASCAR" during a segment on the ESPN2 show "NASCAR Now." (Office Depot site)(5-25-2007)

Carl Edwards' Busch Win is Roush Fenway's 350th Overall: Carl Edwards drove the #60 Dish Network Ford home to his second Busch Series win of the 2007 season in Nashville over the weekend and at the same time, hit a milestone for Roush Fenway Racing. Edwards' second consecutive win gave Roush Fenway their 350th overall win. Of the 350 wins Jack Roush has obtained, 234 of them have been wins in NASCAR's three elite series (Nextel Cup - 101; Busch Series - 90; Craftsman Truck Series - 43). Of the 101 Nextel Cup wins, 96 of them have been point races while the other five have come from wins in the Bud Shootout (1), The Winston (1), The Winston Open (1) and the Nextel All-Star Challenge (2). In the Busch and Truck Series, Roush Fenway's 90 and 43 wins respectively, make Roush the most winning owner of any other owner in both of those series. In addition to the 234 wins, Roush has also collected 116 road racing victories bringing Roush Fenway Racing's win column total to 350.(Roush Fenway PR)(4-9-2007)

Roush Not Gloating Over Toyota's Woes: After all the buildup from Detroit rivals about the Toyota monster crushing NASCAR competition, the season so far has seen quite the opposite, with most Toyota teams struggling just to make the fields. But [Jack] Roush isn't backing away from his quite vocal worries. "I'm not going to gloat over what's happened, or take any glee in it," Roush said, "because it's hard to start a new program, around new people and new drivers and a new manufacturer. And this year's hardware issues (like the car of tomorrow) make it triple tough. I didn't expect Toyota to be a factor early on. But the comments I've made were not based on what I looked for in the first half of 2007, or even all of 2007, but rather 2008, 2009 and beyond will be a very good time for Toyota, if they continue to have the money they now have available to get the people and technologies. Toyota will get it right ... and they will put the rest of us in the back, unless NASCAR is vigilant in its effort to protect against unlimited amounts of money coming into this sport and buying everything of value from the existing teams. If Toyota can do that, there will be an upset the likes of which we have never seen. Right now the good news for the established teams is that the good drivers have all been under contract, and the good crew chiefs and the best crewmen have not been willing to take a chance on an upstart team or a new program. But as time goes on, as the Toyota teams get their legs under them and start to consistently qualify, the more those people who have the talents to make a difference in the programs will be inclined to consider the generous offers they've made- offers that will escalate as time goes on."(Winston-Salem Journal)(4-8-2007)

Roush Fenway must lose team by 2010: Roush Fenway Racing will have to decrease its number of Nextel Cup teams from five to four by the start of the 2010 season, team president Geoff Smith said Saturday. NASCAR announced in 2005 that it would limit organizations to four fulltime Cup teams and that it would work with Roush to get down from four to five. Originally, the agreement was that once Roush lost a sponsor and driver at the same time, it would have to get down to four. "That [original discussion] triggered a loop that made the shrinkage date unpredictable, so it was [changed to] very simply, when the 2010 season starts, you'll have four," Smith said. "We have to be at four at the start of 2010, regardless of what happens to us in the interim, if we lose a driver, lose a sponsor." Smith indicated that his contracts are solid through the 2009 season. He also said in the perfect world, Roush would sell one of the teams. "We've got three more years to sell one of our teams off," Smith said. "Hopefully, we can retain some business with that sale."(SceneDaily.com)(3-24-2007)

Put Carl Edwards to Work: For the third year, Office Depot is running the "Small Business of NASCAR" program, giving small businesses the potential for big exposure. A new element in this year's promotion brings Nextel Cup Series driver, Carl Edwards and the Office Depot show car to the winning business where the small business owner may even decide to put Edwards to work for the day! Edwards, a small business owner himself as the entrepreneur behind a new record label Back 40 Records, fully understands the impact that effective marketing and national exposure can have on the potential success of a business. For more information on the Small Business of NASCAR promotion or to enter, please visit www.officedepotracing.com.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(3-1-2007)

Roush Fenway Racing owner gives MLB player a...Toyota: [Boston Red Sox slugger David] Ortiz got his own present Wednesday morning. Arriving at the Red Sox minor league facility for his physical, Ortiz was greeted with a Toyota Tundra pickup, courtesy of owner John W. Henry......why is this of interest? Red Sox owner John Henry is Jack Roush's new partner at Roush-Fenway Racing, they run Ford Fusion's and Jack Roush has spoken out against Toyota's involvement in NASCAR.....oops.(Heads up at Motorsports Soapbox, full article at the Hartford Courant)(2-26-2007)

Gulf Oil shows interest in Roush-Fenway: Roush Racing's 50-50 partnership with John Henry's Fenway Sports Group, finally announced last week at Daytona International Speedway, might show an immediate return. One of the Boston Red Sox's longtime partners, Gulf Oil, has expressed an interest in a sponsorship position with Roush. Gulf, a Fenway Sports Group client based in Chelsea, Mass., distributes motor fuels and lubricants in about 2,600 branded gas stations, with a footprint that extends from Ohio to the east and Delaware to the north. The company's 65-foot logo is painted on the left-field wall at Fenway Park. "NASCAR really never made sense for us before because it is a national play and we're a regional company," said Richard Dery, Gulf's vice president of branded marketing and sales. "A race at Daytona doesn't do us a lot of good, but a race at Loudon, N.H. -- that could be a really fun day." Dery said his discussions with Roush have involved sponsorships for select races in Gulf's footprint, primarily the July 1 Lenox 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Gulf also could become the official motor oil of Roush Fenway Racing. Fenway Sports Group and the Red Sox are sister companies, both owned by John Henry, who said he hoped the partnership with Roush would vault FSG into a prominent position in sports marketing.(Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service)(2-23-2007)

Roush Racing & Fenway Sports Group partner up: Today, during Speedweeks in Daytona Beach, Fla., Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announced the formation of Roush Fenway Racing. Under the agreement, FSG will purchase 50% of Roush Racing to form the new entity. Jack Roush will continue to manage the competitive operations of the race teams and Geoff Smith will continue as president to oversee business activities. FSG will support Roush Fenway Racing’s marketing and sales activities by using their experience, network of relationships, and powerful demographic base to add value to Roush Fenway Racing sponsors and help Roush Fenway Racing maintain an unsurpassed position among NASCAR teams on and off the track.
“This partnership will bring a whole new perspective to our business,” said Jack Roush. “There is a lot of hard work that goes into being successful in sport. John Henry and FSG understand what it takes. Anybody that has watched the Red Sox has been impressed with their tenacity and their ability to prevail after all the frustration. To be able to have someone to bounce ideas and strategies off of will be fun. Everyone at Roush Racing is excited to welcome our new partner and we look forward to our success together.”
“This is an unprecedented partnership of two extremely successful organizations with proven track records for winning in their respective businesses and sports,” said Mike Dee, chief operating officer of the Boston Red Sox and president of Fenway Sports Group. “We believe in NASCAR and like its long-term business future and are thrilled to be a part of this exciting and growing industry.”
The new Roush Fenway Racing logo will make its track debut at Daytona International Speedway beginning Thursday, February 15 during the Gatorade 150 qualifying races. All of Roush Fenway Racing’s 13 teams will be competing throughout the weekend.
Off the track, the Roush Fenway Racing focus will be to continue to service its world-class sponsorship base which includes such great companies as; DeWalt Power Tools, Diageo (Crown Royal), AAA, Office Depot, Ameriquest Mortgage Company, 3M, Ford Motor Company, Northern Tool + Equipment, Dish Network, Discount Tire and Coca Cola, whose sponsorships Roush supports with public relations, licensing, event marketing and account management services.
Geoff Smith summed up the overall goal by saying, “We wholeheartedly believe that the addition of FSG, and the incorporation of its expertise and demographic power will insure that Roush Fenway Racing will indefinitely preserve our pre-eminent position among NASCAR teams both on and off the track.” FSG’s core strengths include property representation and acquisitions, entertainment marketing, sponsorships and consulting services. For more information please visit FenwaySportsGroup.com.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(2-14-2007)

Fenway Sports Group/Roush deal completed, announced the 14th: A group of investors led by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry has completed a deal to buy a 50% stake in the Roush Racing NASCAR team, a person familiar with the negotiations said Friday. Although team owner Jack Roush is selling half of the team to the Fenway Sports Group, Roush will continue to run the team's competitive operations, according to the person, who requested anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced. Both parties have scheduled a Feb. 14 news conference at Jackie Robinson Ballpark [105 E. Orange Ave., Daytona Beach], a minor league facility near Daytona International Speedway. Roush, who was wearing his trademark fedora as he supervised his drivers at Daytona International Speedway on Friday evening, declined comment.(Associated Press)
also Roush Racing announced a major announcement with Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) executives; Red Sox players and Roush Racing drivers on Wednesday, February 14 at 5:30pm/et(Roush Racing PR)(2-10-2007)

Ragan to test at Infineon Raceway UPDATE: #6-David Ragan will make his first-ever visit to Infineon Raceway on Friday, working with instructors from the Jim Russell Racing Schools. Ragan, who has limited road-racing experience, has never traversed the twists and turns of Infineon Raceway's 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. He'll be coached by Mark Wolocatiuk, the lead instructor of the Jim Russell Racing Schools. Wolocatiuk has coached NASCAR drivers like Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Casey Mears and Bill Elliott, over the years. The Jim Russell Racing Schools has been based at Infineon Raceway since 1996. "I'm definitely looking forward to the road courses," said Ragan, whose limited experience on road courses includes Legends Cars testing in Atlanta and Virginia. "You've got guys like Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon who are veterans and they make it look easy. I just want to get some track time and become familiar with it so I'm better prepared when we come out there in June." Ragan (AAA Ford Fusion) will drive the serpentine circuit in one of the school's open-wheel cars, and there is the possibility of testing an American Speed Association stock car. Ragan, who drives for Roush Racing, will also receive plenty of classroom instruction. "We're really hoping to get David familiar with the track," Wolocatiuk said. "The elevation changes and off-camber nature of Infineon Raceway will be important for him to understand and deal with in a heavy and high-horsepowered stock car." Ragan will test on Friday, and then get some additional seat time on Saturday. The Nextel Cup Series visits Infineon Raceway June 22-24 for the Toyota/Save Mart 350. For tickets, call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.(Infineon Raceway PR)(2-2-2007)
UPDATE: #99-Carl Edwards and #6-David Ragan spent Friday afternoon testing the twists and turns of Infineon Raceway in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Nextel Cup Series race, June 22-24. It was the first time on the road course for Ragan, while Edwards has two starts in Sonoma, including a career-best finish of sixth place in 2006. Both piloted American Speed Association (ASA) stock cars supplied by Pioneer Motorsports out of Lake Oroville. The drivers were coached by Mark Wolocatiuk, lead instructor at the Jim Russell Racing Schools, which is based at Infineon Raceway. Edwards and Ragan, a rookie, each completed around 40 laps over the serpentine circuit. Both drive for Roush Racing. Ragan has limited road-racing experience, while Edwards placed 38th in his rookie season at Infineon Raceway in 2005 and sixth last year after starting 20th.(Infineon Raceway PR)(2-3-2007)

Edwards going for the triple at Daytona: Carl Edwards is looking to kick off the 2007 season with a bang at Daytona International Speedway. Edwards, who drives the #99 Office Depot Ford in the Cup Series and the #60 Scotts Ford in the Busch Series, has signed up to race Roush Racing's #50 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series race Friday night. Edwards will run a handful of truck races throughout the 2007 season (the schedule is TBD) while Peter Shepherd drives the truck for the remaining races. The #50 truck that the two will share is still yet to be sponsored but Edwards is confident a new sponsor partner will come on board. Edwards and Shepherd will join truck teammates #99-Erik Darnell and #6-Travis Kvapil to round out the 2007 Roush Racing truck lineup.(Roush Racing PR)(1-29-2007)

Office Depot extends with with NASCAR: Office Depot announced that it has extended its sponsorship of NASCAR as the sport's Official Office Products Partner. Office Depot's exclusive relationship with NASCAR began in 2005 and has been supported by the successful sponsorships of the #99 Office Depot Ford, Roush Racing and driver Carl Edwards. During its first year in the sport, Office Depot received the NASCAR "Marketer of the Year Award." The award recognized Office Depot for its multi-channel program that leveraged NASCAR to help differentiate the Office Depot brand and connect with millions of potential customers and business owners who are fans of the sport.(Office Depot/Edelman PR)(1-24-2007)

Negotiations progressing between Roush and Red Sox owner UPDATE 2: The negotiations in the sale of a portion of Roush Racing to Boston Red Sox owner John Henry's Fenway Sports Group are progressing well, Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Saturday. Many of the major points have been agreed upon since the negotiations began in earnest in September. "The big principal points, that's all buttoned up," Smith said. "I think by the first of the year, we'll [know]. We're going along pretty fast. By Daytona for sure." One of those pieces involves what percentage of the racing organization the Fenway Sports Group will own. Jack Roush will not relinquish control of the team. "We have been open to being all the way up to equal [partners], but not more than equal [for them],"(SceneDaily.com)(11-19-2006)
UPDATE: the [Red] Sox deal for a half-interest in Roush Racing, the class of NASCAR racing, is done. Reported price: $62 million. Formal announcement to follow.(at the bottom of a Boston Globe article)(1-5-2007)
UPDATE 2: Jack Roush says his deal with the Fenway Sports Group is not complete, but his Roush Racing team has scheduled a "BIG" announcement Feb. 14 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. That would be an appropriate place for Roush to announce that he has partnered with FSG, the marketing arm of Boston Red Sox owner John Henry. Roush said the contracts are in the hands of the lawyers, and he would expect a decision by the end of March. He indicated that there could be a name change to the team. FSG has been negotiating with Roush for about the last five or six months. Roush said FSG's ownership role could be anywhere from 25 to 50%.(SceneDaily.com)(1-24-2007)

Edward's crew chief to receive award from Penn State: In recognition of his outstanding professional accomplishments, Bob Osborne, crew chief of the #99 Office Depot Ford, will receive Penn State University's Alumni Achievement Award for 2006. The award is sponsored by the Alumni Association at Penn State University and is presented to one person from each college at Penn State (a total of 10). Osborne is receiving his award as a member of the engineering college. "It's pretty cool to be recognized by your alma matter for your accomplishments," said Osborne. "I'm proud to be associated with and recognized by such a great institution. I definitely have to credit some of my success to the great education I received at Penn State." This is the third year the award has been given. The award is presented in an effort to demonstrate, particularly to students, that Penn State alumni can succeed in exceptional fashion at an early age and that it does not necessarily take a lifetime to make one's mark on society. Osborne has certainly done that. With his work as an engineer and crew chief at Roush Racing, Osborne continues to make history with drivers such as Carl Edwards. "I'm really proud of Bob", said Edwards. "He's a really smart person and he's had a lot of success in a short amount of time so I think it's awesome that Penn State would recognize that." Since 1997, crew chief Bob Osborne has worked his way up the NASCAR ladder of success. Patience, drive and determination have helped land Osborne in the coveted position of Nextel Cup crew chief for Carl Edwards and the #99 Office Depot team.(Roush Racing PR)(1-7-2007)

2006 News

Edwards Comments on Johnson's Accident: For those who have criticized #48-Jimmie Johnson for fooling around and falling off a golf cart, #99-Carl Edwards says let's get real. "To be honest with you I´m a little disgusted with the media and some of their reactions to that. It´s pretty amazing. I tried to get Jimmie to go motorcycle riding with me about three weeks into the Chase and he´s like, Carl, I´m focused on winning this championship, I´m not taking any risks. I thought that said a lot about Jimmie´s focus and his ability to sacrifice. To me, if the dude wants to go ride around on golf carts...on top of them or underneath of them or skiing on a rope behind them, I mean he´s the champion, he won this thing, it´s his off season so he can do whatever he wants. I think it´s cool to think Jimmie Johnson was on top of a golf cart goofing around. I mean, you name a person in that garage area that hasn´t goofed around on a golf cart and I´ll give you a hundred dollars."(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(12-14-2006)

Edwards Involved with New Record Label: #99-Carl Edwards has a new passion, a record label called Back 40 Records. "I'd come home and my little brother and my buddies would give me these CDs that people were making and they'd have to go to Kansas City or St. Louis to record stuff," he said. "It cost too much for them to do on a regular basis. And we all were just sitting there at the house and we thought, why don't we just take this room of the house and make it a recording studio? And it's turned into a lot of fun." The label name comes from Edwards' days in Columbia when he and his friends would race junk cars. "We'd have all these cars together and go race them out in this field that my buddy called his Back 40 because it was his back 40 acres," he said. Edwards' personal musical tastes range from Johnny Cash to Jewel to Metallica to Jay-Z. The first CD, "That One CD," will be released in a few weeks. It is a compilation of songs by six different artists with musical styles including hip hop, R&B and acoustic rock. More info is available at www.back40records.com.(York Dispatch)(12-12-2006)

Osbourne reunites with Edwards starting at Phoenix; Brown to the #26 then JGR: Roush Racing crew chief Bob Osbourne will return to the #99 Office Depot Ford and reunite with driver Carl Edwards, effective immediately, Roush Racing president Geoff Smith confirmed for ESPN.com Wednesday. "That's true. We're making the move in preparation for [2007]," Smith said. Osbourne began the 2006 season as crew chief of the #99, but in April team owner Jack Roush made the decision to shake up his Nextel Cup Series crew chief lineup, sending Osbourne to direct Jamie McMurray's struggling #26 team. In doing so, he tabbed Roush's director of engineering Wally Brown to lead Edwards' #99 program. Neither team saw marked improvement. Neither has won a race in 2006. Smith said Brown will assume the crew chief role on McMurray's team for the final two races of the 2006 season in Phoenix and Homestead, but would not crew chief in 2007. Smith said it is his understanding that Brown is headed to Joe Gibbs Racing in an engineering role. It is uncertain at this time, Smith said, who will serve as McMurray's crew chief in 2007.(ESPN.com)(11-9-2006)

New Nextel Cup GM for Roush: Max Jones, who has led the Craftsman Truck and Busch series programs at Roush Racing the past two years, was named general manager of the Nextel Cup program yesterday.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-6-2006)

Edwards to deliver school supplies to Katrina Affected School: On Wednesday, November 1st, #99-Carl Edwards and Office Depot are delivering more than $65,000 in classroom supplies, including 30 new Toshiba computers, to Earl Travillion Attendance Center (ETAC) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, an elementary school that was hit by Hurricane Katrina just over one year ago. ETAC was selected out of more than two million entries nationwide as the winner of Office Depot's "Great Tools For Your School Sweeps" and will be receiving prizes including classroom supplies from Office Depot as well as Toshiba laptop computers, Sanford writing and erasing products, 3M products including overhead and LCD projectors, new Sauder desks for teachers and computer mouse products from Microsoft. Teachers will be receiving $99 Office Depot Gift Cards, the school is receiving a $9,999 scholarship and each student will receive a backpack with school supplies. Edwards will drive up in his racecar, followed by a hauler filled with the supplies and products. This will be followed by a school assembly where Edwards will present the supplies and answer students' questions.(Office Depot/Edelman PR)(10-31-2006)

Crew Chief Changes Planned at Roush Racing: Jack Roush confirmed Sunday that a multi-team, crew chief shakeup is in the works in his five-team Nextel Cup operation [#'s6,16,17,26,99], but he said he hasn't decided which crew chiefs to pair with which drivers, though veteran Jimmy Fennig "might be a good choice" for David Ragan [in the #6] next season. Will Wally Brown be back as #99-Carl Edwards' crew chief? "That's one of our dream-team packages," Roush said. "Wally Brown is one of my heroes; he's done a great job. But his dad, in Pennsylvania, isn't doing well, and Wally is missing his dad, and we've been talking, and Wally may have a change in venue, and in his career. If we lose Wally, it would be a huge loss."(Winston Salem Journal)(10-23-2006)

More on the Roush Racing/Fenway Sports Group 'deal': Team owner Jack Roush said there is not yet an offer on the table from John Henry's Fenway Sports Group as the entity discusses buying into Roush Racing with team President Geoff Smith. Roush said Friday that he's not sure when the sides will next talk but added that's not out of the ordinary. "I don't do the money very well," Roush said with a smile at Dover International Speedway. "Right now, there are discussions going on. There's not a deal on the table. There may not be a deal that makes it to the table. What do I think the chances are that John Henry will become an investor in the Roush organization? On one day it looks like the glass is a little more than half full; on other days it looks like it's definitely [less] than half full. And I don't get a report every day on what's going on." Roush said talks are sometimes conducted via email, but added that several members of FSG were at the team's North Carolina shops prior to the race at New Hampshire. If an agreement is reached, Roush said he wouldn't sell more than 50 percent of the organization to Henry's FSG, which is a separate entity from the partnership that owns the Boston Red Sox. And he said this simply isn't a way to get around NASCAR's ownership rules, which will eventually limit him to fielding four full-time Nextel Cup Series teams. If an agreement were reached, Henry would be an investor in Roush Racing, not fielding teams under the Fenway Sports Group umbrella as a separate entity. "Our plan is to operate four NASCAR stock car racing teams past this decade," Roush said. "We think if I can spread my base and do an expanded marketing and sponsorship involvement program that would have a component of interest in the Northeast that we'd be stronger through that." Anyone thinking this is Roush's way of preparing to retire is mistaken according to the owner. "For anybody that thinks Jack is looking for a way to get off stage now, or in the foreseeable future or that retirement's my plan, just hide and watch [me]," he said. "I'm not going to retire. I'm not trying to back away from the races. I'm not trying to put somebody between me and the race teams. One of my challenges my managers have on the race teams is, 'How do we get Jack out of the way so we can do what we need to do.'"(SceneDaily.com)(9-23-2006)

Boston Red Sox owner in talks to buy part of Roush: While Roush Racing president Geoff Smith isn't sure where discussions with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group will lead, he doesn't envision a scenario in which Jack Roush would relinquish control of the operation. Negotiations have been ongoing throughout the summer, Smith said late Tuesday afternoon. He's not sure what percentage of the team - which competes in all three of NASCAR's national series - could be sold, if any, but expects one thing to remain the same. "I can't see Jack Roush giving up control of Roush Racing," Smith said. "I don't see that as an outcome." Roush and Henry, who heads the NESV partnership, have been friends for several years, sparking occasional rumors that Henry was looking to buy into Roush Racing. In the past, though, Smith said the two sides were just discussing marketing possibilities, not a sale. The two were seen together on Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway and Roush Racing released a statement Tuesday that confirmed discussions about selling an interest in the team were ongoing.(in part from the SceneDaily.com)
AND: According to multiple executives briefed on the negotiations, Fenway Sports Group is in talks to buy as much as 50 percent of privately held Roush Racing, the class of NASCAR, for something north of $50 million. No deal is imminent, these executives cautioned, and the negotiations, which have started and stopped before, could still falter. Both the Fenway Sports Group and Roush Racing confirmed the talks, but both said there is no agreement. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, called the Red Sox unit "attractive partners" because of its marketing capabilities, particularly in the Northeast. Said Mike Dee, president of Fenway Sports Group: "If these discussions are fruitful, we will be happy to talk about them."(in part from the Boston Globe)
AND II: “Roush Racing confirms,” said Geoff Smith president of Roush Racing, “It has entered into discussions to sell an interest in Roush Racing to Fenway Sports Group, Boston. Should these discussions ultimately materialize into a definitive agreement Roush Racing will provide further information on the topic.”(Roush Racing PR)(9-19-2006)

Pocono Combatants Called in by NASCAR to talk: #20-Tony Stewart, #07-Clint Bowyer and #99-Carl Edwards were called to the NASCAR hauler Saturday for a chat with NASCAR president Mike Helton. Those three drivers were involved in a crash two weeks ago at Pocono when Stewart deliberately turned into Bowyer, causing Bowyer to hit Edwards. No one was saying exactly what was discussed, but no doubt Helton warned the drivers to mind their manners today in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.(Dallas Morning News)(8-6-2006)

Edwards not expecting another crew chief change: In a national teleconference Tuesday morning, #99-Carl Edwards said the team had just had a meeting and that it appeared that crew chief Bob Osborne would remain with Edwards' teammate #26-Jamie McMurray and Wally Brown would stay with Edwards. Edwards started the season with Osborne and McMurray with Jimmy Fennig, but an early-season switch moved Fennig into another role, Osborne to McMurray and Brown to Edwards. At the time, the team said it would revisit the changes in 90 days to see if Osborne and Edwards would be reunited. "The thinking of that is that either guy would be great, but right now, change for either of us may set us back farther than any long-term benefits to the change," said Edwards, who is 13th in points and trying to move into the top 10 and Chase-For-The-Nextel-Cup contention. Asked if he wanted to switch back, Edwards admitted he didn't want to make the first change. "Honestly, I did not want to switch when we first did it just for the simple reasoning that, hey, we were running well and Bob and I had had great success together, and I didn't want to change anything," Edwards said. "And [team owner] Jack Roush decided that he thought it would be a decent change to make, and it could help Roush Racing as a whole. I agreed with it just like everybody else, and we've worked hard, and Wally has not made many - Wally hasn't made any mistakes. He's done a great job, and it just doesn't seem like changing back just to change back is the right thing to do right now."(SceneDaily.com)(7-19-206)

Osborne back to the #99? Despite an early season shakeup that saw him lose his crew chief to teammate #26-Jamie McMurray, #99-Carl Edwards heads into Sunday's race at Chicagoland Speedway just outside the top 10 in the Nextel Cup standings. And now, team owner Jack Roush might reunite Edwards with crew chief Bob Osborne for the stretch run to NASCAR's version of the playoffs. In an attempt to spark his team's performance, Roush made another of his trademark crew chief swaps in April, moving Osborne from Edwards' #99 team to McMurray's #26. Wally Brown, the lead engineer on Edwards' team, was promoted to become Edwards' new crew chief. But those moves might turn out to be temporary. Edwards said Saturday that Roush made the moves on a 90-day provisional basis, and expects to meet with Roush soon to re-evaluate the changes. "The 90 days is up this week, so I don't know exactly what we're going to do," Edwards said. "I'm sure we'll have a meeting about it. Hopefully I get a say in this one." And if Edwards does have his say, will he ask to have Osborne back or stick with Brown? "I don't know yet," Edwards said. "I just have to sit down and think about it. I've been trying to just go along and work and not worry about it too much. I guess we'll just all sit down and talk as a group - we all know each other really well - and decide what's best for everybody and go on." Roush said reuniting Edwards with Osborne is a possibility. "There is a chance," Roush said. "It's not been on my mind, but there is a chance." Roush said he has been pleased with the results of his changes so far. His main goals were to have Osborne work with McMurray, who joined the team in the offseason, to get him used to driving cars that are built and set up more closely to those of his teammates.(Associated Press)(7-9-2006)

Jack Roush Honored by Ford: Jack Roush received the highest honor Ford Motor Company can bestow on anyone in racing when he was presented with the Spirit of Ford Award in front of approximately 450 employees at Ford World Headquarters Thursday. Edsel B. Ford II made the presentation during a pep rally involving many of Ford's NASCAR drivers who will be competing in the Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck Series races at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. Roush was hired as an engineer at Ford in 1964, but got the racing bug when he joined a group called 'The Fastbacks' two years later. The group was made up of Ford employees who competed in drag racing on weekends. Since then, Roush has won championships in all three of NASCAR's top divisions, including back-to-back Nextel Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. In addition, he has three Pro Stock drag racing championships, 24 road racing titles and 10 consecutive victories in the prestigious Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. The Spirit of Ford Award goes to a person who has made significant contributions on and off the track to the sport of auto racing. Other stock car recipients of the Spirit of Ford Award include: Bud Moore, the Wood Brothers, Junie Donlavey, Bill Elliott, Richard Petty, the France family, and Ned Jarrett.(Ford Racing)(6-16-2006)

K&M's Logo To Be Run on #99 at LMS: Office Depot announced that K&M Storage of Dodge City, KS, will become the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, courtesy of Office Depot" for the remainder of the 2006 Nextel Cup race season. The winning company is being celebrated at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where K&M Storage owner Duane Nietling will join with driver Carl Edwards, Roush Racing owner Jack Roush and Tony Ueber, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Office Depot, to unveil the No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion. The car features the new K&M Storage logo that will make its debut on track during the Coca-Cola 600. The new K&M logo is being featured on the TV panel (rear panel on a NASCAR racecar) of the #99 Office Depot Ford Fusion during this weekend's race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Throughout the rest of the season, the logo will be on the car's b-post (located between the front and rear windows). As part of the prize package, Office Depot is also printing a year's supply of new business cards, letterhead and envelopes for K&M to use. Plus, K&M receives a $10,000 small business makeover from Office Depot, as well as the advice of a small business expert to K&M take full advantage of their new business and marketing assets. To kick off K&M Storage's role as the "Official Small Business of NASCAR," Nietling and three guests are spending a VIP weekend in Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600, including a tour of the Roush Racing shop, and the opportunity to meet Edwards and the Office Depot #99 team. More info on Office Depot Racing at officedepotracing.com.(PR)(5-27-2006)

(5-27-2006)

Forbes: Roush Most Valuable: Forbes magazine says Roush Racing is currently the most valuable organization in NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch series competition, with a net worth the publication estimates at $218 million. In its June 5 edition, Forbes says Roush's five Cup and six Busch entries have lined up sponsorship estimated at $108 million this year and have earned $8.3 million on the track this season. Hendrick Motorsports ranks second with a value of $146 million for four Cup and two Busch entries. Forbes calculates the team's sponsorships are producing $77 million revenue this year. Joe Gibbs Racing ranks third ($103 million), followed by Richard Childress Racing ($100 million) and Chip Ganassi Racing ($79 million).(SceneDaily.com)(5-25-2006)

Edwards pledges $100k if he wins All-Star Race: #99-Carl Edwards has pledged to donate $100,000 of his winnings should he be fortunate enough to claim the million-dollar first prize up for grabs in the 90-lap Nextel All-Star Challenge Saturday, May shootout. "Officials of organizations such as ours would probably do back-flips to get that kind of help from a single source," said Major General Thomas A. Sadler, USAF (Ret.), SCC executive director. "We'll let Carl do the back-flips, but I can tell you that we would certainly be grateful and appreciative of his generosity should he be fortunate enough to win the All-Star race." Sadler was referring to Edwards' trademark post-race celebration of doing a back-flip off the side of his racecar after each win. The 26-year-old Roush driver isn't the only one pledging financial support to SCC programs should he win Saturday's race. Bruton Smith, chairman of the board of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI), has said he will match the $100,000 donation with an Edwards victory. More info about Speedway Children's Charities at speedwaycharities.org.(SCC PR)(5-20-2006)

Humpy Picks Edwards to win All-Star Race: H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, thinks #99-Carl Edwards, just four years removed from those rough-and-tumble short-track wars, will collect the $1 million prize Saturday night for winning the 22nd running of NASCAR's NEXTEL All-Star Challenge annual all-star spectacular. Wheeler named Edwards as his selection Monday during his annual pick-the-winner press conference in downtown Charlotte. Known for his promotional flair and Karnac-type ability, Wheeler has correctly picked the winner of the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge 10 times in the past 17 races. Its three-segment format-40 laps, 30 laps and 20 laps-and the $1 million first-place prize combine to make the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge NASCAR's most unique race. Staying with his short-track theme, Wheeler selected former USAC open-wheel star #9-Kasey Kahne as his dark horse pick. Even though he finished second to Mark Martin in last year's NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, #38-Elliott Sadler has not visited victory lane since 2004 and thus is not qualified for this year's all-star race. Wheeler says the Emporia, Va., native will remedy that by winning the NEXTEL Open. Veteran #21-Ken Schrader is Wheeler's dark horse selection for the Open. On-track activities for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge kick off Friday night with qualifying for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge and the NEXTEL Open. In addition to qualifying, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will compete in the Quaker Steak & Lube 200. Tickets start at $20. Tickets start at $21 and may be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-16-2006)

Horseshoe works for Edwards: #99-Carl Edwards’ fourth-place finish gave him a boost, as did his fan club. “My fan club gave us a horseshoe,” he said, “and we mounted it on the tool box. I think that really helped a lot.”(Gaston Gazette)(4-24-2006)

Crew Chief Changes at Roush UPDATE Edwards comments: Roush Racing sources told NASCAR.com on Thursday that two of its Nextel Cup teams will have new crew chiefs at Phoenix next week. Bob Osborne will assume crew chief duties for the #26 team and driver Jamie McMurray. Osborne moves from the #99 car, where he helped Carl Edwards to a third-place finish in the point standings last year. Roush Racing's lead engineer, Wally Brown [not Rogers], will take over the #99 team. Brown also has been a crew chief in the Busch Series with Kevin Harvick Inc. Jimmy Fennig, who was the crew chief for McMurray, now will head Roush's Busch Series program. Fennig was the crew chief for Kurt Busch when he won the 2004 Nextel Cup championship.(NASCAR.com)
MORE: In an effort to help strengthen overall racing operations and position the organization for continued success, Roush Racing announced several personnel changes today. The crew chief and engineering changes will take effect immediately. Veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig will oversee Roush Racing's Busch program in it entirety taking on the job of senior crew chief. Fennig will also assume crew chief duties for the #17 Ameriquest/Pennzoil Ford driven by Matt Kenseth. Fennig brings 36 years of racing experience to Roush's Busch programs. He has led teams and drivers to victory lane numerous times, and in 2004 that experience culminated in a NEXTEL Cup Championship with the #97 team.
Bob Osborne will assume the crew chief position for the #26 Crown Royal/Irwin Industrial Tools team with Jamie McMurray behind the wheel. Osborne has been with Roush Racing since 1998 working as the engineer for the #6 Ford piloted by Mark Martin. Osborne then moved to head of engineering before taking over as crew chief of the #99 Office Depot Ford in 2004.
Wally Brown will take over as crew chief of the #99 Office Depot Ford driven by Carl Edwards. Brown began his career at Roush Racing as the engineer on the #6 team then moved into the role of head engineer when Osborne moved to the #99 crew chief position. Jim Ryder will replace Brown as head engineer. Mark Catania moves to head engineer for the Busch and Truck teams replacing Ryder. Alex Lenxmeier will assume the engineering role for the #26 team under Osborne. Chad Norris is currently serving his four week NASCAR suspension and will assume set-up duties overseeing all the Busch cars.(Roush Racing)(4-13-2006)
UPDATE - Edwards comments on crew chief change: #99-Carl Edwards sees Jack Roush's decision to shift crew chief Bob Osborne to Jamie McMurray's #26 car as a move to spark McMurray's season, not his own. Edwards said Friday that he was told by Roush that if the switch did not work Osborne would be back. Another meeting was scheduled in 90 days to "discuss how it's going."
"It has to do with getting Jamie going," Edwards said while practicing at the Nashville Superspeedway for Saturday's Busch Series Pepsi 300. "That's all this is. That's something I want to make real clear because Bob is doing an unbelievable job. ... This is a compliment to Bob, if anything." He said the change has "nothing to do with" either Osborne or the team's performance. Edwards is 22nd in points after seven starts this season, averaging a 24th-place finish with two top-five finishes.(Associated Press)(4-15-2006)

Edwards named an Ambassador for Youth for National PTA: National PTA has teamed up with Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Office Depot Ford Fusion, to boost family nutrition and wellness and help kids excel in school. Edwards, a former substitute teacher, has been named an Ambassador for Youth for National PTA. He joins businesswoman and designer Kathy Ireland in encouraging parents to make time and get involved in their kid's school and PTA. Office Depot is Edwards' primary sponsor in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and a Proud Community Partner of National PTA. Edwards is committed to helping parents create healthy lifestyles for their children both at home and in school. Leading by example, Edwards exercises everyday, doesn't drink or smoke, and eats healthy. Edwards and the National PTA note that children are more likely to excel in the classroom with meaningful parent involvement and that healthy kids consistently outperform their peers. In his new role as a National Ambassador for Youth, Edwards will join millions of parents and educators to work toward improving the lives of children, as well as urging parents and families to be more involved. Edwards follows in the footsteps of dozens of community leaders, celebrities, legislators, and U.S. Presidents, all of whom have lent their voices and support to National PTA to make a difference in the lives of children. Edwards, who is in front of millions of fans each week on the racetrack, will also lend his support by speaking directly with kids, working with National PTA to provide relevant information to parents, and being a strong advocate for public education. Edwards, whose mother is a former president of her local PTA, began working with National PTA when he donated a portion of his winnings from the 2005 Ameriquest 300 race at the California Speedway to the Kids of Katrina fund, a special relief effort created by National PTA and Office Depot to assist those schools impacted by Hurricane Katrina. For more information about National PTA, visit www.pta.org.(Roush Racing PR)(4-13-2006)

Edwards close to signing driver: #99-Carl Edwards is close to signing Canadian Pete Shepherd III to drive his Sprint car in the USAC Silver Crown Series [USAC] this season. The deal comes after Shepherd completed a battery of tests in the car at Homestead-Miami Speedway earlier this month. Shepherd also has signed a development deal at Roush Racing -- Edwards' Cup team -- where he will drive in a number of Auto Racing Club of America races this season. And he is coming off a successful showing in the Discovery Channel's Driver X program where he made it to the final cut of 1,400 young drivers who were competing for a ride in Roush's Craftsman Truck Series Ford F-150. (Toronto Sun)(2-28-2006)

Edwards on the tube: #99-Carl Edwards is scheduled to appear on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Thursday, Feb. 23rd at 12:35am/et.(Roush Racing PR)(2-22-2006)

Gillette Young Guns add two drivers: Gillette announced the addition of two of NASCAR's youngest and most talented drivers - #99-Carl Edwards and #26-Jamie McMurray - to the Gillette Young Guns team. Edwards and McMurray will officially join Gillette Young Guns #2-Kurt Busch, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #48-Jimmie Johnson and #12-Ryan Newman beginning with the 2006 NEXTEL Cup season-opening race at Daytona. Edwards and McMurray join a team of drivers that once again dominated the 2005 NEXTEL Cup season, with four of the six Gillette Young Guns competing for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Throughout the 2005 season, the Gillette Young Guns had 11 combined victories, 13 Bud Pole awards, 52 Top 5 finishes, 96 Top 10 finishes, and combined earnings of $35,413,740. Gillette will continue to leverage the Gillette Young Guns and its official status in the shaving products, alkaline battery and oral care categories with a comprehensive marketing communications program. The program includes consumer promotions, national sweepstakes, dedicated NASCAR print and broadcast advertising, licensing, interactive on-line consumer promotions, charitable contributions and at-track marketing. These activities will encompass multiple Gillette brands. Just prior to the Daytona 500 fans can visit www.gilletteyoungguns.com for a sneak peak of the new Gillette Young Guns commercial. Edwards and McMurray will join the existing Gillette Young Guns team for two exciting promotional programs this season. The first, "Meet the 2006 GYG Drivers," will offer fans the chance to attend a race for a "meet and greet" with one of the Gillette Young Guns. The "GYG Insiders Guide to the Chase for the Championship" will provide fans with the drivers' exclusive strategies for winning, as well as insight into track strategy and drivers' strengths.(Alan Taylor Comminications), #17-Matt Kenseth and #29-Kevin Harvick are no longer part of the program.(2-10-2006)

Edwards to appear on '24': While in Southern California last week to promote the Nextel Cup race at California Speedway in Fontana on Feb. 26, Carl Edwards filmed a small role for an episode of 24 [Fox, Monday's at 9pm/et/Jayski Fave] scheduled to air April 3. "The best part was they gave me a line to read," Edwards said. "The cameras started to roll, and as I was walking over to shake the other character's hand, I realized my palms were a little sweaty, which doesn't happen very often."(USA Today)(2-7-2006)

Roush and NASCAR agree on downsizing: Five-Team Owner [#'s 6,16,17,26,99] Jack Roush said he and NASCAR have agreed on the basics of how to get his Nextel Cup team down to four cars, which was mandated by the sanctioning body late last season. “We will go back to four teams, but it’s not immediate,” Roush said. “There is a cap of four [Cup teams]. I will comply with that when I’m past my commitments I have with drivers and sponsors. We’ve finally got an understanding of what is possible and what we can do.” Roush would not speculate on when his team might go back to four cars, but said his existing commitments expire between 2009 and 2011.(Ford Racing)(1-25-2006)

2005 News

Edwards wins 4th Qtr DOTY: In a tight race Carl Edwards, a breakout driver NASCAR Nextel Cup series, was voted Speed Channel Driver of the Year presented by Gillette M3 Power Nitro fourth quarter 2005 by a panel of experts and one combined fan ballot. "The neatest thing about the Speed Channel Driver of the Year is that I've been nominated twice," said Edwards in New York for the Annual NASCAR Awards Banquet. "Just to see those commercials, seeing my name on the television with all those drivers from all different series, it's so amazing to be considered for it." In his first full season in the #99 Office Depot Ford Edwards scored one pole and two straight victories, in the final quarter, during the intense Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and included a win from the pole in the #60 World Financial Ford in the Busch Series. Edwards took four first-place votes and tallied 81 points. While NHRA's Tony Schumacher earned five first-place votes, including and totaled 79 points. Tony Stewart also scored five first-place votes and finished third with 69 points. Schumacher, "Sarge" had a perfect quarter winning all five of his events, resulting in his second-straight POWERade Series title driving U.S, Army Top Fuel dragster. Third place Stewart, winner of the third quarter 2005 Driver of the Year, wrapped up his second Nextel Cup title with consistent finishes in the top ten. Also taking first place votes France's Sebastien Bourdais in the Champ Car World Series, Greg Biffle in NASCAR, and World of Outlaws Steve Kinser. Bourdais clinched his second-straight title and totaled 51 points fourth in the ballot. Biffle was runner-up in the Chase to the Cup and was fifth in the vote with 31 points. A total of 20 drivers scored points in the fourth quarter voting. Noteworthy, NASCAR's Mark Martin took third place in the fan vote behind Stewart and Edwards on the www.speedtv.com website. In its' 39th year, the Speed Channel Driver of the Year presented by Gillette M# Power Nitro title is unique because it is the only award that encompasses all of the racing series in the United States and fan participation. A panel of 18 leading journalists and broadcasters from across the U.S. and a fan vote on Speedtv.com determine the winner. In quarterly voting, points are awarded on a declining 9,6,4,3,2,1 basis. Edwaards will receive a trophy and a Maurice Lacroix, wristwatch at a date to be announced.(DOTY PR)(12-4-2005)

Roush Crew Chiefs all back in 2006: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Sunday that the team has re-signed all of five of its crew chiefs for 2006, although it has some unfilled crew vacancies remaining. Roush is one of the few teams that had no midseason crew chief turnover and return of its five team leaders should help the organization get off to a strong start next season.(Speed Channel)(11-21-2005)

Edwards wins at Texas: #99-Carl Edwards won the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for his 4th win of 2005 and his career. Edwards moves up to 3rd in points, only 77 behind leader #20-Tony Stewart who finished 6th, now has a 38 points lead over #48-Johnson. Just think, if it was the 'old system', Stewart would have a 302 point lead, how exciting would that be with 2 races to go? #6-Mark Martin lost the lead with 2 laps to go and held on to 2nd, followed by #17-Matt Kenseth, #41-Casey Mears and #48-Jimmie Johnson. Edwards is the 10th different driver to win at Texas in 10 races and is the 5th different Roush Racing driver to win at Texas [Martin, Burton, Kenseth, Biffle]. Edwards did his trademark backflip and did a perfect landing, always fun to see. Looks like a three driver race for the Chase: #20-Stewart, #48-Johnson and #99-Edwards. There were only 6 cautions for 27 laps and 11 drivers led laps with 20 lead changes. The race speed was 151.055mph, a new record.
For my race rundown, laps led, DNF's, caution info, Lucky Dogs and some notes, see my Texas Race Info/Rundown Page.
For race results and awards, and other site links, see my

Jayski's Texas Race Results/Awards page.(11-6-2005)

Edwards sweeps Atlanta: #99-Carl Edwards won the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of 2005 and his career, 2nd at Atlanta, being the first driver to sweep both Atlanta Cup races since Bill Elliott in 1992 and only the 6th driver to do so at the track. #24-Jeff Gordon follows up last weeks win with a 2nd place finish, followed by #6-Mark Martin, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [who led the most laps] and #17-Matt Kenseth. Points leader, #20-Tony Stewart finished 9th and coupled with #48-Jimmie Johnson's [2nd in points] finish of 16th, Stewart increases his points lead from 15 to 43. Three Chasers had bad days, #97-Busch, #2-Wallace and #19-Mayfield all had bad days and finished 36th, 37th and 38th respectfully and for all practical purposes are out of the hunt for the Championship. #39-Reed Sorenson, in his 1st career start, crashed late and finished 41st out of the race. There were 9 cautions for 39 laps and 11 drivers led laps with 25 lead changes.
For my race rundown, laps led, DNF's, caution info, Lucky Dogs and some notes, see my Atlanta Race Info/Rundown Page.
For race results and awards, and other site links, see my

Jayski's Atlanta Race Results/Awards page.
For drivers/owners points, classic points top 15, see my

Jayski's Drivers/Owners Points after Atlanta page.(10-30-2005)

World Financial back on the #99 car: The #99 Ford of Carl Edwards will carry the World Financial Group (WFG) paint scheme this week. The WFG paint scheme was also carried on the #99 Ford earlier this year in Las Vegas.(Roush Racing)(9-30-2005)

Office Depot gives 99 kids free tickets: In celebration of the back-to-school season, Office Depot, the primary sponsor for Nextel Cup driver Carl Edwards' #99 Ford, has provided 99 race tickets for underprivileged area children. Edwards' car is sporting a "Back to School" paint scheme for today's race, with a bumper-sticker sized sponsorship added to the trunk which reads, "Proud Partner of the National PTA." The 99 area children are from Schuyler Outreach, a nonprofit organization that provides food and financial assistance to low-income families. "Education is so important and it's really neat that our sponsor is recognizing that," said Edwards. "This is only my third road course race (and first here) and I'm hopeful that the special paint scheme will bring us a little luck this weekend."(Elmira Star-Gazette)(8-14-2005)

Back to School: hearing that #99 Carl Edwards will run a special Office Depot 'Back to School' scheme, probably at Watkins Glen, maybe a few more races. See an image of the scheme on my #99 Team Schemes page.(8-5-2005)

Triple Duty for Edwards: Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Office Depot [AAA this week] Ford, will have a busy week leading up to Sunday’s Brickyard 400. After competing in a Ken Schrader exhibition race during the middle of the week in Pevely, Mo., Edwards will race in the USAC Silver Crown, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races in Indianapolis.(Ford Racing)(8-3-2005)

Osbourne Wins Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award at Pocono: Bob Osborne, crew chief of the #99 Taurus, had the unenviable task of bringing Carl Edwards from the back of the pack to the front this Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Knowing it would take more than just a fast race car, Osborne executed a risky pit strategy that landed his driver a top-five finish in the Pennsylvania 500. For moving Edwards through the field, Osborne was voted the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race.
Edwards' double duty obligations made Osborne's day double tough. Edwards' Busch Series responsibilities had him racing in Fountain, Co on Saturday, forcing the team to use a substitute driver for time trials at Poco# The team was penalized for the driver switch and had to start the Office Depot/Scotts Ford from the rear of the field. Track position comes at a premium at Pocono Raceway and Osborne knew that he had a tough chore ahead.
Osborne overcame his team's track position deficit by making a two-tire pit stop, not just once, but twice over the course of the race. Osborne's strategy moved Edwards into position to end the day with a fourth-place finish.
The panel of voters; including Chuck Givler of the Easton Express-Times, a Wypall Wipers representative and Tony Eury Sr.; all gave Osborne the nod as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race.
Doug Richert leads the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. Alan Gustafson, Bob Osborne and Robbie Loomis are tied for second place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Fatback McSwain, Greg Zipadelli, Steve Hmiel, Jimmy Fennig and Pete Rondeau are in a tie for third place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000.Fans can also vote for their choice at wypall.com.(SMC 500)(7-25-2005)

Edwards to run at Pocono and Pikes Peak..with help from Kimmel and Parker: It was just six short weeks ago that #99-Carl Edwards brought home his second career win in the series at Pocono Raceway. It was Edwards' first trip to the 2.5-mile track. Not only did Edwards pick up Jack Roush's first victory as a car owner at the track, his 29th starting position marked the furthest back anyone had started and won a race there. Edwards was also only the second driver to win at the tri-oval in his first career start at the track. The first was Richard Petty in 1974 when he won the inaugural Cup event there. Similar to the Pocono race earlier this year, Edwards will fly between two states in order to make both the Busch and Cup races. Edwards will spend Friday in Pocono practicing the #99 Office Depot Ford then he will depart for Colorado Springs, CO where he will start the #60 Charter Ford in the Busch race on Saturday at Pikes Peak International Raceway. For Saturday's Cup qualifying session, six-time ARCA Champion Frank Kimmel will substitute for Edwards. Kimmel has 50 career victories to his name and has starts in the Cup, Busch and Truck Series. Kimmel will attempt to qualify the #99 Office Depot Ford per NASCAR's rules but Edwards will return to start Sunday's 500-mile race. Because of the driver switch, Edwards will have to start at the back of the field but Kimmel's qualifying position is important as it determines where the team will pick their pit stall for Sunday's race. Hank Parker, Jr. will practice and qualify the #60-Busch Series car for Edwards on Friday, who will have to be in Pocono, Penn. tending to his #99 Office Depot Cup car. Parker has been on hand to help the #60 Charter team already this season, when rain at Nashville postponed the Saturday race until Sunday, forcing Edwards to hop on a plane for the first NEXTEL Cup race in Poco#Parker filled his seat, and brought the Charter Communications Ford home with a solid 20th-place finish while Edwards drove to his second-career NEXTEL Cup win in Pennsylvania.(Roush Racing)(7-20-2005)
UPDATE: Speed Channel's NASCAR Live reports that ARCA driver Bobby Gerhart will qualifying the #99 Ford in Saturday's qualifying at Pocono.(Speed Channel's NASCAR Live) Defending and six-time ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Frank Kimmel was originally scheduled to relieve Edwards of his qualifying duties, but will be unable to do so since he did not fit into Edwards’ custom-fitted driver’s seat.(ARCA Racing site)(7-22-2005)

Office Depot to become Edwards exclusive sponsor: Office Depot, the "Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR" and Roush Racing announced today that Office Depot has signed a new multi-year deal to be the primary sponsor of the #99 Roush Racing Ford, driven by Carl Edwards beginning in the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. "I'm really excited to have Office Depot on board as the primary sponsor of the #99 Ford in 2006 and beyond," said Edwards. "I'm proud to represent Office Depot and all of their employees and customers across the country. There is an obvious cross-over between the NASCAR fan base and Office Depot's customers and I'm excited that they've chosen me, Roush Racing and the #99 team as their vehicle to communicate their messaging. I know I speak for my entire team when I say we look forward to having Office Depot as a part of our team in the future." Office Depot's foray into NASCAR began this February when the Company announced its sponsorship of Roush Racing's #99 Ford that ultimately extended to a total of 17 races for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season.(Roush Racing site)(7-8-2005)

Pennzoil on the #99 for Daytona: Carl Edwards will sports a Pennzoil Platinum paint schemes [or should I call it paint decals now?] on the #99 Roush Racing Ford for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 2nd. Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil is the most advanced product that Pennzoil has ever produced and is the latest product from the category leader. Pennzoil Platinum's ultimate-protection formulation is designed to stand up to today's most demanding engines. This new full synthetic motor oil combines a highly-refined base oil with a proprietary additive package to create a ground-breaking formulation to keep engines running at their full potential.(Coyne PR), no image...yet.(7-1-2005)

Roush 2006 lineup complete.....almost: Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, said Friday that the Roush lineup for 2006 is all but complete, with sponsors and drivers for four of its five Nextel Cup cars showing no major changes. DeWalt will return to Matt Kenseth's #17, National Guard/Subway/etc. to Greg Biffle's #16, Rubbermaid/Smirnoff and others with Kurt Busch's #97, and all races accounted for with Carl Edwards's #99. The million-dollar question, of course, has been who will take over for retiring veteran Mark Martin in the flagship #6. Sponsor Pfizer will leave after this season, as has been known for weeks, but Smith said the sponsor issue is more a matter of placing the right company with the right driver. Smith continues to hint that Jon Wood, still under contract with Roush while driving on loan in the Busch Series, could be the front-runner for the job. "We have at least one sponsor who is very interested in Jon," Smith said. Smith also dismissed reports that Valvoline, one-time primary sponsor of Martin and the #6, could return as sponsor of Martin's Roush-backed Craftsman Truck effort next season. Smith said Roush Racing has a company-wide supplier agreement with Quaker State [Pennzoil], and that such a nostalgic coupling would not be possible.(Ford Racing)(6-18-2005)

Double Duty at Pocono-Nashville: two drivers are planning on running the Nextel Cup race at Pocono and the Busch Series race in Nashville:
#40-Sterling Marlin will be running the Busch Series race at his home track of Nashville Superspeedway. He will be piloting the #40 for FitzBradshaw Racing.(Ganassi PR)
AND This will be #99-Carl Edwards' first double duty weekend in two separate cities. Edwards will practice and qualify the #99 Stonebridge Insurance Ford in Pocono on Friday and Saturday morning then head to Nashville to race the #60 Charter Ford in the Busch race. Edwards will then return late Saturday night to race the #99 Ford in Sunday's 500-mile event.(Roush Racing)(6-10-2005)

Sponsor for #99 at Pocono in June: Stonebridge Life Insurance Company will be the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford, driven by Carl Edwards, at the Pocono 500 on June 12. This will be the first time Stonebridge Life Insurance Company has sponsored a NEXTEL Cup car. Stonebridge Life Insurance Company is the sister company to World Financial Group, who appeared on the #99 Ford as a primary sponsor in 2004 and 2005. As a leading direct response insurer, Stonebridge Life offers families straightforward and convenient ways to protect their financial assets, especially when they feel like they are racing through everyday life. Like NASCAR and Roush Racing, they are committed to quality, quick response, and excellent service. It is these parallels that brought Stonebridge Life and Roush Racing's #99 team together. Stonebridge Life will be running a major promotion around their sponsorship, with details of the promotion announced in the coming weeks. Stonebridge Life Insurance Company offers term and whole life insurance plans directly to consumers via mail, phone, and the Internet. It is also a member of the AEGON Group, one of the world's largest insurance organizations.(Roush Racing)(5-25-2005)

Roush Racing's 'Gong Show' gets a sponsor and goes on TV: Roush Racing is teaming up with Discovery Channel to find a driver to join their team, to star in an energy-jammed reality show, and ultimately to compete for the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship. Discovery Channel will bring the excitement, drama, and rush of this exclusive search for NASCAR’s next superstar in a new series premiering this fall. Twenty-five young racers, sharing one dream, will compete on and off the track for one of the most sought after jobs in racing – a fully sponsored ride with legendary racer and team owner Jack Roush. Discovery Channel will go behind-the-scenes of the driver selection process as the candidates are put through a barrage of tests – challenging their physical and mental strengths, not to mention evaluating their media savvy and general fan appeal. Anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes is encouraged to submit their applications immediately online at RoushRacing.com. Applications will be accepted through June 15, 2005.(Roush Racing)(5-25-2005)

#99 Crew chief to #8? #88? One man currently on everyone's want list is Bob Osborne, crew chief for Roush Racing's #99, with driver Carl Edwards. Having two plum positions [#8 and #88] open should open up the market considerably.(Speed Channel)(5-25-2005)

Edwards to run Modified race at LMS Dirt Track: Carl Edwards will kick off Coca-Cola 600 week by competing in the Ferris Commercial Mowers presents the Eckerd 75 DIRT big-block modified race Wednesday night, May 25, at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway. Edwards is scheduled to drive a second #3 Page Trucking and Transportation entry as a teammate to multi-time DIRT modified champion Brett Hearn of Kinnelon, N.J. While Edwards has very little experience in the big-block DIRT modifieds, he is no stranger to dirt-track racing. The second-generation driver captured the 1999 modified title and the 2000 pro modified championship at Capital Speedway, a dirt track near Jefferson City, Mo., while working his way up the racing ladder. The Ferris Commercial Mowers presents the Eckerd 75 will start a busy week for Edwards as he will also drive the #60 Charter Communications Ford in the inaugural nighttime running of the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday, May 28, and he'll be behind the wheel of the #99 Scotts Ford for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 29. Tickets for all May events at Lowe's Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(5-24-2005)

Office Depot adds more races: Roush Racing and Office Depot announced that Office Depot, the "Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR," is expanding its on-track sponsorship commitment with the #99 Ford driven by Carl Edwards to a total of 17 races for the remainder of the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. In addition to the nine races announced earlier this year, Office Depot will appear as the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford for eight additional races this season. The schedule includes both races at Dover, the two road course tracks (Infineon and Watkins Glen) and the second races at Pocono, Bristol, Martinsville and Phoenix. With the addition of these races, Office Depot will appear on Edwards' #99 Ford for six of the final 10 races in the "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup." Office Depot will also become Track Sponsor for races at seven International Speedway Corporation (ISC) tracks that include Daytona International Speedway, California Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Watkins Glen International, Martinsville Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Plus, Office Depot has a new sponsorship relationship with Speedway Motorsports, Inc., at Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. Race fans can follow news of Carl Edwards and the #99 race team all season long at www.officedepotracing.com. Fans can watch video interviews with Edwards, get a sneak peak behind the scenes of Office Depot's NASCAR commercials, download screensavers of Edwards and the #99 Office Depot Ford and view or a gallery of exciting race photos.(Business Wire)(5-19-2005)

Roundup to sponsor Edwards at Richmond: Roush Racing and Scotts Team Racing announced that the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards will carry the Roundup Extended Control logo and new paint scheme as the primary sponsor for the upcoming races at Richmond International Raceway on May 14 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 28. Roundup Extended Control is an exciting new product that was recently introduced, and was specially developed to take weed and grass control to a whole new level. For more information on Roundup or any of the Scotts products visit www.roundup.com, or www.scotts.com.(Roush Racing)(5-10-2005)

Ortho on the #99: The #99 Ford, driven by Carl Edwards, will sport a special Ortho Season-Long Grass and Weed Killer paint scheme next week in Talladega for the Aaron's 499 NEXTEL Cup race. Ortho, one of The Scotts Company’s brands, will appear for the first time as a primary sponsor at Sunday's 188 lap event. "I'm excited to have the Ortho paint scheme on the No. 99 Ford next week," said Edwards. "Scotts has 11 races this year and it's neat that they are using them to support not only the Scotts brand but their other brands as well. We had a great win with Scotts at Atlanta and we're hoping to have another great run with Ortho in Talladega." Jeff Keyser, Senior Director for Ortho Marketing at The Scotts Company echoed Edwards' excitement and explained their strategy for placing the Ortho brand on the #99 Ford at Talladega. “Ortho Season-Long Grass and Weed Killer is proud to partner with Roush Racing to sponsor Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Team in Talladega.” Keyser continued, “Weeds become a real problem for consumers April through June and this is the perfect time to get them under control. Just one application of Ortho Season-Long not only kills existing weeds, but also prevents new weeds for the entire season…which should give fans more time to enjoy racing on weekends!”(Roush Racing)(4-30-2005)

Edwards races, surprises crowd: Racing fans thought Carl Edwards would only be there [24 Raceway in Moberly MO] to sign autographs. As it turned out, the NASCAR star did more. Edwards, a 25-year-old Columbia [MO] native, drove on the same track as his younger brother, Kenny, in the Hornet car race at 24 Raceway in Moberly Saturday night. Driving in his first race, Kenny Edwards, 22, won the first heat. Carl Edwards finished in fifth place. Kenny Edwards again finished ahead of his brother in the feature race. He was third; Carl Edwards was seventh. Carl Edwards announced his plans to be on hand to watch his brother on Thursday. On Saturday, he flew to Moberly for the race in fellow Roush Racing driver Mark Martin’s jet. He returned to Martinsville, Va., for the Advance Auto Parts 500 race Sunday afterward.(Columbia Missourian)(4-10-2005)

Edwards goes green again, for National Garden Month: The #99 Scotts team will kick off National Garden Month this week when the green and white Scotts/Miracle Gro paint scheme returns to the Ford of Carl Edwards. In honor of National Garden Month, the #99 Scotts/Miracle Gro Ford will carry a special decal on the TV panel with the "Give a Garden* - Add Beauty to Life" logo throughout the month of April. "Give a Garden* - Add Beauty to Life" is this year's theme and has one simple premise - someone in your community can benefit by receiving a "garden". National Garden Month, an annual National Gardening Association (NGA) program, is a call to action that encourages everyone to get out and plant to help beautify our backyards and communities. The opportunities for making a difference through gardening are limited only by your imagination. For more ways to help celebrate National Garden Month log onto www.nationalgardenmonth.org.(Roush Racing)(4-5-2005)

Edwards on Wind Tunnel: Wind Tunnel With Dave Despain will have 2 Co-Hosts sharing the spotlight with Dave this Sunday, March 27: Roush Racing’s new phenom, Carl Edwards, and SPEED Channel Analyst, Robin Miller. ARCA Champ Frank Kimmel will be a featured interview on Wind Tunnel this Sunday, which airs at 9:00pm/et on Speed Channel.(3-24-2005)

#99 Almost Full of Sponsors: The #99 Roush Racing Ford has sponsors listed for all but the two New Hamphsire races. Scotts/Ortho, Office Depot will be the sponsor for most of the races, along with AAA [2 races at MIS and 1 at Indy], World Financial Group [3 races - Las Vegas and Tallagega - Oct and with Aegon at Pocono in June], Pennzoil at Dayotna in July and something called Renessaince at Kansas [possibly something to do with the Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Kansas City]. Some rumors for sponsors at New Hampshire include the Boston Red Sox and Intel.(Roush Racing site)(3-23-2005)

So who to the #6 car in 2006? Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Roush Racing Ford, is no longer is slated to replace Mark Martin [retires from Cup at end of 2005] in the No. 6 after this season. "It's pretty obvious he's found a home in the 99," Smith says. "We're going to have to fill the 6 with someone else, and we don't know who that someone else might be." Smith says they will look at current Roush truck series driver Ricky Craven, a former Cup veteran, for the ride. But he expects other drivers in the garage to be interested: "That's a fantastic ride that's going to be available."(USA Today)(3-22-2005)

AAA Salutes Edwards: "On behalf of the six AAA clubs in The Auto Club Group, I want to offer warm congratulations to Carl Edwards on the occasion of his first victory in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race," Charles Podowski, president/CEO of The Auto Club Group said today. "Carl's dramatic finish in the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday is a tribute to his driving skill and persistence and the excellent support he receives from his Roush Racing Teammates. The Auto Club Group is proud to be one of Carl's primary sponsors for this year's NEXTEL Cup season," Podowski said. The Auto Club Group has signed on to be the primary sponsor of Edwards' AAA Car #99 Ford Taurus in three NEXTEL Cup races this year and as an associate sponsor in the 35 other events. This is Edwards' first full year on the NEXTEL Cup circuit. Edwards will be making his first appearance under The Auto Club Group's principal sponsorship in the June 19 NEXTEL Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. He will also compete with representatives of Michigan news media in a simulator race on Thursday, June (Yahoo Finance)(3-22-2005)

Edwards Drives Home too: After Carl Edwards drove 500 miles to victory he left Atlanta with his motor coach driver and spent all night behind the wheel 680 miles to his hometown of Columbia, Missouri. His sponsor Scotts had a private jet waiting for him where he then flew to New York City to help ring Monday’s closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. A long drive following a race win is nothing new to Edwards. After his first-ever dirt track victory in Godfrey, Illinois Carl drove home and was so happy that night he didn’t change out of uniform. He also drove back to Missouri from the Kentucky Speedway after his first Craftsman Truck Series win. Edwards said “To get behind the wheel of that motor home and drove home (from Atlanta) just made it feel right.”(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(3-21-2005)

Edwards Flip? Why? How? Where? For those wondering about the origin of the backflip Edwards did after winning Saturday’s Busch Series race and Sunday’s Cup race he learned it several years ago from Tyler Walker, a World of Outlaws driver now driving Busch. “I almost didn’t make it around on that one,” Edwards said of Sunday’s flip. “I was a little wore out and excited. I was definitely off, but I’ll make it up to them (fans) next time.”(The State)(3-21-2005)

Edwards tests at VIR with Said: Carl Edwards, who has no road course experience, tested the #60 Busch Series Ford with accomplished road racer Boris Said at Virginia International Raceway. The tests were in preparation for Sunday's road race in Mexico. Said was thoroughly impressed with Edwards' work ethic and potential. "I told (MB2 G.M.) Jay Frye he should have hired Carl," Said says. "He's one of the nicest kids, the real deal. He was a good listener and great learner. He's got quite a future." Edwards finished sixth in Saturday's Busch race and is third in points; he finished fifth in Sunday's Cup race and is fourth in points.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(2-28-2005)

Roush and Red Sox rumor resurfaces: Roush Racing executives have been working with their counterparts in the Boston Red Sox front office on ways to tap into the New England fan market. Possible alliances include a Red Sox paint scheme and Roush-themed television shows on the team's regional cable network. "I'm hoping to find out a way to affiliate our teams more closely with the Red Sox," Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said. Smith said Red Sox majority owner John Henry is a "semiprofessional" computer race car driver, playing the same sophisticated online racing simulator game that drivers such as Earnhardt play when they aren't racing. The Roush team brought Henry to a race at New Hampshire International Speedway last year, leading to rumors Roush would sell a stake in his team to Henry. But Smith said beyond the two teams' marketing plans, "there is nothing on the table." Smith doesn't rule out the team possibly entering a partnership.(USA Today)(2-18-2005)

Edward's allowed to run for ROTY [in Busch]: on Speed Channel's NASCAR Live on Tuesday, it was reported b Ken Squire that Carl Edwards, the Roush Racing driver in the Cup Series #99 and Busch Series #60, will be allowed to run for the 2005 Busch Series Rookie of the Year award.(2-15-2005)

Office Depot Promo: Office Depot, 9-race primary sponsor of the #99 with driver Carl Edwards, is launching a unique promotion offering customers the chance to become the "Official Small Business of NASCAR" courtesy of Office Depot. This new promotion, showcased in Office Depot's first NASCAR television advertising campaign, breaks new ground by using NASCAR to reach small businesses -- the core customer base for Office Depot. The "Official Small Business of NASCAR" promotion and accompanying ad campaign are central components in Office Depot's multi-faceted Taking Care of Business marketing and brand positioning program. Last month, Office Depot introduced NASCAR as its new sports sponsorship platform, entering into a multi-year agreement with NASCAR to become the sport's first-ever Official Office Products Partner. In addition, beginning with the Daytona 500 (Feb. 20, FOX, 1 p.m.). Office Depot's new NASCAR-themed ad campaign debuts on February 12 with a television spot titled "Bumper." The "Bumper" spot, created by BBDO New York, focuses on one of the most unique national promotions in the sports world: small business owners getting the chance to become the "Official Small Business of NASCAR" courtesy of Office Depot. As part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, the winning business will have its company name featured on the #99 Office Depot Ford Taurus that will be driven by Carl Edwards on May 7 at Darlington Raceway. Customers can enter the "Official Small Business of NASCAR" courtesy of Office Depot sweepstakes by filling out a form at computer workstations in any one of Office Depot's more than 900 stores nationwide, or online at www.officedepot.com/racing. The promotion is open to small businesses with no more than 99 employees, and runs through April 10, 2005. No purchase is necessary. A complete set of rules and restrictions can be found at www.officedepot.com/racing.(Businesswire.com)(2-9-2005)

Scotts Company returns to #99...for nine races as primary: Roush Racing announced that The Scotts Company will sponsor Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Racing Ford Taurus in 2005. The Scotts Company sponsored the #99 Ford for a total of six races in 2004. Scotts has decided to return as a primary sponsor on the #99 Ford in 2005 for a minimum of nine races and will be carried as an associate sponsor for the remaining races. The Scotts Company is scheduled to be the primary sponsor at the Twin 150's in Daytona, the first Atlanta, Martinsville, Texas, Talladega and Richmond races, and all three races at Lowe's Motor Speedway including the All-Star event in May. The Scotts Company will also feature their leading brands Miracle-Gro, Ortho and Roundup in their paint schemes during the year. The Scotts Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with a full range of products for professional horticulture as well. The Company owns the industry's most recognized brands. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts, Miracle-Gro and Ortho brands are market leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto.(Roush Racing PR)(1-26-2005)

#99 gets more sponsorship, from AAA UPDATE: Auto Club Group/AAA has had a longtime relationship with Michigan International Speedway in mid-Michigan. With the sponsorship of Roush Racing’s #99 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car driven by Carl Edwards, AAA has partnered with one of the leaders in the motorsports field. If racing and AAA still seem an unlikely match, consider the role motorsports has played in advancing auto safety. In fact, many of the safety features we now take for granted in our cars, trucks and SUVs were introduced and tested in auto races. Such features as lap and shoulder safety belts, hydraulic brakes and radial tires are just a few. AAA’s support of the sport is directed to efforts to make driving safer and more enjoyable. With its support of the motorsports program, AAA has found an exciting way to promote their name, products and safety message. These programs also provide AAA with a way to encourage young people to drive responsibly and to seek careers in automotive-related fields. AAA was one of the original sponsors of the Indianapolis 500 and the governing body of U.S. auto racing until the 1950s.(AAA Site)(1-12-2005)
AND the races AAA will supposedly be the primary sponsor are:
Michigan International Speedway – June 19
Chicagoland Speedway - July 10 [major assoc]
Indianapolis Brickyard 400 – August 7
Michigan International Speedway - August 21
but they could change as it was mentioned in the Office Depot PR that they would be the primary there.(1-12-2005)
UPDATE: Roush Racing announced today that the AAA Auto Club Group (ACG) will be carried as the primary sponsor on the #99 Roush Racing Ford of Carl Edwards for three races in 2005. In addition to being the primary sponsor for both Michigan races and the Brickyard 400, AAA will also be a major associate at Chicago and an associate for the remainder of the races in 2005. The Auto Club Group, based in Dearborn, Michigan, is the largest AAA affiliate in the Midwest and includes the Auto Club Insurance Association as well as six AAA clubs: AAA Chicago, AAA Michigan, AAA Minnesota/Iowa, AAA Nebraska, AAA North Dakota and AAA Wisconsin, which serve approximately 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG is the first AAA affiliate to sponsor a car in the Nextel Cup Series. An endeavor that AAA is looking forward to embarking on. “Carl Edwards is definitely one of the rising stars in NASCAR racing,” said Charles H. Podowski, president/CEO of ACG. “The Auto Club Group is extremely pleased that we will be the primary sponsor of his car #99 in three Nextel Cup Series races this year, and that his car and racing gear will carry the AAA logo as a sponsor in each of the other 35 races in which he is scheduled to compete. Sponsorship of a car and driver on the hugely popular NASCAR racing circuit will help raise AAA’s profile with the many fans of this major spectator sport. The sponsorship ties very nicely into AAA’s century-long commitment to supporting continued improvement in vehicle safety.” Podowski continued, “Many of the safety features we take for granted on today’s passenger vehicles, such as lap-and-shoulder safety belts and hydraulic brakes, were introduced and perfected in racecars. NASCAR races will continue to be the proving ground for new safety equipment, and the AAA clubs that comprise The Auto Club Group are pleased and proud to help support that progress.”(Roush Racing PR)(1-19-2005)

World Financial Group to sponsor Roush teams, #99: Roush Racing announced today that World Financial Group will expand its primary sponsorship to include Todd Kluever in the #50 Ford F-150 entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 15 races this season. In addition, World Financial Group will also be the primary sponsor for Carl Edwards in two NASCAR Nextel Cup races, and three Busch Series races. They will also sponsor one ARCA entry for Kluever. After sponsoring Edwards' #99 entry in the Nextel Cup Series twice last season, World Financial Group decided to expand its sponsorship opportunities with Roush and move into the Craftsman Truck and Busch Series as well. The sponsorship will include 15 Craftsman Truck races with Kluever throughout the season, Busch Series events with Edwards in the #60 Ford at Las Vegas and both Phoenix events, and two Nextel Cup races with Edwards at Las Vegas in March and Talladega in October. They will also be on board for the ARCA race with Kluever in Daytona during SpeedWeeks. "It's quite an honor to have a company like World Financial Group come on board to sponsor our truck when I haven't even raced yet," said Kluever. "Their support is integral in helping us succeed in the Craftsman Truck Series. I can't wait to run up front with their truck. I know I can speak for Carl when I say we really want to win some races for them."
"It is a privilege for any race team when a company opts to expand its sponsorship," said Jack Roush. "World Financial Group was a great partner last year and their support helped Carl get a few Nextel Cup races under his belt. Now they are going to give Todd the same opportunity in the truck series. We intend to repay them with a few trips to Victory Lane."
"At World Financial Group, we're dedicated to helping people realize the power of their dreams. That's why we are proud to return as a sponsor for Carl Edwards in his NEXTEL Cup and Busch series rides and to support Todd Kluever in his rookie season," said Tim Stonehocker, president & CEO of World Financial Group, Inc. Carl and Todd focused on their goals to become NASCAR series drivers and came out on top with dream rides with a great race team. With a championship organization like Roush Racing behind them, we know both Todd and Carl are headed for bright futures and we are honored to be a part of that."
World Financial Group, Inc. is an independent marketing company whose affiliates offer life insurance and a broad array of financial products and services. Through its thousands of independent associates in the United States and Canada, World Financial Group strives to help individuals and families who are often overlooked by the financial services industry to plan for their financial futures and work toward their goals no matter what their income. Unlike other companies that may offer financial products and services from one or two companies, World Financial Group believes in the power of choice for clients. World Financial Group has agreements with more than 70 separate insurance and financial services companies, giving WFG associates the opportunity to offer clients a wide variety of products and services so they can choose the ones that best fit their needs. World Financial Group and its exclusive broker-dealer World Group Securities, Inc. are both members of a respected corporate family - the AEGON Group. For more information on World Financial Group, log on to www.worldfinancialgroup.com.(Roush Racing PR)(1-13-2005)

Edwards doing double duty in 2005, #99 Sponsor announcement next week UPDATE 2 Official - Office Depot: Roush Racing driver Carl Edwards will compete for championships in two of NASCAR's national touring series this season. In addition to a full, 36-race Nextel Cup season in owner Jack Roush's #99 Ford Taurus, Edwards will also run the 35-race Busch Series schedule in Roush's #60 Charter Communications Ford. Roush plans to announce a sponsorship program [Office Depot?] for Edwards' Cup program next week, a team spokesman said.(NASCAR.com)(1-7-2005)
UPDATE - #99 Has a Sponsor: On Tuesday, January 11, 2005 in Daytona Beach, FL at Daytona International Raceway, Roush Racing will make an announcement regarding a new primary sponsor for the #99 Roush Racing Ford in 2005. The announcement will be made following the completion of Cup practice on Tuesday afternoon at approximately 5:20pm/et in the media center. There will also be an unveiling of the new paint scheme.(Roush Racing PR)....Office Depot?(1-8-2005)
UPDATE 2: Office Depot, one of the world's leading resellers of office products and services, and Roush Racing announced today that Office Depot will sponsor Roush Racing's #99 Office Depot Ford Taurus driven by Carl Edwards in the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race season. The sponsorship comes on the heels of Office Depot's new multi-year agreement with NASCAR to become the sport's first-ever Official Office Products Partner. Beginning with the Daytona 500 in February, Office Depot will be the primary sponsor of Roush Racing's #99 Office Depot Ford Taurus for a minimum of eight races in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and an associate sponsor for the remaining races in the season. The Office Depot paint scheme, unveiled today during the first day of testing at Daytona International Speedway, will be featured on the #99 Office Depot Ford Taurus for the Daytona, Darlington, Chicago, California, Atlanta, Homestead, Texas and Bristol races. "Office Depot is very excited about taking its relationship with NASCAR to the next level through our partnership with Roush Racing," said Chuck Rubin, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising/Marketing Officer for Office Depot. "Joining the NASCAR family and the championship Roush Racing team aligns our business with an exciting sport, a winning race team, and a talented young driver who will take care of business on the track."
"Office Depot's decision to join Roush Racing in 2005 will give NASCAR fans an opportunity to show their support for Carl Edwards and Roush Racing's No. 99 Ford Taurus in their office supply choices for their homes and offices," said Jack Roush, team owner. "All of Roush Racing is extremely excited about the future with Carl and Office Depot in the years ahead."
Over the last 11 years, Carl Edwards has raced his way into NASCAR history with two NASCAR-sanctioned track championships, three Rookie-of-the-Year honors, and 78 feature wins while racing on both dirt and pavement tracks across the country. In 2004, Edwards raced the No. 99 Superchips F-150 to three wins, nine top-five and 10 top-10 finishes while finishing fourth in the overall Craftsman Series point standings. Edwards also made his NEXTEL Cup debut in August at Michigan International Speedway finishing 10th in his first career Cup start. In his 12 starts following that, Edwards racked up one top-five and five top-10 finishes. His best effort in the Cup Series came at the fall Atlanta race when he qualified fourth, finished third and lead his first laps as a NEXTEL Cup competitor. In 2005 Edwards looks forward to racing the No. 99 Office Depot Ford into victory lane.
"I'm really excited to have Office Depot on board as a primary sponsor in 2005," Edwards said. "This No. 99 team has worked extremely hard over the last year and I think we have a team that is capable of winning. To have a sponsor like Office Depot on the car is a great honor for me. The company's support will help our team in our quest to win races and a Nextel Cup Championship."
Office Depot Is Taking Care of Business With New NASCAR Alliance. Just last week, Office Depot introduced its new multi-year agreement with NASCAR as the company's primary national sponsorship platform. The relationship with NASCAR is also a central component of Office Depot's new Taking Care of Business brand positioning and advertising campaign. Office Depot will link its entry into the 2005 NEXTEL series and its alliance with NASCAR through aggressive marketing efforts on the local and national level, leveraging the association with NASCAR to reach out to its core audience of business customers. Office Depot's NASCAR agreement includes category exclusivity in NASCAR's Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck series. Activation plans include a large-scale national promotion, advertising campaign, merchandising, signage and sales events. Further, Office Depot will utilize the proprietary tagline "Where NASCAR Stops for Office Products" in the company's more than 900 retail stores and online. In addition, Office Depot plans to launch a national advertising campaign featuring Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Office Depot Ford Taurus. The company will also support an upcoming NASCAR diversity initiative, as NASCAR is the fastest-growing sport among African-Americans and Hispanics, according to independent research.(Roush Racing PR/Site), more about Office Depot at officedepot.com, see an image of the car at the Roush Racing site or on my #99 Team Schemes page..(1-11-2005)

Office Depot and NASCAR UPDATE: Takin' Care of Business is back for a third stint as Office Depot Inc.'s advertising jingle. Starting today, the Delray Beach[FL]-based office supply giant will launch a series of radio and television ads geared toward business customers, who account for more than 80% of the company's sales. Takin' Care of Business is part of a new marketing strategy that also includes a promotional partnership with NASCAR. Office Depot in February will begin touting its multiyear NASCAR deal, which will be the company's primary national sponsorship platform in 2005. Sponsorship activities include NASCAR displays in Office Depot's 900 stores nationwide and advertising during NASCAR race telecasts on NBC, Fox and TNT. Office Depot plans to unveil a NASCAR Nextel Cup sponsorship later this month. A recent survey of fans found that nearly three-quarters consciously buy products because of a company's relationship with NASCAR and that 44% of those who shop at other office supply stores would switch to Office Depot because of its affiliation with NASCAR.(Palm Beach Post) Additionally, Office Depot plans to unveil a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team sponsorship later this month. The company will also support an upcoming NASCAR diversity initiative.(1-3-2005)
UPDATE: hearing Office Depot will be on a Roush Racing Ford, not sure which series, the #99 in Cup is still open.(1-6-2005)

2004 News

Roush plans to run the #99 for the full season: #99 Ford team owner, Jack Roush, says he is committed to running the #99 Ford and Carl Edwards for the full Nextel Cup schedule in 2005. Roush doesn't have a full-time sponsor for the team and is still looking and has half of a season worth of sponorship signed up for the car and says he can afford to run the full season.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(12-7-2004)

#99 Sponsorship Still Uncertain for 2005: According to Roush Racing president, Geoff Smith, the No. 99 Roush Racing Ford Taurus will likely once again carry a mosaic of sponsors during the 2005 season. Smith says that there could be up to four different sponsors on the Carl Edwards entry. Edwards was asked at Darlington what if he knew his 2005 plans, a question he answered with one word—drive.” “I don’t know if it’ll be Trucks, Busch or Cup,” Edwards added, “but whatever they want me to drive I’m going to drive it as hard as I can; and get the best result I can.” Smith agreed. “We’re going to run him hard,” said Smith with a grin. Smith is very pleased with the results Edwards is showing so far, and that was before he popped of his seventh place finish at Darlington this week. “He’s just so smooth and knows when to let and all hang out. He never fails to impress when he’s behind the wheel.” Smith did tell TFR that in 2006 he’d have a full sponsorship package for the #99.(Team Ford Racing)(11-18-2004)

Diageo Announces Relationship with NASCAR UPDATE: Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business, today announced one of the company's spirits brands would participate in NASCAR for the first time ever beginning with the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Earlier today, NASCAR announced spirits companies would be allowed to participate as team sponsors and that Diageo would lead the spirits category's entry into the sport. Diageo, which has a history in NASCAR with its flavored malt beverage brand Smirnoff ICE, will utilize its new sponsorship in NASCAR to continue to educate consumers about the importance of responsible drinking. Diageo's sponsorship, which will feature the Crown Royal brand, will be built around the company's existing relationship with Roush Racing, one of the premier racing teams in all of motorsports with over 280 wins and 30 championships. In 2003, Smirnoff ICE partnered with Roush Racing as an associate sponsor of the #17 car, driven by Matt Kenseth, which won the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. That associate level sponsorship has continued throughout the 2004 season. In addition to the Smirnoff ICE sponsorship in NASCAR, Diageo has a presence in motorsports with the Crown Royal International Race of Champions Series. The Crown Royal IROC Series, which is an invitational series matching 12 championship drivers from different disciplines of auto racing, was captured in 2004 by Matt Kenseth. For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com.(Alan Taylor Communications PR), doesn't say what team they will be with, but #97-Busch gets the Smirnoff Ice sponsorship.(11-11-2004)
UPDATE to the #99?: Shortly after NASCAR president Mike Helton announced that the sanctioning body was lifting its ban on sponsorships by hard-liquor distillers, Diageo announced that it would sponsor a Roush Racing car next season featuring its Crown Royal brand. The sponsorship likely will go to Roush's #99 Ford, which is driven by Carl Edwards. Crown Royal also sponsors the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.(Las Vegas Sun)(11-13-2004)

World Financial Group returns as Sponsor of the #99: Roush Racing announced that World Financial Group, Inc. (WFG) will sponsor Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Racing Ford once again this coming weekend at Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500. World Financial Group will appear as the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford for the second time in three weeks. In their first outing with the No. 99 team, Edwards and the #99 team gave WFG the ride of their life including a run for the win, never racing below sixth place in 325 laps. The #99 team's showing at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a successful outing for first time sponsor World Financial Group, one that the company is using to their advantage. To date Edwards has accrued one top-five and four top-10 finishes in the NEXTEL Cup series in just 12 starts. World Financial Group, Inc. (WFG) is an independent marketing company whose affiliates offer life insurance and a broad array of financial products and services. Through its thousands of independent associates in the United States and Canada, World Financial Group strives to help individuals and families who are often overlooked by the financial services industry to plan for their financial futures and work toward their goals no matter what their income. For more information on World Financial Group log on to www.worldfinancialgroup.com.(Roush Racing PR)(11-9-2004)

Roush to be honored in his hometown: Adams County [Ohio] native Jack Roush will again be honored at his hometown of Manchester, OH on Sunday, Oct. 17. A full day of activities are being planned with a cruise-in, auto parade, food, games, raffles and split the pot. All proceeds will benefit the Manchester Christmas Light Fund. The events start at noon with a home-cooked meal with Roush at the community building. Also at noon, a fall festival honoring Jack will start at the River Barn on U.S. 52 where all the activities of the day will be held. At that time, there will be a gospel lunch, a cruise-in and games for the children. Line-up for the automobile parade, with Roush as Grand Marshall, is at 1 p.m. at Brown Hill Road. The parade will proceed down Jack Roush Way, west on U.S. 52 to the Riverbarn.
The first annual Jack Roush Car Show will be held at the Riverbarn beginning at 8 a.m. with judging at 10:30 a.m. and trophies awarded at 11:15 a.m. Free dash plaques will be awarded to all show cars. Entry fee is $10.
After the grand parade, Roush will host an autograph signing until 4 p.m. An auction, featuring many special race items, will begin at 3 p.m., at which time the winners of the car show will be announced as well as raffle winners.(People's Defender)(10-16-2004)

NASCAR to Allow Hard Liquior Sponsors? UPDATE 2: With both NBC and Fox having apparently approved hard-liquor sponsorship of a Nextel Cup car, the ball is in NASCAR's court in the debate over whether to allow Diageo, makers of Crown Royal and other alcoholic beverages, to sponsor a car on the Nextel Cup tour next season, and sources say NASCAR has decided to allow the company to sponsor a Cup car. NASCAR vetoed Jack Roush's [#99] sponsorship plans earlier this season. For much of the year the debate has been in the network offices of Fox and NBC, where executives have been against allowing TV ads for products like Crown Royal, even while allowing their cable subsidiaries to accept such ads. The Fox Speed channel is carrying the Crown Royal-sponsored IROC series. But ABC's decision to allow Jim Beam sponsorship during the Indianapolis 500 apparently broke the long-time network ban, and Fox and NBC are willing to let Nextel Cup teams carry such sponsorships too - once NASCAR executives work out their own details - according to sources.(Winston Salem Journal)
AND rumors are circulating that if NASCAR allows hard liquior as a sponsor in the Cup Series, they may raise the minimum age requirement to 21. If so, would that stop Kyle Busch's possible move to the Cup Series in 2005? Brian Vickers couldn't race in the Crown Royal IROC Series and the Bud Pole stickers on the #25 [and Busch's #84 Cup car] says 'Pole Awards' with an Anheuser-Busch logo, NOT "Budweiser Pole Award".(9-18-2004)
UPDATE: NASCAR has considered changing the minimum age to compete in the Nextel Cup Series to 21, but NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter said he "doesn't know of any plan to do that." Speculation is that the change could come if NASCAR allows hard liquor companies to sponsor teams.(NASCAR Scene Print Edition)(9-25-2004)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR is set to rescind its ban on hard-liquor sponsorships beginning next season, ThatsRacin.com has learned. The move should bring an influx of new sponsorship money into the sport. Several Nextel Cup teams – Roush Racing and Richard Childress Racing among them – are primed to sign sponsorship deals with hard-liquor companies, including Diageo and Jack Daniels [Jayski says YES!], sources said. On Friday, NASCAR officials insisted they had not made a final decision. "We are currently evaluating the policy we have in place regarding liquor sponsors but no official decision has been made at this time in regard to any changes," NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said. NASCAR has allowed beer companies to sponsor cars and its Busch series has been sponsored by Anheuser-Busch since 1982. In recent years also has allowed hard liquor companies to advertise their malt beverage products. For instance, Smirnoff vodka is not allowed, but Smirnoff Ice is allowed as an associate sponsor on Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford. Several other racing series already allow hard liquor advertising. Crown Royal began sponsoring the International Race of Champions series this season. NASCAR will likely provide several guidelines overseeing the marketing of the hard liquor sponsorships, but is not expected to alter its 18-year-old minimum age requirement for its three national series – Craftsman Trucks, Busch and Cup, sources said.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-15-2004)

Co-Sponsors for the #99 at Lowe's: Roush Racing announced today that Canteen Vending, in association with long-time Roush Racing partner Kraft Foods, will sponsor Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Racing Ford at the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Canteen Vending and Kraft's Maxwell House brand will appear as co-primary sponsors on the #99 Ford while several other Kraft brands will appear as associates. Edwards has completed two of three double duty weekends so far. Two weeks ago he traveled between Las Vegas, NV and Dover, DE and last week traveled between Fontana, CA and Talladega, AL. During the Charlotte race weekend Edwards will also be racing the #99 Truck in Texas. Edwards will practice and qualify the #99 Canteen Vending Ford on Thursday then fly to Texas to practice and qualify the truck Friday. Veteran driver Dave Blaney will assume driving duties for both practice sessions Friday at Charlotte in the #99 Ford. Edwards will then race the #99 Superchips F-150 early Saturday afternoon returning to Charlotte for Saturday night's 500-mile race. Blaney will be on standby Saturday night should there be any problems with Edwards travel schedule. In addition to their sponsorship of Edwards and the #99 Ford, Canteen has also begun a partnership with NASCAR to market to NASCAR fans who show exceptional loyalty to racing sponsors. CEO, Mike Kiser, states, “Our membership in NASCAR’s family of sponsors furthers our uniqueness in the marketplace and allows us to deliver a delicious and entertaining experience to our customers. It also brings a new level of pride to our associates, especially our route and technical crew who perform behind the wheel everyday delivering Canteen’s winning vending services.” Canteen Vending is a member of Compass Group. Compass Group North America employs 117,000 associates and has annual revenue of $6 billion. UK-based Compass Group PLC reports revenue of $19 billion and is recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as the world’s 9th largest employer, with over 420,000 associates in 96 countries around the world.(Roush Racing PR)(10-12-2004)

Next win for Roush is #300: Roush Racing is going after its 300th victory this weekend in Kansas City. Founded in 1984, Roush Racing has 299 victories in NASCAR’s NEXTEL Cup Series, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and road course events (IMSA, SCCA)(Roush Racing PR)(10-6-2004)

Bad Rookie: Rookie Carl Edwards was admonished by his team on the radio for going four-wide early in Saturday's first practice session. Edwards apologized. He scraped the wall during the second practice session.(Roanoke Times)(10-3-2004)

Double Duty for Edwards..some jet settin', Blaney to qualify the #99: Carl Edwards will pull double duty this weekend. He will practice and qualify his #99 Superchips truck on Friday in California, fly to Talladega that evening for Saturday morning's drafting practice in the Nextel Cup Series, then fly back to California for the race on Saturday night. He will depart for Talladega again immediately after the truck race. Carl Edwards on California: "I'm excited for the race. I think running the Cup race there earlier this month got me a lot of experience that is really going to pay off in the truck. It's going to be fast racing under the lights since it's a temperature-sensitive race track. There will be more grip so it will be harder on the trucks. It will be a real test on the engines and the set-ups. It will be another weekend with a lot of travel. I'll be going back and forth between California and Talladega. The truck is still my priority. We may have lost a few points at Las Vegas last week, but this Superchips team is still a big factor in the championship. We still have six races left to make up the 125-point deficit." Dave Blaney will practice and qualify the #99 Roush Racing Ford on Friday. Per NASCAR rules, Edwards will start at the back of the field for Sunday's race since Blaney will qualify the car. - This will be the first time Edwards has raced at Talladega Superspeedway however; Edwards did test at the track last week in the #17 DeWalt Ford.(Roush Racing PR)(9-28-2004)

Sponsor for Edwards at Atlanta:
Roush Racing announced that World Financial Group, Inc. (WFG) will sponsor Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Racing Ford at the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October. World Financial Group will appear as the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford for the Halloween race weekend. This will be the first time World Financial Group has appeared as a primary sponsor on a NEXTEL Cup car. The #99 team is planning to test at Atlanta Motor Speedway in preparation for the Atlanta race weekend. Earlier this year Edwards raced the #99 Superchips F-150 to a seventh place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway after qualifying third. With three top-10 finishes in just six NEXTEL Cup starts, Edwards looks to be on the fast track to chalking up another strong finish at one of the circuit's fastest tracks. About World Financial Group, Inc.(Roush Racing PR)(9-28-2004)

Blaney at Dover: Dave Blaney is scheduled to drive Carl Edwards' #99 car in both practice sessions today as Edwards flies to Las Vegas to compete in tonight's Craftsman Truck race. Edwards is scheduled to return to Dover for Sunday's Cup race. He's making the cross-country trip because he is third in the truck series standings, 39 points behind series leader Bobby Hamilton.(Roanoke Times)(9-25-2004)

Blaney to drive the #99 in 3 races UPDATE 2 now a stand-by: Roush Racing announced today that Dave Blaney will drive the #99 Roush Racing Ford in the upcoming Dover, Talladega and Charlotte NEXTEL Cup races due to scheduling conflicts with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Meanwhile, Carl Edwards will pilot the #99 Superchips F-150 at Las Vegas, Fontana and Texas in his quest to win the Truck Series Championship. "I am honored to drive for Roush Racing,” said Blaney. “Roush Racing is a high visibility race team and has had success at all types of tracks. I will do my best to run up front at all three of these races for Roush Racing and the #99 team. I’m hopeful that by doing this, other car owners will take note and see that I am available to drive for them.”
Of the 10 remaining NEXTEL Cup races Edwards will race the other seven. However, just 76 points out of first, his commitment to winning a Truck Championship remains strong. “I would love to be able to drive both the #99 Truck and #99 Cup car those three weekends,” said Edwards. “However, I need to also focus on winning the Truck Series Championship with the #99 Superchips team and right now that has to be the priority. We weighed all our options and looked at both schedules and the travel demands placed on me were a lot. Dave is a great race car driver and I know he’ll do a good job in the #99 Ford in my absence for those three races.” Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said, "This is a good addition to the #99 team, it will keep the team working and help progress the program"(Roush Racing PR)
UPDATE: not sure what is up but the Press Release has been retracted by Roush Racing, but I don't like to remove stuff once it is posted, so this is the UPDATE.(9-16-2004)
UPDATE 2: After some initial confusion, it appears Carl Edwards will attempt to run the remainder of the Nextel Cup season in Roush Racing's #99 Ford. A statement released late Thursday, then retracted, by Roush Racing said driver Dave Blaney would drive the No. 99 in three of the races. However, Roush officials said Friday that instead Blaney would serve as a backup driver in those races, in case Edwards had conflicts with practice or the races. Edwards' remaining Craftsman Truck Series schedule has conflicts with Cup weekends at Dover, Del.; Talladega, Ala.; and Charlotte. Edwards is expected to move full-time to Cup in 2005. Blaney has driven a limited Cup schedule this season with several teams including [#23] Bill Davis Racing and [#30] Richard Childress Racing.(ThatsRacin.com)(9-17-2004)

Biffle to have different sponsor(s) in 2005? UPDATE: #16-Greg Biffle's Ford, which carries sponsorship from the National Guard and Subway, will have 'things' different next year [2005], some of the changes could be in form of associates. Speculation has the National Guard not returning. Some of Biffle's sponsors may migrate over to the #99 and Carl Edwards.(Last Weeks NASCAR Scene)(9-1-2004)
AND - Crown Royal allowed to sponsor #99 in 2005? Jack Roush will likely get that $15 million a year Crown Royal sponsorship for [#99] Carl Edwards, according to NASCAR sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-1-2004)
UPDATE: Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, says he expects National Guard to return to Greg Biffle's #16 team and that he remains hopeful that the team can sign a sponsorship deal with Diageo, which manufactures several brands of hard liquor. Roush Racing still has no sponsor for Carl Edwards' #99 Cup team. NASCAR vetoed the Diageo deal earlier this year because of a policy of not permitting hard liquor advertising. Smith says he's continuing to talk to NASCAR about the sponsorship possibility for a hard liquor brand.(Roanoke Times)(9-11-2004)

#99 Sponsor at California? and 2005? UPDATE 3: Shop Rat Associates will be sponsoring Carl Edward's #99 Ford in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Pop Secret 500 on September 5, 2004 at California Speedway.(Shop Rat Site)(8-20-2004)
UPDATE: You will soon be able to become a member of the Shop Rat Tough Race Team by signing up online. If [Shop Rat] can build a strong Shop Rat member base, it is [Shop Rat's] goal to have Team Shop Rat sponsor an entire race season, and, for each race, to give two members and a guest the opportunity to become honorary sponsors.(Shop Rat Site), see an image of the car on my #99 Team Paint Scheme page.
UPDATE 2: Carl Edwards will compete for the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship in a fully sponsored Roush Racing car, team president Geoff Smith said Friday at Michigan International Speedway. Smith declined to name the company. For 14 of 23 races in 2004, the No. 99 has had 10 different sponsors' decals on it. Nine times it has been sponsorless. There is no question the car will compete in the final 14 Cup races, Smith said.(NASCAR.com)(8-21-2004)
UPDATE 3: Roush Racing announced that Shop Rat Associates will sponsor the #99 Roush Racing Ford and rookie Carl Edwards Labor Day Weekend at California Speedway for the Pop Secret 500. The sponsorship is a one race deal that will be used to promote the new Shop Rat Foundation, a non-profit organization established this year. The primary goal of Shop Rat Associates is to focus attention on the past and future generations of skilled professionals. Chris Salow, CEO of Shop Rat Associates, has created a company that will recognize and encourage creative and innovative thinking among current and future "shop rats". "It's time to give 'shop rats' the honor and respect they deserve by recognizing the contributions they have made to our country." Salow continued, "The Pop Secret 500 is the first of many races and opportunities Shop Rat Associates will provide its members. Together Shop Rats can join together and create a unified voice to promote American workers and support a foundation that promotes 'shop rats' of all ages."(Roush Racing PR)(8-25-2004)

Roundup to sponsor the #99 at Bristol: Roush Racing announced that Roundup FastAct weed and grass control, will team up once again with Roush Racing when they sponsor rookie Carl Edwards and the #99 Roush Racing Ford. Roundup will appear as the primary sponsor on the car this weekend under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway marking the sixth race in 2004 that Roundup has sponsored the team. Both Roundup and Scotts appeared on the #99 Roush Racing Ford earlier this year at Talladega, California, Richmond and Lowe's Motor Speedway. It was a successful test run for the brands that ultimately led them to sponsor the #99 Ford once again at Bristol. For more information on Roundup or any of the Scotts products visit www.roundup.com, or www.scotts.com.(Roush Racing PR)(8-25-2004)

Roush helps the Boy Scouts: Multi-team owner, Jack Roush, is the latest in a long line of NASCAR dignitaries to grace the 14th annual MIS/NASCAR Boy Scout Benefit dinner that raises funds for the Great Sauk Trail of the Boy Scouts. The Great Sauk Trail covers six counties, Jackson [MI] included, and has benefited to the tune of $994,000 in the 13 previous events at MIS. The events raise much of the money through an auction of items donated by NASCAR and other organizations and auctioned off by racing legend Benny Parsons. Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Roger Penske have also been featured guests at the event, which typically attracts a number of NASCAR drivers. The benefit dinner also will contribute funds to Kyle and Pattie Petty Victory Junction Gang Camp, and the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports. But the big winners of the night were the Boy Scouts, especially the two Eagle Scouts who were awarded $10,000 scholarships. Sixteen high school graduates have been awarded scholarships since 1997, and Christopher Zavicar of Onsted and Mark Spencer of Ypsilanti were the latest recipients.(Jackson Citizen Patriot)(8-21-2004)

Edwards tests the #99 at Kentucky: Carl Edwards is testing the #99 Roush Racing Ford at the Kentucky Speedway today in prepartation of his first Nextel Cup start at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. The #99 seat opened last week when driver Jeff Burton ended a nine-year relationship with Roush Racing. Burton joined Richard Childress Racing where he will pilot the #30 AOL Chevrolet.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(8-17-2004)
UPDATE: Carl Edwards frequently displayed a smile at Kentucky Speedway Tuesday during his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series (NNCS) test. The 24-year-old manned the controls of the #99 Roush Racing Ford for the first time in preparation for his NNCS debut at Michigan International Speedway on August 22. Edwards takes over for Jeff Burton, who terminated a nine-year relationship with Roush Racing last week when he joined the #30 AOL Chevrolet NEXTEL Cup team fielded by Richard Childress Racing. Edwards will complete the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) schedule in his #99 Superchips Ford and compete in at least 10 of the remaining 13 NEXTEL Cup Series races following Michigan. Edwards was not certain about his plans for conflicting NNCS races on September 26 at Dover International Speedway, October 3 at Talladega Superspeedway, and October 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"Truck is the primary focus," Edwards said. "There are three races that conflict and we'll run the truck for those races. I don't know what we'll do with the Cup schedule at that point." Edwards, who was originally chosen to replace Mark Martin in the #6 Roush Ford upon retirement [after 2005?], first learned of the NNCS move last Tuesday. Edwards noticed a few subtleties between his truck and Cup car while turning his initial NNCS laps on the track where he captured his first NCTS win in 2003. "Until today, I didn't know what to think," Edwards said. "I hadn't really driven one of these (Cup car). After driving it a little bit, I think it's going to be awesome. It feels a lot like the truck. There are little differences in the aerodynamic stuff. The Cup car is a little faster because it’s more streamlined. You have to slow it down a little more because it has less down force than a truck. It's a little different, but it's all real close. That’s fortunate for me.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(8-18-2004)

Red Sox Owner to team up with Roush and the #99?: Red Sox owner John Henry is a huge NASCAR fan and would relish the opportunity to go racing for the Nextel Cup. He isn't known for doing anything halfway, and even if his foray into racing starts as a sponsorship deal on a car, his long-term goal appears to be owning a team. Henry's involvement with Roush could be one reason behind Jeff Burton's departure from the #99 Ford, which has been without a full-time sponsor since the season started. It has been 98 races since Burton, 37, last won. Bringing in a young, gregarious talent would marry well with a baseball sponsorship, and Carl Edwards, 25, certainly fits. Edwards, currently fourth in points with two victories this season in the Craftsman Truck Series, will make his Cup debut in the #99 Sunday at Michigan.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(8-16-2004)

Burton and RCR? UPDATE 2 OUT and to RCR: The Jeff Burton to Richard Childress Racing rumor has cropped up again, with Burton supposedly signing with RCR on Tuesday, however, sources tell me there is nothing to report on this and that Burton and the #99 team remain committed to finding a sponsor and one could come as soon as Bristol.(8-11-2004)
UPDATE: this rumor has been heating up all day, nothing confirmed, but hearing Burton has left the #99 team and said his goodbyes and that Roush CTS driver, Carl Edwards, would be in the #99 Ford, not if that would be at Watkins Glen or the following week, or what Roush would do about the #99 Truck Team IF this is true.
UPDATE 2 - Burton OUT: Jeff Burton will drive his final race in the #99 Fords owned by Roush Racing this weekend at Watkins Glen International, ThatsRacin.com has learned. An official announcement could come as early as later this afternoon. Burton, 37, will be replaced in that car by Carl Edwards, who has been driving for a Jack Roush-owned team on the NASCAR Truck Series, beginning with next weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway. Burton's future could very well lie with Richard Childress Racing. Last year, with sponsorship uncertainty clouding the future of the #99 team, Burton talked with Childress about driving the #30 Chevrolets sponsored by America Online. Just before the NASCAR awards banquet in New York, however, Burton was assured by Roush officials that the #99 team would run a complete Cup schedule in 2005. So Burton remained with the team for which he has driven since 1996 and won 17 Nextel Cup events. Burton's car has had sponsors on the car for several races this year, but has not been able to find a sponsor for the entire season. A potential long-term deal with a company that makes Crown Royal whiskey was nixed by NASCAR in late June.(ThatsRacin.com)
BURTON TO RCR: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has signed Jeff Burton to a multi-year agreement to drive its #30 America Online Chevrolet beginning at next week's GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway. "Jeff will bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to the America Online team and all of RCR," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "I know back in 1998 and 1999, Dale Earnhardt talked to Jeff quite a bit about driving the #3 car when he retired. Then Kevin [Harvick] came along and the plan shifted toward him but Jeff was one of the few people we kept an eye on to be in our organization. I've really watched Jeff's talent and his ability to race for a championship," added Childress. "He is a driver who knows how to get the job done and we're going to give him what it takes to be a championship contender." Childress and Burton will hold a media conference in the Watkins Glen International infield media center Friday, Aug. 13, at 10:00am/et.
"I have always had the utmost respect for Richard Childress, and we're both dedicated to winning and running up front every week," said Burton. "This opportunity gives me a fresh start with a proven organization that is committed to success both on and off the track. I look forward to getting back into Victory Lane with RCR and I will work extremely hard to carry on the winning tradition. Since 1996, I have enjoyed some of the greatest days of my life with the #99 Roush Racing team," continued Burton. "I will forever be grateful to Jack Roush, my driving teammates and my crew. I wish only the best for the entire organization."(RCR PR)(8-12-2004)
EDWARDS to Cup, still run CTS: Roush Racing announced today that Carl Edwards, age 24, will enter the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition as the driver of the #99 Roush Racing Ford for the remainder of the 2004 season commencing in Michigan at the GFS Marketplace 400 on Sunday, August 22. Edwards, currently third in the Craftsman Truck Series championship standings, will continue to drive the #99 Superchips F-150 in the remaining Truck Series races.(Roush Racing PR), no word if Edward's will run for 2004 Rookie of the Year honors.(8-12-2004)

#99 / Roush still looking for a sponsor: Jeff Burton has been in a funky mood since NASCAR's Mike Helton rejected a $15 million a year team sponsorship offer from Crown Royal three weeks ago - a sponsorship package that NASCAR's sister company, the International Speedway Corp., quickly picked up without batting an eye about a conflict of interest. But car owner Jack Roush says he has some new leads for sponsorship for Burton's team. "We've got a number of new, potentially positive discussions going on," Roush said. "I'm very hopeful based on some news I got today that we'll have full sponsorship, at the kind of numbers we're looking for, for next year for Jeff's car. I'm very hopeful that we'll get the help we need to help us have a reasonable finish with it this year. We have the resources to stay with the program until we decide that there is no prospect for sponsorship for it, and it's very much alive today."(Winston Salem Journal)(7-27-2004)

Comcast to sponsor the #99 at Chicago: Roush Racing announced that Comcast will be the primary sponsor for Jeff Burton and the #99 Roush Racing Ford at the upcoming NEXTEL Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable [and own Jayski Fave - NHL Philadelphia Flyers] is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. Operating in 17 of the United States' 20 largest metropolitan areas, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, digital cable and high-speed Internet services, Comcast Cable is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 55,000 employees, in six divisions, serve more than 21 million customers. Comcast Cable serves more than 1.7 million customers in the Greater Chicago Region. Comcast, whose regional officies are located in Schaumburg, IL, employees more than 4,000 people in Illinois and NW Indiana.(Roush Racing PR)(7-7-2004)

Hmmmm..what gives? NASCAR vetoed car owner Jack Roush's multi-million-dollar sponsorship deal with Crown Royal [actually parent company Diageo ...see below for the past info], citing worries about hard-liquor sponsors. But NASCAR's concerns couldn't be too serious, because its sister company, the International Speedway Corp., just signed Crown Royal to a lucrative sponsorship as "the official whiskey of Daytona International Speedway."(Winston Salem Journal) and see a full article at ThatsRacin.com: Crown Royal is OK for ISC, but ....(7-3-2004)

New advertisor at Daytona International Speedway
would look good on the #99 car
image sent to me by a few readers, from autoracing1.com

Still Waiting - #99 Sponsor...would be Diageo UPDATE 2 Officially NO: Car owner Jack Roush and driver Jeff Burton continue to wait on NASCAR to decide whether it will allow the full-time sponsorship from Diageo. That company owns many of the premium liquor brands [including Bailey's, Guinness, Smirnoff, Crown Royal, Captain Morgan, Johnny Walker, Seagrams] in the world and, despite coveting the exposure from two beer companies - and the sponsorship from Busch for one of its racing series - the racing organization still has problems with hard liquor being a sponsor in the sport. Roush said the sponsorship is ready to sign - NASCAR permitting.(Augusta Chronicle).(6-14-2004)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials are not likely to allow Roush Racing to have a hard-liquor company sponsor Jeff Burton's car, although series officials are examining the issue. Series officials have not allowed sponsorship from a hard-liquor product for several years. If the sponsor is not allowed, Roush Racing will have to find a new sponsor for Burton, who has run all season without a full-time sponsor. "Our scenarios about getting through this season are tempered completely by whether or not we've got someone signed up for next season. That makes a big difference," said Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing.(Roanoke Times)(6-21-2004)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR has rejected Roush Racing's bid to sign a hard liquor company as primary sponsor for Jeff Burton's #99 Ford. Though beer and malt liquor sponsors are allowed by NASCAR, spirits advertising is not permitted at any of its events or as team sponsors. Roush had negotiated a deal with British liquor giant Diageo, but it was contingent on NASCAR changing its policy that began in the days when many counties in the South were dry. "Although we understand the sponsorship situation with the #99 entry, it is very unlikely at this time that we would change such a long-standing policy for this instance," NASCAR president Mike Helton told The Associated Press on Friday. However, he said the sanctioning organization will continue internal discussions about the hard liquor ban. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the decision. "We've been working together with them to assess all the historical and current reasons why that policy exists and see if there were any reasons why it should be revised," Smith said. "My personal opinion is that 95 percent of their objection was just that - history." A decision by TV networks years ago to also ban hard liquor ads reinforced NASCAR's policy even as fewer counties remained dry. But with the growth of cable, more TV channels are starting to air such ads. NASCAR's position, however, remains unchanged. Smith said he believes the general public does not make a distinction between beer and distilled spirits. He said the team's relationship will continue with Diageo, whose Smirnoff Ice malt beverage sponsors Roush driver Matt Kenseth. Diageo manufacturers a number of brands of hard liquor, including Johnnie Walker, J&B and Jose Cuervo. Jim Beam sponsors a car in the IRL and Crown Royal is the series sponsor for IROC, which includes NASCAR drivers. Burton's entry, which had a series of sponsorships for anywhere from one to three races this season, continues looking for someone to pay the bills. When asked if the team is committed to running Burton the rest of the season even without a sponsor, Smith shrugged. "The plan is for him to run the entire schedule, but we have to find some money somewhere, soon," Smith said.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(6-26-2004)

Special Coca Cola Schemes at the Pepsi 400 UPDATE: interesting, hearing that eight drivers will run special Coca-Cola C2 [never flavor of coke, less sugar or something] schemes at Daytona in the July 3rd, 'Pepsi 400'. The drivers? #29-Harvick, #1-Andretti, #91-Elliott, #16-Biffle, #97-Busch, #99-Burton, #21-Rudd and #20-Stewart. See images of the #29 and #1 on my 2004 Cup Schemes page.(6-4-2004)
ADDED: #16, #21, #97 and #99 Coca-Cola C2 to my 2004 Cup Schemes page.(6-5-2004)
UPDATE: Bill Elliott has become a big player in the cola wars that will be fought at Daytona International Speedway next month. The July 3 Nextel Cup race is sponsored by Pepsi, but Atlanta-based Coca-Cola has chosen the event for a huge promotion of its new mid-calorie, reduced-carb beverage, Coca-Cola C2. Elliott, who hasn't raced in Cup since April 4 at Texas, will drive a Coke-sponsored #98 Dodge [not sure how this effects the #98 Ford team and who would get to use the number, they are listed at #198 for owners, and last I heard, #98 is held by Yates, assume Elliott would be owner #298]. Because his usual car owner Ray Evernham has a deal with Pepsi, Elliott will have to be his own car owner. He will lease the car from Evernham, and after a recent test at Daytona is confident of a strong run. "I'm looking forward to this," Elliott said Wednesday. "Coke's from Georgia and so am I, so for me this is a really neat deal." Seven other drivers will be carrying the C2 colors at Daytona, including #1-John Andretti, who like Elliott, is running a limited schedule this season. Elliott's return as a car owner actually will come this weekend at Michigan when he'll field an ARCA car for his dirt racing buddy, Ray Cook. "Ray's a good young driver and he's worked awfully hard at racing," Elliott said. "I'm just trying to open some doors for him and help him get some credibility."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and see the #20 Home Depot/Coca-Cola image on my #20 Team Paint Scheme page.(6-17-2004)

#99 to run Duke Children's Hospital paint scheme: Roush Racing announced that Jeff Burton's #99 Roush Racing Ford will sport the Duke Children's Hospital paint scheme, originally set to run in Talladega, this week at Pocono. Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center will be carried on the car at the 500 mile race Sunday, June 13. Burton's association with the hospital began years ago after an associate sponsor invited him to visit kids admitted to the hospital. Since that time, Burton has continued his support through fundraising events, appearances, monetary donations, time and of course most importantly, visits to the hospital with his wife Kim who has sat on the hospital board for the last four years. Through their efforts the Burtons have raised nearly $900,000 for the hospital to date. Duke Children's provides $48 million in un-reimbursed charity care each year. Funds also support cutting-edge research, world-class advocacy and support programs for families and their sick children, top-notch clinical care and medical education to ensure future generations receive the most advanced medical care available. Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center, located in Durham, N.C., is a 148 bed hospital located on the fifth floor of Duke Hospital and includes an intensive care nursery, a transitional care nursery, a pediatric intensive care unit and a newborn nursery. For more information visit www.dukechildrens.org.(Roush Racing PR), see an image of the car on my #99 Team Paint Scheme page. (6-8-2004)

#99 Seeking Sponsor Approval UPDATE 3: Roush Racing is seeking NASCAR's approval for a liquor company to sponsor its #99 Ford for Jeff Burton, this week's issue of NASCAR Scene reports. NASCAR officials said earlier this season that the sanctioning body had no intention of changing its policies prohibiting sponsorship from hard liquor distillers, but Roush President Geoff Smith says the proposed sponsorship has been submitted. "They've only given an indication that they are reviewing [the policy against hard liquor sponsorships]," Smith said. The story does not name the proposed sponsor for the team.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)[Jayski hopes it is Jack Daniels](6-4-2004)
UPDATE: Roush Racing reportedly is trying to win approval from NASCAR to secure a hard-liquor company to sponsor South Boston's Jeff Burton, whose #99 Ford has been competing without logos all season [actually has had some one-off deals and Round-Up for a few races]. NASCAR has a long-standing policy against allowing alcohol sponsorships involving distilled spirits, but President Mike Helton said changes were being considered. "It's a complicated process," Helton said. "We have a policy we've adhered to and said time and time before that the answer is, 'No.' It's not as simple as saying, 'It's OK,' this time. Why wasn't it OK before and what kind of ripple effect do you create to all the people you said, 'No,' to before? But in fairness to industry, we'll address our stances on sponsorships that in the past we haven't allowed."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(6-5-2004)
UPDATE 2: Roush Racing president, Geoff Smith, told www.teamfordracing.com that a potential sponsorship package for Jeff Burton’s #99 has been sitting in limbo for quite some time. At issue — the offer comes from a hard alcohol company. NASCAR has a long-standing prohibition regarding hard liquor company sponsorship, which NASCAR believes violates the family atmosphere of an event. There have been cracks in that position through the course of time, with Roush Racing’s Smirnoff Ice product making it to the approved list after successful argument that the product is on par with beer. Hard alcohol products, as a group, had been banned from television for years, but a change in that position earlier this year opened the doors for liquor ads on TV. Seeing an opening the International Race Of Champions Series, with tactile approval from NASCAR, inked a deal with Crown Royal as their series sponsor. NASCAR indicated in early April that it was reviewing its policy on hard liquor, but no decision has been forthcoming since those statements were made at Texas Motor Speedway. General objection to alcohol advertising was reported in a recent Wall Street Journal article, in which officials from Anheuser-Busch noted, “a drink is not a drink”, working to maintain their marketplace share. Anheuser-Busch is not only one of the sport’s biggest advertisers, but also one of the biggest over-all spenders of advertising dollars; and listed 38th in the 2003 Ad Age top-100 advertisers. “We secured a commitment in late February for [liquor] sponsorship and asked NASCAR if it would review its prohibition,” Smith told TFR. Smith went on to say that they’ve been working with NASCAR to see if a resolution can be worked out, but so far have not received clearance for the sponsorship.(Team Ford Racing)(6-6-2004)
UPDATE 3: Team owner Jack Roush said after the race that he has a sponsor immediately ready to sign a deal to sponsor Burton's #99 team, which has run unsponsored most of the year. That sponsor is for a hard liquor product, however, but NASCAR has not allowed sponsorship in that product category. Roush said he expects to hear as soon as this week if NASCAR will change that policy.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-7-2004)

Ford Pushes Dodge; Burton disagrees: After his planned pit stop went awry when he spun on pit road, #12-Ryan Newman ran his tank dry with the extra mile he had to go to come back around for gas. He received some unexpected help from Ricky Rudd, who pushed him most of the way around with his #21 Ford. Once on pit road, one of Newman’s Penske Racing teammates, Brendan Gaughan, provided similar assistance. Driver #99-Jeff Burton, who like Rudd drives a Ford, criticized Rudd for assisting Newman, who drives a Dodge. Said Rudd: "He was out of gas. Our spotter said to push him. I didn’t think about it."(ThatsRacin.com)...kudos to Rudd and the spotter!(6-7-2004)

Round-Up on the #99 at the Coca-Cola 600: The #99 Ford of Jeff Burton will carry the Roundup logo once again for the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. This will be Roundup's fifth race with Burton and the # 99 Roush Racing team. Burton, a two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner, is ecstatic to continue the partnership with Roundup. "We're excited to have Roundup on the No. 99 Ford this coming weekend." Burton continued, "Roundup has been a great sponsor and we've had a lot of fun working with them over the last several weeks. We're hoping to go out and give them a good run this Sunday at the Coke 600."(Roush Racing PR)(5-25-2004)

#99 Sponsor? NASCAR marketing chiefs were entertaining potential sponsors last weekend and reportedly took tours of the No. 99 Roush Racing team facility. Jeff Burton has continued a full-time campaign without a title sponsor.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-24-2004)

Roush to buy out Yates? Garage sources have told Sporting News insider Lee Spencer that Roush Racing has offered to purchase Robert Yates Racing, expanding their engine partnership to team ownership in an effort to pool Ford's Nextel Cup resources. The Yates camp says the rumors are rubbish.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-11-2004)

Interesting Stat: Sunday's Mother's Day break was one of only four such weekends from Feb. 12 to Nov. 21 this season. #99-Jeff Burton seems to make the most of the time off. In the 24 races held following weekends off since 1999, he has four victories. #17-Matt Kenseth and #2-Rusty Wallace have three wins each.(Delaware News Journal)(5-10-2004)

#99 Team gets a 4-race sponsor: Roush Racing announced today that Roundup FastAct* weed and grass control, will team up with the #99 Roush Racing Ford of Jeff Burton for the next four races. Roundup will appear as the primary sponsor on the car this weekend at Talladega and the next three races at California, Richmond and the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Parent company, Scotts will also appear as an associate sponsor for all four races. "This is a great opportunity for our race team and I'm excited about our new partnership with Roundup and Scotts," said Burton. "I've used Scotts products, including Roundup, in my yard for as long as I can remember and I'm looking forward to growing our relationship with both Roundup and Scotts over the next four races." Vito Boscaino, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Scotts echoed Burton's excitement. "This partnership between Roush Racing and Roundup makes perfect sense." Boscaino continued, "Both are leaders in their industry and have successful track records. We've been exploring opportunities in NASCAR for sometime now and are looking forward to this trial run with one of NASCAR's most popular drivers." The Scotts brand is the exclusive worldwide marketing agent for the consumer lawn and garden Roundup brand, owned by Monsanto. For more than 130 years, The Scotts Company has been the world's leader in do-it-yourself lawn and garden consumer products. The family of brands, including Scotts, Roundup, Miracle-Gro and Ortho, give beginning and expert gardeners all they need to create thick, green lawns, beautiful outdoor and indoor gardens, and delicious vegetables and fruits, as well as to keep their homes safe and sound from pests. For more information on Roundup or any of the Scotts products visit www.roundup.com, or www.scotts.com or call 800-246-7219 or 800-843-8873.
AND The Duke Children's Hospital paint scheme has been postponed however; the #99 Roundup Ford will carry the Duke Children's Hospital logo on the deck lid for this weekend's race at Talladega. For more information on Duke Children's Hospital log onto www.dukechildrens.org.(Roush Racing PR)(4-23-2004)

'Duke Kid' to be in Jeff Burton's Pits at 'Dega: Jeff Burton will have some "miraculous" assistance this weekend when he competes at Talladega Superspeedway in his #99 Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center Ford. Mason Lindley, a five-year-old from Burlington, NC, who has battled against all odds in clinging to life, will be in Burton's pit during the race. Mason's amazing story is one that shows the face of courage and the truest champion. Burton, who, along with his wife Kim, has been a long-time supporter of Duke Children's Hospital and is eager to get the message out to people about Mason and Duke Children's. "Mason is simply incredible," said Burton," a 17-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series winner. "Once fans learn of his battle for life, it will touch each and everyone of them. It is one of many heart-felt stories that need to be told. Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center is truly remarkable. Our hope is that we can help raise awareness and funding for this worthwhile cause." Burton's association with Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center began years ago after an associate sponsor invited him to visit kids admitted to the hospital. Since that time, Burton has continued his support through fundraising events, appearances, monetary donations, time and of course most importantly, visits to the hospital with Kim who has sat on the hospital board for the last four years. Through their efforts the Burtons have raised nearly $900,000 for the hospital to date. Duke Children's is dedicated to providing the most advanced medical care, innovation in basic and applied "bench to bedside" research, leadership in the education of future health care professionals, and advocacy for children's health. "Care. Advocacy. Research. Education. At Duke Children's, we're improving the health of children." For more information visit www.dukechildrens.org or call 1-800-DUKEKIDS.(Pro Sports Management & Marketing PR)(4-22-2004)

Burton comments on the RCR rumor: "You know, I actually had a conversation with someone about this the other day because I'm curious how it starts. I really don't read a lot of rumor things on the Internet because when it involves me most of the time they have it wrong. But then there's an element of it that is right, too. They can say 40 things and there might be three of those that have an element of possibly being correct, but then on other stories they nail it so you have to pay attention to it. If one member of the media reports something, it forces everyone else to report it. The problem I have with what went on last week is that Richard Childress and I have had zero conversations about me replacing Robby Gordon or me replacing Johnny Sauter. We've had zero conversations about that and that's just the truth. One reporter reported that we were having these conversations and then it went very specific on how these things were gonna happen. It was reported kind of as rumor, but the next phase of it went into factual stuff that was fiction, but it was reported as fact. On Tuesday of last week, I had two strangers come up and congratulate me on my new ride. My attorney called me on Tuesday morning and asked me point blank, 'What in the world is going on?' I said, 'What are you talking about?' He said, 'I'm in my car and they just said on the radio that sources confirmed that Jeff Burton would replace Johnny Sauter in the AOL Chevrolet at the all-star race in May.' It was reported as fact. That's when I start having a problem and that's when I started to get upset because every member of this team deserves 100 percent effort from me and I deserve 100 percent effort from them. Every member on this team and my car owner and everybody that has anything at all to do with this team deserves to know exactly what's going on. When these things get going that aren't true, it puts a little bit of doubt and that's not right. A lot of people have made the comment and the claim that Roush Racing has done a poor job of getting a sponsor for the 99 car. I've had a lot of people walk up to me and say, 'They're not taking care of you,' and things like that. But the fact of the matter is that it hasn't quit running. They're running the team out of their pockets. No one has gotten a decrease in pay, so I think Roush Racing deserves some credit for doing the right thing for everybody on this team. Instead, they get negative and they also get people out there talking like the driver is gonna leave and that's not right. If there was truth to some of it, then I wouldn't be up in arms about it. I would be trying to avoid it, but when people start reporting stuff that's factual when it's not, I have a real problem with that."(Ford Racing)(4-21-2004)

Jeff Burton to RCR #31? UPDATE 2 denied: Rumors swirled last week about Johnny Sauter being released from the #30 AOL Chevy team, which is 24th in the standings, and getting replaced by Johnny Benson or Dave Blaney. Another garage rumor: Jeff Burton's #99 Ford, which is 30th in the standings, will shut down if sponsorship is not found by the end of May, and Burton will move to the #31 Cingular Chevy driven by Robby Gordon. However, anyone who knows Richard Childress, the owner of the #31, realizes Childress left after the Texas race for Canada's Northwest Territories to go hunting.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(4-12-2004)
UPDATE - denied: Recent rumors of Robby Gordon's possible release from Richard Childress Racing were repudiated Wednesday by the driver and a team official. Recent media reports have had two RCR drivers, Gordon and Johnny Sauter, out of their respective rides. The latest rumor had Gordon being replaced by Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton. Gordon said that while that's not a pleasant statistic for anyone at RCR, his release has no part in the organization's near future. "I think that all that is, is a rumor," Gordon said. "I've got a good relationship with Richard. We've had conversations, and it's all about how we're going to perform at Martinsville and what we're doing to try to make the 31 and the 30 cars more competitive, as a team." RCR director of competition Bobby Hutchens, who Gordon said has been spending extra time working with his group and new crew chief Chris Andrews so far this season, concurred Wednesday afternoon. "Robby Gordon is our driver of the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet," Hutchens said. "Whatever rumors have been flying around out there are just rumors. To my knowledge, there have been no conversations that would prove any different." Due to his schedule, Childress was unavailable for comment Wednesday afternoon, a team spokesperson said. But Gordon insisted that the circulating stories were unfounded.(NASCAR.com)(4-15-2004)
UPDATE 2: Jeff Burton was Dave Despain's guest on Thursday's Wind Tunnel [Speed Channel - M-Th 10:00pm/et] and denied reports he was leaving Roush Racing for the #31 RCR ride or any ride. Burton said he is not sure why his name keeps coming up with RCR rumors the past few years as he has not discussed a ride with team owner Richard Childress. Burton also said that his #99 Roush Racin team is close to a major sponsor signing that would run thru the rest of the 2004 season and future season.(4-16-2004)

Burton to drive #99 Duke's Children Hospital Ford at 'Dega: Roush Racing announced today that Jeff Burton's #99 Roush Racing Ford will sport a special paint scheme at the Aaron's 499 in Talladega. Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center will be carried on the car at the 500 mile race Sunday, April 25. Burton is a long-time supporter of the hospital. Burton's association with the hospital began years ago after an associate sponsor invited him to visit kids admitted to the hospital. Since that time, Burton has continued his support through fundraising events, appearances, monetary donations, time and of course most importantly, visits to the hospital with his wife Kim who has sat on the hospital board for the last four years. Through their efforts the Burtons have raised nearly $900,000 for the hospital to date. Duke Children's provides $48 million in un-reimbursed charity care each year. Funds also support cutting-edge research, world-class advocacy and support programs for families and their sick children, top-notch clinical care and medical education to ensure future generations receive the most advanced medical care available. For more information visit www.dukechildrens.org.(Roush Racing PR)(4-14-2004)

Senator Burton? Seems sometimes that one can hardly turn around in the garage without bumping into a Republican who is seeking office or helping friends win an office in this election year. Of course George W. Bush set the trend with his visit to Daytona International Speedway in February. Then, last week, senate majority leader, Bill Frist worked the NASCAR crowd to get the vote out. With the political winds blowing through the NASCAR garage there’s little wonder that some within the sport are trying their hand at the game. The most serious contender in this category is NASCAR’s former director of operations, Kevin Triplett, who is now running for the 9th congressional district seat in his home state of Virginia. But it doesn’t end there. Now one of the drivers is showing interest in a career in politics, once he’s done driving. That driver is Ford Racing’s own Jeff Burton, who drives the #99 Roush prepared Taurus. In a shocking revelation Burton told www.teamfordracing.com, “I look forward to, in my fifties, being involved in politics. I intend to run for senator when I’m through racing.” While it is still too early to get a Burton for Senate lapel pin it would be interesting to see Burton shed his drivers suit for a three-piece suit in the future.(Ford Racing)(4-1-2004)

No Sponsor for the #99 at Bristol: Roush Racing has done a masterful job putting together single race sponsorships for Jeff Burton’s Ford Taurus since the season started, some five events ago. Unfortunately, that run came to a stop here at Bristol Motor Speedway and Burton’s car is painted basic black this weekend. “It’s the get out of my way black Ford Taurus,” Burton said of this week’s austere motif with a #99 plastered on the roof and doors. Asked if driving a car without a sponsor affects him in any way Burton said, “From a competitive standpoint? No. The sponsorship situation is what it is and it’s no different today than it was in January. “There’s some things going on but they’re not done,” Burton added. “It may make people feel better having a name on the side of the car but the fact of the matter is the sponsorship situation is what it is. There was no company that was ready to do business so there’s no sponsor on the car.” Finding a positive in the situation Burton pointed out, “We’ll bring a lot of attention to it this week because we don’t have a sponsor on the car; that may be okay. At the end of the day when people see it’s un-sponsored maybe they’ll see it as an opportunity. Certainly people will take notice of it.”(Ford Racing), see an image of the car on the #99 Team Paint Schemes page.(3-27-2004)

New #99 Crew Chief: Roush Racing announced that Bob Osborne has been named the crew chief of the #99 Roush Racing team, effective immediately. “I think Bob will make a great addition to the #99 team,” said Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 Roush Racing Ford Taurus. “He's an engineer by trade but he's a racer at heart. And, he shows a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and excitement about the opportunity presented to him. He's been with Roush Racing for several years and has exhibited all the skills necessary to be a leader and I believe he can help the #99 team get back to the top." Osborne had been serving as director of engineering for the Roush Racing NEXTEL Cup teams. Osborne is a graduate of Penn State University and a native of Chester, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Osborne joined Roush Racing in 1999 as the head engineer on the #6 team then quickly moved his way up the ranks within the company. "I'm excited about this opportunity," said Osborne. "Jeff Burton is one of the best drivers in the business, the #99 team is made up of some of the best people in the business and I'm looking forward to working with all of them."(Roush Racing PR), have heard former #99 Crew Chief Paul Andrews and Roush Racing has parted ways, no word on Andrews' plans.(3-17-2004)

Sad News: F.C. "Charlie" Roush, father of NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, passed away early Tuesday morning in Manchester, OH following a lengthy illness. Roush was known to many in the NASCAR garage as a regular and loyal supporter of the Roush Racing teams. He is survived by his wife, Georgetta; and sons, Jack and Frank. Private family services will be held Friday in Manchester, OH. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the "Charlie Roush Memorial Fund" to benefit the education of disadvantaged youth. All donations can be sent to the "Charlie Roush Memorial Fund" in care of Roush Racing, 4600 Roush Place, Concord, NC, 28027.(Roush Racing Site)(3-16-2004)

Former Car Owner Working on Diversity at Roush Racing: Sam Belnavis was the first black owner in more than 30 years to run a team full time in NASCAR's top series last year, owning the #54 cars Todd Bodine drove. Yet, when Belnavis' sponsor, National Guard, moved to Roush Racing after the season, Belnavis couldn't find a replacement and closed shop. The legacy Belnavis wanted to bequeath his family and minorities also appeared to fade. As one opportunity disappeared, another emerged. Car owner Jack Roush hired Belnavis to be the organization's chief diversity officer. "I have far more resources and Jack is committed to the diversity effort," Belnavis said as crew members - almost exclusively white - worked on cars in the garage area last Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "We're going to institute some programs that are going to be in the name of diversity. That's my job." A few blacks have tried ownership but have not had enough success to sustain a full-time effort. There have been fewer drivers. The late Wendell Scott is the only black driver to win a NASCAR race, and that was in 1963. Bill Lester is the only black driver with a full-time ride in the NASCAR's top three series. He competes in the Craftsman Truck Series for Bill Davis Racing. Now, there are a number of programs. Joe Gibbs Racing has a diversity driver program that has a black driver and a Hispanic driver competing in Late Model races. A program supported by NASCAR will place five minority drivers with various Late Model teams in the Southeast. There is also the Roush Racing program that Belnavis heads. Belnavis selected Morty Buckles to compete this season in Late Model races in Virginia, primarily at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas and Southampton Motor Speedway in Capron. Belnavis also said that he's working with a pair of black go-kart drivers, ages 15 and 16, in the Northeast. Belnavis said he knows that whenever a minority driver moves to the Cup level that person will face many challenges. "There's a tremendous amount of pressure on the teams as well as whomever that individual is in their initial stages of their career," said Belnavis, who has been involved in auto racing for more than 20 years. "So the teams, we have made this commitment that we're going to make sure that whoever we identify as our quote-unquote diversity driver is going to be ready."(Roanoke Times)(3-12-2004)

#99 Team Still Looking: While Jeff Burton has sponsorship through the Darlington event [Hot Wheels], Roush Racing president, Geoff Smith, is concerned that some might have the mistaken impression that the car no longer has sponsorship issues. "I hope that corporate America is not confused by sponsors that are appearing on Jeff Burton's car," Smith told TFR in Vegas. "But it ends at Darlington. The car will be white after that if we don't have sponsorship." Smith and his staff have pieced together sponsorships from Pennzoil for Vegas, SFK for Atlanta and the recently announced Hot Wheels deal for Darlington. "We're actively looking," Smith adds regarding the sponsorship search. "We're working as hard as we can with a number of players who are trying to get involved in a very short timeframe."(Ford Racing)(3-8-2004)

Hot Wheels for Burton at Darlington: Jeff Burton is scheduled to drive a Hot Wheels schemes on the #99 Ford at Darlington in March, see an image of the scheme on my #99 Team Paint Schemes page or 2004 Paint Scheme Page.(2-28-2004)
UPDATE: Roush Racing announced today that Hot Wheels will be carried as the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford of Jeff Burton at the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 on March 21, 2004 at Darlington Raceway. "The entire No. 99 team is looking forward to carrying the Hot Wheels logo on the #99 Ford at Darlington," said Burton. "The Hot Wheels brand is so widely recognized that it's really cool to be able to carry their marks on our car. I can remember having Hot Wheels cars all through my childhood and to have them be a part of our program in Darlington is really something special."
Hot Wheels is the exclusive die cast partner of Roush Racing at mass retail. This additional opportunity to work with Burton, the #99 team and Roush Racing is one that Tony DaDante, Vice President Mattel Toys and General Manager Hot Wheels, is excited to add to program. "It's exciting when two proven winners team up." DaDante continued, "Hot Wheels Racing and Mattel Toys think highly of Jeff Burton from a performance standpoint as well as from a personal integrity point of view. Jeff is a great friend of Hot Wheels and we are proud to have him carry our logo in the spring Darlington race. He will surely tame the track that has been characterized as being to tough to tame."(Roush Racing PR)(3-3-2004)

Roush/Yates Engine Woes Update: Reigning series champion #17-Matt Kenseth said Roush Racing has determined what caused the engine failures in teammates #6-Mark Martin and #99-Jeff Burton last weekend in Daytona and is confident the problem is corrected. Kenseth said each engine had something different wrong with it.(Fayetteville Observer), however, was not specific on what that something was.(2-22-2004)

Pennzoil back to Cup...on the #99 for Vegas UPDATE: been told that Pennzoil, currently a primary sponsor in Roush Racing's #9 part time Busch Series team and Cup associate on all the teams, will be the primary sponsor for Jeff Burton on the #99 Roush Racing Ford at Las Vegas [Jayski will be there]. See my #99 Team Paint Scheme Page for images of the scheme.(2-17-2004)
UPDATE: Roush Racing announced today that Pennzoil will be the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford of Jeff Burton for the Las Vegas race on Sunday, March 7, 2004. "We're real excited to have Pennzoil on the No. 99 Ford for Las Vegas," said Burton. "Pennzoil is a primary sponsor on the No. 9 Busch car but it's great to have them on the Cup car as well. They are a great partner for Roush Racing and they provide us with a product that is second to none. We look forward to running up front with the No. 99 Pennzoil Ford in a couple weeks." Pennzoil is also a primary sponsor on the #9 Busch car which is shared by Burton, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth. In addition, Pennzoil will be the primary sponsor on Greg Biffle's NEXTEL Cup car for the first Pocono race. The addition of Pennzoil as the primary sponsor for the #99 Roush Racing Ford in Las Vegas is the latest in the continued search for a full-time sponsor on the #99 Ford. This announcement comes at a time when interest in the program is increasing each day. "There is a lot of interest in the program right now," said Burton. "The team needs to stay focused on the racing right now while our marketing department does their job. We have a lot of irons in the fire and I feel confident that we'll have more announcements in the future."(Roush Racing PR)(2-18-2004)

Burton has two race sponsorship; but for what races? UPDATE 2: from the #99-Jeff Burton Fanclub Driver Diary: "As for sponsorship the remainder of the year. We will be making an announcement this week with regards to a sponsor for two races and I believe we have some more announcements coming soon." Burton is in Las Vegas testing.(Jeff Burton Fanclub Driver Diary/Roush Racing site)(1-29-2004)
UPDATE: hearing it could be longtime Roush Racing sponsor SKF.(1-30-2004)
UPDATE 2: Roush Racing announced that SKF will continue its sponsorship of Jeff Burton, the #99 team and Roush Racing through 2004. In addition, SKF will expand their sponsorship to be primary sponsor of the #99 Ford for the February Rockingham race and March Atlanta race. "We are certainly excited to have SKF and Chicago Rawhide as part of our team in 2004," said Burton. "The No. 99 team is looking forward to carrying the SKF and Chicago Rawhide logo on our car not only for Rockingham and Atlanta but as an associate throughout the year. They have been with us for six years and we are looking forward to another exciting year with them as part of our team."
"SKF is pleased to continue its involvement with Jeff Burton, Jack Roush and the Roush Racing organization as a sponsor of the #99 Ford Taurus," said George W. Dettloff, President, Automotive Division, SKF for North America. "Additionally, SKF is proud to continue playing a role in the success of Roush Racing, not only as a team sponsor, but also as a supplier of engineering knowledge and services. SKF engineers draw on a vast knowledge base from R&D facilities located around the world to assist Roush in competing among the world's most talented motorsports organizations."
The announcement of SKF's sponsorship demonstrates the interest that has been generated among many potential sponsors for Burton and the #99 team for the 2004 season and beyond. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing says it's only a matter of time before the #99 Ford will carry a primary sponsor for the entire year. "SKF helps us continue the positive momentum that is building around Jeff Burton's program." Smith continued, "We, in turn, are committed to again helping SKF meet its marketing objectives."
Founded in Sweden in 1907, SKF is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden with technology centers in the Netherlands, Italy and the United States. SKF has a long history of innovation, including the development of the first integrated wheel hub bearing in 1939, and the first full by-wire controlled concept car, the Filo, jointly launched with Stile Bertone in February of 2001. Chicago Rawhide, which became part of the SKF Group in 1990, celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2003, and has been a supplier to the automotive industry for over 100 years. For more information about SKF and Chicago Rawhide aftermarket products visit these web sites: www.vsm.skf.com or www.chicago-rawhide.com.(Roush Racing PR)(2-4-2004)

TNT to sponsor Burton at Daytona: Turner Network Television (TNT) is planning to sponsor Jeff Burton and the #99 Roush Racing Ford team for the Feb. 15 Daytona 500 and the Gatorade 125-mile qualifying races on Feb. 12. An official announcement is expected Wednesday. During the Daytona 500, the hood of the #99 car will carry images of 2004 NBA All-Stars, the NBA All-Star logo and TNT branding. For the 125-mile qualifying race, the entire car will carry the NBA All-Star on TNT message. Burton's team still lacks a full-time sponsor for this season.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-13-2004)

Roush and Yates? UPDATE 3 mergine engine programs: hearing Robert Yates Racing and Roush Racing are teaming up to build engines together at Yates engine shop?
hearing it's a two way technology transfer as chassis info is headed back to Yates' group from Roush. It's along the lines of GM's "Key Partners" group. The idea is to have the gear as optimized as it can be, then race amongst themselves for the win ---- which is what GM's been doing with great success this year.(11-13-2003)
UPDATE: hearing more and more unconfirmed rumors that Roush Racing is buying out Roberts Yates two car operation [#38 and #88], but that Yates would maintain the engine side of things and build engines for all seven teams [Yates #38, #88; Roush's #6, #16, #17, #97, #99] and run an engine lease operation.(1-4-2004)
UPDATE 2: been told that Roush is not buying Yates out, but Yates is supposedly doing some engine work for Roush.(1-5-2004)
AND see a column at FoxSports: A Roush-Yates alliance could be RAD for Ford.(1-6-2004)
UPDATE 3: A few versions of how it's playing out: "Jack Roush is buying Robert Yates Racing"; Robert Yates Engines has become the "Official Ford Engine builder of NASCAR" or, as a longer story has it, a Ford Motor Company executive one day wondered why Ford's top teams didn't collaborate on their stock car programs. "Ford has encouraged them to work together, particularly with the new cylinder head having been approved by NASCAR during the offseason," Ford Motorsports spokesman Dan Zacharias said Tuesday. "Roush has not bought Robert Yates; Yates is not building all of the Ford engines used in NASCAR." Finally, the story continues, the Ford executive got the guys together and asked them: "Why don't you all just work together?" Everyone involved supposedly likes the idea that each would no longer waste money on producing something that the other can bring to the table and have, supposedly, already started doing just that. "They've established a cooperative arrangement to work together instead, to get everybody up to speed."(in part from a Daytona Beach News Journal column)
UPDATE 3a: Two of the biggest names in NASCAR racing, car owners Robert Yates and Jack Roush, are merging their engine-building operations, in a stunning development for the two long-time rivals. The move comes, Roush said, to meet the challenge of a tremendous influx of European Formula One technology into stock-car racing over the past 18 months and the pending Toyota challenge. At the moment, the Roush-Yates merger involves only engine technology, but sources said that the opportunity is now there for much tighter work between the two Ford camps - Yates, with drivers Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler, and Roush, with drivers Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle. "Ford has encouraged Robert and me to have a 'technology transfer' to become competitive with what Toyota is bringing and what Chevrolet is doing and what Dodge has done," Roush said. The Ford thing has been disjointed. Robert and I didn't cooperate, and Ford was not in a position to carry any amount of meaningful technology to both of us, even though both of us were being funded for different projects. The agreement was to help our programs singularly, but that is just not going to work going forward, because you can't have half a program and get the whole result. So we're working to organize how to build better engines by taking both programs and putting them together. Beyond that there are discussions that could lead to deeper involvements, but those aren't finalized at this point." Some crewmen sense an even deeper merger of the two camps may be looming.(Winston Salem Journal)(1-7-2004)

2003 News

Burton tests 2004 Ford at VIR: Jeff Burton’s #99 Roush Racing Ford team spent today at VIRginia International Raceway with their first 2004-specification Taurus to be track-tested, looking at various options for their road-racing brake package in advance of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup championship. Burton, a native of nearby South Boston, Va., did back-to-back comparisons of different brake calipers while circulating the 2.25-mile VIR North Course. According to crew chief Paul Andrews, this is catch-up work from the 2003 season. "There are two different types of brake calipers we wanted to try," he said, "and another manufacturer’s come along with a new one they’re thinking about building, so we have their prototype for that. We just want to see what kind of things we can find."
The team usually tests a couple of times each year at VIR, which is just a two-hour drive from their shop in Concord, NC. "VIR is a great place," Andrews said. "We love coming here. It’s obviously a real nice facility, and it kind of helps us a little bit with both road courses that we run, Watkins Glen and Sears Point, so it’s a good place for us." The testing pace will slow little over the holidays. The NASCAR Nextel Cup Ford teams have new cylinder heads, new noses and new tail sections to test and perfect between now and the time that the trailers are loaded for the season-opening Daytona 500, which is 60 days from today. The car being tested today was the team’s first 2004-configuration Taurus to hit the track, Andrews noting that all other testing for next year had taken place in the wind tunnel only to date. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club, the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park and the VIR Euro Rally School and Corporate Motorsport Experience, which features four rally stages plus a kart track, motocross track, ATV and SUV training grounds and a Tuff Terrain“ course. Future plans include the VIR Gallery, a showroom for high-end collector and racing cars, and resort lodging. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or contact VIR toll-free at 888-RACE099.(VIR PR)(12-16-2003)

Only 14 races for the #99? Jeff Burton's unsponsored No. 99 is committed to running at least 14 races in the Nextel Cup series in 2004, but Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said Wednesday there is a chance it might only be 14.(see full story at NASCAR.com)(12-10-2003)

Waiting on Kodak; Burton to the #30? #99 to close? UPDATE 3 Burton staying: Kodak holds the key domino in the Cup garage. If its sponsorship goes to Penske, it's possible Penske would field a third team, in conjunction with Jasper Engines and with driver Brendan Gaughan [see #77 Team News and Links page for the rumors on this]. Though Dave Blaney signed a contract with Jasper last September, his future is uncertain. If Kodak's sponsorship goes to Roush, it would lock in Jeff Burton. Burton, though, appears to be the driver Richard Childress has been waiting for to drive the #30 AOL Chevy [although rumors have Johnny Sauter in the car also], if Burton's #99 team can't land Kodak or another sponsor [rumored sponsor for #99: Astra Zeneca.(Yahoo Sports/Sporting News)
UPDATE: being told the #99 does not not get a sponsor within the next few days Burton will go to the #30 AOL Chevy and AOL will extend their contract from thru 2004, to thru 2006, otherwise Sauter would probably end up in the #30 and hearing the #77/Kodak/Gaughan deal is pretty much done and Kodak has made their decision. No word on what Blaney will do or his plans.(12-1-2003)
UPDATE 2: being told the #99 could be the next team to shut down if no sponsor is found.(12-2-2003)
UPDATE 3: The #99 team at Roush Racing has no sponsor for 2004, but it still has a driver. Jeff Burton said Tuesday he'll stay with the team he's been with since 1996, taking his name out of the speculation about the #30 AOL Chevrolets owned by Richard Childress. Childress has a news conference scheduled for Thursday in New York City to announce a driver for that car for next season. Sources have told The Charlotte Observer that Johnny Sauter is now the leading candidate for that position [see my #30 Team News and Links page for past rumors]. "I am committed to Roush Racing and Roush Racing is committed to me," Burton said. "We are in a position that we need to put a sponsor on our car. ...But we will field a well-funded, championship-contending race team next year. We are full-speed ahead." Burton did not specifically address the open seat in the #30 Chevrolets, but did say that other car owners have expressed interest in having him drive for their teams. "That has been flattering," Burton said. "But my allegiance is with Roush Racing. When things have been good, we've done them together, and when things have been bad we've gone through them together." Burton said that he is confident his team will sign a sponsor, but said Roush has assured him the #99 will run a full schedule in 2004 even if no sponsor can be signed.(ThatsRacin.com)(12-3-2003)
UPDATE 4: Roush Racing and NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Jeff Burton announced today that Burton will remain with Roush and the #99 team heading into the 2004 season. Burton signed a multi-year contract with Roush back in September and he continues to be committed to Roush Racing and the #99 team. "My commitment to Roush Racing is strong," said Burton. "I have said all along that Roush is where I want to be and that's where I'm staying. Jack (Roush, Owner) is committed to this team and so am I. We've built something that really means a lot. We spent last year re-building and we are looking to capitalize on it in 2004 and return the #99 Ford to victory lane where it belongs."
Roush Racing will continue the search for a primary sponsor for the #99 Ford while Burton and the team move ahead with off-season testing and preparation. Roush Racing President Geoff Smith remains strong in his conviction that there will be a sponsor for the #99 team in the near future. "We are very disappointed by the poor business climate for primary sponsorship in the Nextel Cup Series." Smith continued, "The #99 program is the best program out there right now and Jeff Burton is in the upper 20th percentile in his worst season finishing 12th in the overall point standings. We can't imagine that a primary sponsor won't join us in 2004. Roush Racing is making an investment to continue the operation of the #99 team with Jeff Burton as the driver in 2004 to try and pursue the first Nextel Cup." Burton is also confident the team will have a sponsor soon, thus putting to rest the rumors. "We are not approaching this year as if we don't have a sponsor," Burton said. "I'm confident we will finalize something soon and until then we are full speed ahead in our quest to win the Nextel Cup Championship. Our testing, preparation, car building and people hiring is just like it has been. We are committed to signing a sponsor and until then we are business as usual. No one should question our resolve, determination or ability." (Roush Racing PR)(12-4-2003)

Burton and Roush to run some Busch races: Roush Racing announced today that Cottman Transmission will sponsor Jeff Burton and the #9 Ford for four Busch Series races in 2004. The limited schedule includes Darlington (Mar. 21), Fontana (May 2), Dover (Sept. 23) and Atlanta (Oct. 31). "I'm really excited to expand my relationship with Cottman Transmission moving into 2004," said Burton. "It's great to get back in the #9 Ford and race a limited Busch Series schedule next year with Cottman. I'm looking forward to putting the #9 Cottman Transmission Ford back in victory lane." In 2003 Cottman Transmission had a personal services agreement with Burton which will carry over into 2004 along with their four race sponsorship of the #9 Ford. Todd Leff, President and CEO of Cottman Transmission embraces the opportunity to build on an already successful partnership. "Jeff Burton has been a great representative for Cottman Transmission over the past two years." Leff continued, "And our dealers are really excited to be taking the relationship to the next level." Cottman Transmission was founded in 1962 and is the nation's fastest growing chain of transmission repair centers. With more than 400 locations coast to coast, Cottman specializes in every phase of transmission work, including manual and automatic transmissions, American and import vehicles, front-wheel and four-wheel drives. For more information on Cottman Transmission, go to www.cottman.com. In addition to the four races with Cottman Transmission, Burton will also run three races with the Pennzoil colors for a total of seven Busch Series races in 2004. This revives the #9 team that ran away with five wins, two poles, eight top five and nine top 10 finishes in just 14 starts in 2002. "I'm really looking forward to 2004," said Burton. "We have a lot of exciting things happening in 2004 with a lot of great sponsors and to get back in the #9 Ford is just awesome."(Roush Racing PR), doesn't sound like Burton is leaving Roush Racing for RCR if he is doing a Busch deal.(12-2-2003)

National Guard to the #16? it appears that the Army National Guard will be going to the #16 Roush Racing Ford and driver Greg Biffle, being the primary associate for several races with the option to be a primary for a few select races. Supposedly Grainger will still be on the car but will spilt it's primary sponsorship with National Guard. See much more about the 'Guard rumor' past news on my #16 Team News and Links page. Also hearing USPS and Subway [Sandwiches - Jarred] could be part of the sponsorhip package.(11-18-2003)

#99 Sponsor? hearing a pharmaceutical company, Astra Zeneca, will be the sponsor of the #99 Roush Racing team and driver Jeff Burton, no idea about the conflict with Pfizer.(11-14-2003)

Roush and Yates? hearing Robert Yates Racing and Roush Racing are teaming up to build engines together at Yates engine shop?
hearing it's a two way technology transfer as chassis info is headed back to Yates' group from Roush. It's along the lines of GM's "Key Partners" group. The idea is to have the gear as optimized as it can be, then race amongst themselves for the win ---- which is what GM's been doing with great success this year.(11-13-2003)

National Guard to the #99? UPDATE 3 and even MORE, #16 involved?: hearing the National Guard has signed to sponsor the #99 Roush Racing Ford in 2004 with Roush hoping to add another partial sponsor to the deal.(11-8-2003)
UPDATE: The National Guard sponsorship program, currently with the Sam Belnavis/Travis Carter #54 team, appears likely to be headed for the Roush Racing #99, with driver Jeff Burton, next year. Where that leaves BelCar is not yet known. The National Guard, like other service branches advertising among younger males given the current international situation, would be one of several sponsors on the 99 car. Neither side would confirm the transaction, with Carter saying only that Belnavis had a Nov. 22 deadline for a decision, and Burton noting that the team, currently with CITGO, likely would have several sponsors next year -- a growing trend in top-dollar NASCAR team finance. The National Guard sponsorship is reported to be about $6m [I hear 4m] -- hardly enough to support a major team in Cup. However, coupled with associates, the offer could be the missing link to the $15m to $20m required to run a top-level operation. "We feel really good about where we are," Burton said. "We don't have anything to announce, anything to talk about publicly. We feel like we'll have a great company -- companies -- to represent, a lot of fun stuff coming up. We'll talk about all those companies when we can." Carter said the his team has a couple of coals burning for next year, including the previously-announced deal with British Torquespeed, but nothing he was ready to speak about.(Speed Channel)(11-9-2003)
UPDATE 2 - Denied: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith Sunday morning denied firmly that the National Guard sponsorship would be part of the #99 team's package next season. "I can say unequivocally that the National Guard will not be sponsoring the Jeff Burton No. 99 car," Smith said, shooting down reports that the Guard would migrate from BelCar's No. 54 to Roush's 99 next season. Burton confirmed Saturday that sponsorship is in place for 2004 but gave no details. Current sponsor CITGO announced early this year that it would not return in 2004.(Speed Channel Site)
AND? another rumor has Kodak going to the #99, but most race shows/reports on Sunday said it was the National Guard, but am alos hearing the National Guard could end up with Roush and the #16 Car and Biffle but not sure what extent OR the National Guard could end up with the #74 BACE team or stay with the #54.(11-10-2003)
UPDATE 3 - a bit of clarification: Roush Racing President, Geoff Smith, was surprised to read on the Internet that he’d signed a sponsorship deal for Jeff Burton’s #99 Ford. Smith’s only wishes that he had something to announce for the No. 99, but has nothing in hand at this time. “The National Guard is not going to sponsor Jeff Burton in the No. 99,” Smith said dismissing the going rumor that surrounds Burton’s team. Possibly driving the rumor is last week’s visit by Kodak officials to five team shops. The Kodak fact finding mission stopped at Roush Racing, BAM Racing, Bill Davis Racing, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and reportedly to Penske Racing South – where there is interest in starting a third team.
Demand for a sponsor with the prestige of Kodak makes competition fierce and can lead a team to creative ways to optimize their chances of landing the prime contract. One such tactic floats a rumor tying sponsorship from another party to the team competing for the sponsor. The idea is to make the original sponsor, in this case Kodak, believe that a team, Roush Racing’s #99, is no longer a player for Kodak. “It’s a ploy I believe may be in play here,” said Smith of the National Guard rumor.
Smith doesn’t deny that he’s in negotiations with the National Guard, but that would be for another project given the less than full primary Winston Cup dollars that the National Guard has available to a sponsor a team. “There’s some interest in a program with Greg Biffle’s No.16,” said Smith of his ongoing discussions with the National Guard.(Ford Racing)(11-10-2003)

Hot Wheels and Roush Racing: Mattel and Roush Racing announced that the parties have extended their mass retail market die-cast through the 2006 race season. The agreement also includes exclusive rights to the Wood Brothers famed Number 21 program based out of Stuart, Virginia. Team owner Jack Roush, President of Roush Racing, Geoff Smith, Tony DaDante, Vice President / General Manager of Hot Wheels® Racing and NASCAR drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and current NASCAR points leader Matt Kenseth were in attendance for this special occasion. Hot Wheels cars thundered into the toy world in 1968. Nearly 35 years later, Hot Wheels is a global lifestyle brand and a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of vehicles, playsets and track sets. In addition to leading the way with speed, power and performance, Hot Wheels cars are also Cool Collectibles for adults. For the latest information on Hot Wheels® products, make a break on the information superhighway and cruise over to www.hotwheels.com.(Mattel PR) Also, see info about the Hot Wheel Hall of Fame in my Hall of Fame/Museums page.(11-4-2003)

Pennzoil and Roush in 2004 MORE: Acting to position Pennzoil motor oil squarely at the forefront of NASCAR competition, Roush Racing and Pennzoil have announced a lubrication sponsorship and technology partnership across all Roush Racing teams in all NASCAR series. The program will include Pennzoil participation and associate identification on all Roush Racing NASCAR Nextel Cup (NNC) teams, beginning with the Daytona 500 in 2004. Additionally, Roush Racing will feature a special Pennzoil design and paint scheme on the #16 Greg Biffle NNC entry at Pocono Raceway next June. Capping the sponsorship announcement was the news that Mark Martin, the winningest driver in the history of the NASCAR Series will 'unretire' to race the Pennzoil colors as part of a three driver Busch Series 'Pennzoil Super Team' consisting of Martin, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton. The three drivers will combine to race different Pennzoil entries in nine Busch Series events during 2004, beginning with Mark Martin at Daytona in February. The Pennzoil-Roush partnership draws on Pennzoil's advanced lubrication technologies, and will provide Roush Racing with not just lubrication products but also with the expertise to maximize the performance side of the engineering equation. An announcement regarding the entire nine race 'Pennzoil' Busch Series schedule for Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton will be made at a later time. Mark Martin will kick off the 2004 Busch Series season at Daytona in a Pennzoil Roush Ford.(Pennzoil PR)(11-2-2003)
More on the deal...and a Kodak mention: The money for the new Roush sponsorship is estimated at $10 million, enough for associate sponsorship decals on all Roush cars and for a 9-race Busch program that will kick off at Daytona. Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth will each run three Busch races. "This is a full 10-car associate sponsorship," said Geoff Smith, the head of Roush Racing. "So this is a different strategy, and there are different advantages. You have Coke with multiple drivers and now Pennzoil with multiple drivers." Kodak has been interested in a similar program, instead of backing a single team.(Winston Salem Journal), see an image of the scheme on my 2004 Busch Series Paint Schemes page.(11-3-2003)

More Teams For Roush? Roush hinted yesterday he might expand to nine or 10 teams next year. He currently fields seven NASCAR teams - five in Winston Cup and two in Busch [actually Truck, none in Busch]. Asked if he would have more than five Cup teams, Roush responded: "Well, right now it's six if you count the Wood Brothers. But it might be more than that." Before expanding, the most pressing issue for Roush still remains signing a primary sponsor for the No. 99 of Burton.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-3-2003)

Roush Back in Busch: According to garage sources Roush Racing will announce, at Phoenix, new NASCAR Busch Series team effort for 2004. Roush Racing’s three senior members will drive the car on Saturdays next year with Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth all taking turns behind the wheel. Sponsorship will come from oil company Pennzoil/Quaker State for the program. Additionally, Roush Racing will soon announce a fulltime NBS effort for Greg Biffle. He is expecting to make the show in all but two of the races when the #60 returns to the track fulltime in 2004. A suitable replacement will handle the car in the two races Biffle can’t drive. No word on who will sponsor the Biffle package.(Ford Racing)(10-26-2003)

Kodak talking to teams: The Kodak sponsorship question is still unanswered, but company officials are expected to meet with potential car owners this weekend. Larry McClure [owner of the #4 Kodak Pontiac] has reportedly agreed to Kodak's buy-back of the final two years of his contract; however the two sides are apparently at odds over other aspects of that deal. Kodak is being bombarded with sponsorship bids, and the top two teams in the running appear to be DEI and Roush Racing. Ty Norris, DEI general manager, won't talk specifically about Kodak but says "We've had some movement in the last 10 days."(Winston Salem Journal)(10-25-2003)

Barker to Wells? or Roush? Andrews to Martin's team? Robert "Bootie" Barker, on leave of absence from Jasper Motorsprts #77, might be a crew chief candidate for one of Roush Racing's cars or Cal Wells' second car next season. Paul Andrews, crew chief for Jeff Burton, could be headed to teammate Mark Martin's #6 Ford, though owner Jack Roush says there has been no discussion about a change.(FoxSports/Sporting News)
AND Robert (Bootie) Barker’s is expected to go back to Bill Davis Racing, his former employer.(Gaston Gazette)(10-20-2003)

Fed-Ex to the #99? hearing that Fed-Ex could be the next sponsor for the #99 Roush Racing team and driver Jeff Burton.(10-18-2003)
UPDATE: FedEx executives would like to get into NASCAR racing, and they've crunched the numbers, according to Daytona sources, and FedEx is willing to pay the sponsorship costs for a top-notch team. However, FedEx officials don't want to budget as much advertising money to any NASCAR deal as UPS has, which sources say would run the total to more than $40 million.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-20-2003)

National Guard to Roush? #54 car owner Travis Carter says he's worried he may lose the National Guard sponsorship at the end of the season, and it appears that sponsorship could be moving to the Jack Roush camp.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-20-2003)

Roush to be honored: On Sunday, October 12, hometown boy [Manchester, OH] Jack Roush [owner of the #6,#16,#17,#97,#99 Cup cars] will return to Manchester for an event in his honor. Main Street, (SR 136) will be renamed Jack Roush Way. Festivities will start at 2:00pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony and parade. Participants with classic, antique, Mustang and racing cars are asked to line up at 1:30pm on 7th and 8th streets for the parade. The parade will conclude at the Riverbarn on US 52 and festivities for the rest of the afternoon will include an autograph session by Roush, entertainment, a concert by Bobby Mackey beginning at 6:30, and raffles to benefit the Manchester Christmas Light Fund. (People's Defender)(10-10-2003)

VISA to sponsor a team? hearing VISA may be sponsoring a Cup team in 2004, #99?. Speaking of VISA, who won Visa’s Debit Dash for Charity Challenge: Rusty Wallace or Kurt Busch on my Racing Charities page.(10-10-2003)

Jeff Burton to RCR? UPDATE: here is one I haven't heard from a while, but being told Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 Citgo Ford and Roush Racing, could be headed to Richard Childress Racing in 2004 - however - it was announced just about a month ago that Burton had re-signed with Roush Racing a multi-year contract, so ??(10-1-2003)
UPDATE: An Internet rumor this week linked Jeff Burton to Richard Childress Racing, but the South Boston native said he is staying put. "I just signed an extension of my contract and told everybody we signed," Button said. "Now I'm going somewhere else to drive. I don't know how [the rumors] get started. I do talk to Richard Childress. I don't talk about driving his race car, but I have conversations with Richard Childress. I don't think there's anything wrong talking to car owners I respect. I guess people see that and get things going in their head." Roush Racing is hunting for a company to sponsor Burton's No. 99 Ford next year, and Burton said the search was going well.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-4-2003)

Eli Lilly to sponsor a team? Could this be for the #99? Eli Lilly may become the next pharmaceutical company to join NASCAR, according to industry sources, possibly marketing Cialis, a Viagra alternative.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-6-2003)

Burton, Jeff that is, staying put UPDATE: #99-Jeff Burton, though still sponsorless for 2004, just signed a new contract extension with Jack Roush.(from the Winston Salem Journal)(9-1-2003)
UPDATE - Burton re-ups with the #99 team: Roush Racing announced today that Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 Roush Racing Ford, has been signed to a new multi-year contract to continue driving for Roush Racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. “Jeff Burton is and has been an integral contributor to the success of Roush Racing for many years,” said Geoff Smith, Roush Racing president. “Jeff is an outstanding talent and ambassador for Roush Racing and the industry and his renewed commitment allows us to maintain our complete competitive strength.” “Now that Jeff is signed, we will continue to move forward to solidify a primary sponsor for the #99 team for 2004 and beyond,” Smith added. “Jack Roush has done so much for me and my career over the last eight years, I’m truly looking forward to continuing our partnership into the future,” said Burton. “We have a really strong, young team and they all have a tremendous work ethic and a hunger to win which is what Jack Roush and Roush Racing is all about. That combined with Jack’s willingness and ability to provide us with everything we need to be competitive, will enable us to win many races in the future and vie for championships.” Said owner Jack Roush, “The re-signing of Jeff, in addition to our other outstanding drivers, completes our competitive Winston Cup structure and provides us with an unmatched and quite remarkable line up for the next several years.” For sponsorship inquiries please contact John Miller at Roush Racing at 704.720.4600.(Roush Racing PR)(9-2-2003)

and...more on Kodak: The fate of Kodak's NASCAR sponsorship is the topic of considerable debate at the moment, and there are reports that Jack Roush and DEI are two teams in the running for a Kodak deal, if the photo giant leaves car owner Larry McClure. However, Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, insists his company isn't interested in Kodak. And Ty Norris, general manager at DEI, says he doesn't want to discuss Kodak at all. While Jeff Burton has a new contract, he still doesn't have a new sponsor, Smith concedes. 'We have four companies we're quite active with, and each is doing due-diligence, because they're all new to the sport,' Smith says. 'Kodak is not one of them. We haven't not done anything with Kodak. But we would do something with Kodak if they're not under contract with Larry McClure. But we have heard this week that marketing companies have been contacted by people with that team asking for help looking for sponsorship. But NASCAR would be the one to tell us if that particular sponsorship is available. And we're like others, waiting to see if it opens up.'(Winston Salem Journal)(9-1-2003)

Kodak or Drug Company for the #99 in 2004? Jeff Burton and Jack Roush are close to a new sponsor for the #99 Ford: according to one source, Kodak [that would be weird seeing a yellow #99] -- according to another, an unnamed pharmaceutical company.(Winston Salem Journal)
AND being told it is a pharmaceutical company, no name yet....they are supposedly trying to work out how it conflicts with Pfizer/Viagra.(8-30-2003)

Burton Plans Fund-Raising Run at Darlington: Roush Racing says driver Jeff Burton and Citgo, primary sponsor of his #99 Ford, will team up again to help raise money to find a cure for muscular dystrophy during the Aug. 31 Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Burton’s car will sport a special red, white and blue paint scheme for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Burton will wear a special helmet and firesuit that will be auctioned off to help raise money for MDA. This will be the third year the driver and sponsor have teamed on the effort.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(8-14-2003)

Smirnoff and the #99? or to Penske? UPDATE - Sponsor Announcement Soon for the #99? hearing that Smirnoff Ice/Triple Black could end up being the sponsor for the #99 Roush Racing team and driver Jeff Burton, either in a full time capacity or similar to what they are doing with #17-Matt Kenseth this year [seven races as a primary sponsor on the car], OR could re-up with Kenseth for another year OR could do a similar deal with #12-Ryan Newman [not sure how Miller Lite would like that] also being a sponsor on one of Penske's IRL cars [who is losing Marlboro] with one of their hard liquior labels, which is allowed in the IRL but not in NASCAR. While mulling over this one, knowing it looks like a sponsor will stick with NASCAR, check out their contest: Smirnoffice.com - Hang With Matt & The Crew [that Chris Brock seems fun to hang out with](7-28-2003)
UPDATE: Geoff Smith, Roush Racing president, is very bullish on the prospects of getting Jeff Burton’s Ford sponsored for the 2004 season and beyond. In fact, Smith hopes to have something to announce soon. “We’re in discussion with sponsors,” the executive told TFR. “I hope that one of the prospects will have a deal within 30 days.” Asked about the difficulty placing sponsors, Smith said, “We’re having a really good selling year. We’ve had three companies sign with us that could have gone away.” Plus, he is speaking with four potential parties for Burton’s car.(Ford Racing)(8-8-2003)

Roush, Yates and Wood Bros re-up with Ford: Ford Racing officials on Friday announced they had signed new, five-year contract extensions with three of the top Ford teams in Winston Cup - Robert Yates Racing, Roush Racing and Wood Brothers Racing. Together, the organizations field eight Cup teams each weekend and include such drivers as 1999 champion Dale Jarrett, current series leader Matt Kenseth and veterans Mark Martin and Ricky Rudd, among others. "Loyalty is something that we just take extremely seriously at Ford," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing. "We like to reward loyalty and these three organizations have been so loyal to us that I felt it was important for Ford and Ford Racing to demonstrate our loyalty to them. We've picked our dance partner and for Ford Motor Co. and NASCAR, these are our dance partners." These organizations were also instrumental in the development of the 2004 Ford Taurus, which will be officially submitted to NASCAR this week for competition beginning next season. "The kind of commitment that need to made for research and development and pooling of information and for the development of strategies can't be made on an ad hoc basis," said team owner Jack Roush. They can't be made annually. They almost have to me made with a decade in mind, and this certainly is moving in the right direction."()(8-1-2003)

Parrott to PE? maybe Roush? UPDATE 3 looks like neither: Sources in the garage say former Robert Yates Racing crew chief Todd Parrott could be coming out of retirement and headed for Petty Enterprises -- if the Pettys can afford the seven-figure price tag it would take to retain him.(more 'Dish' at Sporting News)(7-21-2003)
UPDATE: Earlier this year, Todd Parrott was released as director of competition at Robert Yates Racing. Earlier this week, there was a report that Parrott may wind up with Petty Enterprises, but a source told me Friday that Parrott could wind up at Roush Racing. We'll keep you posted on that.(Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR)(7-26-2003)
UPDATE 2: Crew chief Todd Parrott is shopping for a job, and two places he's applied are Petty Enterprises and Roush Racing. But sources say that Parrott won't be offered a job with Roush. 'Todd came to me, and I have talked with him,' Jack Roush said, without further explanation.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-28-2003)
UPDATE 3: Petty Enterprises has talked to Todd Parrott about its General Manager's job, but Kyle Petty says Parrott will not be joining the team. Petty continues to look for a GM for the team.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to view)(8-1-2003)

#99 Bassmaster Scheme Back: The #99 CITGO Ford, driven by Roush Racing's Jeff Burton, will display a special paint scheme during Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup race at the New Hampshire International Speedway. In preparation for the upcoming CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer, Burton's machine will feature the CITGO Bassmaster Classic logo on the front hood. The Classic is scheduled for August 1-3, in New Orleans, La. The CITGO Bassmaster Classic tournament is the world championship of professional bass fishing. It has a 33-year tradition of intense competition among anglers. Winning a Classic championship is the high point of an angler's career. This year's 61-angler field will vie for the $200,000 championship purse. The overall payout is $700,000. For complete coverage of the CITGO BASSMASTER Classic log onto www.bassmaster.com.(Cox Marketing PR)(7-18-2003)

Paul Andrews son to run Busch North race: The #0 Penfold Motorsports Team will have a new face behind the wheel in this weekends New England 125 NASCAR Busch North Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway. One of this years top rookie of the year contenders, Tim Andrews, has been named to drive the teams car at the Magic Mile on Saturday. Bob Harrison will serve as Andrews crewchief and Penfold will be on hand as a consultant. Penfold plans to return to driving duties at Watkins Glen in August. No word yet on any further events scheduled with Andrews in the Penfold Motorsports car.(North East Racing), Andrews is the son of #99 crew cheif, Paul Andrews.(7-17-2003)

#99 Team Getting Calls UPDATE: In the two weeks since CITGO announced it was leaving the sport of NASCAR Winston Cup auto racing, the phones at Roush Racing have been ringing. The calls are inquires from potential sponsors to take the primary sponsor place on Burton’s #99 Ford. “In just two weeks we’ve got three prospects already,” Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said, today. “Two of them are from outside of the sport, and we feel good about that.” Smith added, “Hopefully next week there’ll be another one. We feel pretty good about it.” Interestingly, calls from the new-to-the-sport sponsors came as a result of advertising agency recommendations. This trend of agency involvement, if it should continue, will help owners market their team more easily as the ad agencies frequently can help a third party realize the value of NASCAR type racing. “Both of [the new companies to the sport] work with agencies we work with. They view this as a great opportunity for bringing in a couple of clients that they’ve been working on in other projects. Over time, probably the last five years, the mainstream agencies are more familiar with motorsports now and will take a look at it now.”(Ford Racing)(7-14-2003)
UPDATE: hearing reports that Mayflower Transit is considering becoming the primary sponsor of the #99 Ford in 2004.(7-15-2003)

Burton to run Busch race at NHIS: In 2002, Jeff Burton raced the #9 Ford in 14 Busch Series races. In 14 starts he chalked up five wins, two poles, and eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes. This brought his career totals in the Busch Series to 20 wins, 10 poles, 61 top-five and 103 top-10 finishes in 233 starts. Burton is hoping to add to his win column in New Hampshire next weekend. Burton will race the Roush Racing #9 Ford, sponsored by SKF and Chicago Rawhide, Saturday, July 19 in the New England 200. Kevin "Cowboy" Starland will serve as the crew chief. Five of the over the wall members come from the #60 team [which suspended racee operations]; Al Tully (rear tire changer), Chris Burger (rear tire carrier), Gary Pierce (front tire carrier), Mike Freeman (gas man) and Eric Gifford (catch can). Burton’s front tire changer, Jason Myers, will come over from the #99 CITGO team to help out and Tony Martin will resume his Saturday duties as jack man for the #9 team. These seven along with Jeff Zarella (tire specialist), Jason Brenkus (pit sign/windshield), Brian Chase (second gas can), Lucas Tucker (support), Jeremy Brickhouse (spotter) and Kim Fisher (scorer) will make for a strong team heading to New England.(Roush Racing PR)(7-11-2003)

AT&T Squashed with Roush too UPDATE and with DEI's #1 - Riggs to DEI?: from a USA Today Q&A. Q:) How does NASCAR's new deal with Nextel affect Jeff Burton's team?
A:) Roush Racing's #99 team is losing CITGO as its primary sponsor at the end of the year and had worked out a deal with associate sponsor AT&T to become Burton's primary sponsor next season. Although the Nextel deal has grandfathered in Nextel competitors Cingular [#31] and Alltel [#12], allowing them to remain as primary team sponsors, NASCAR now will not allow AT&T to move up from an associate to a primary sponsor for Roush. That means Roush will have to shop Burton and the team around to other potential sponsors. Smith wonders why NASCAR officials weren't able to negotiate with Nextel to allow competing cell phone companies to keep coming into the sport as team sponsors. Winston, of course, is the only cigarette manufacturer allowed to advertise in NASCAR, but Smith says that deal is outdated.(USA Today)
AND The issue is exclusivity [with Nextel], and NASCAR's definition isn't setting well in parts of the garage. NASCAR's definition may cost Jeff Burton an AT& --T sponsorship that his team has been negotiating. "I understand the series sponsor wanting exclusivity", Burton said. "But it is confusing when Cingular is in here and Alltel is in here. What's the problem with one more, or two more or three more? That's difficult to understand. Something is either exclusive or it's not. This is almost exclusive, or exclusive to some people. It doesn't seem fair that Cingular and Alltel can be here but Sprint and AT& --T can't." Essentially, the immediate question is exclusivity. NASCAR has promised Nextel a modified version of exclusivity, because it was unable to offer complete exclusivity as R. J. Reynolds has had. But AT& --T officials are apparently not quite buying into the concept that NASCAR can allow three of the nation's six cell-phone companies - Nextel, Alltel and Cingular - access to the stock-car racing field and yet not allow the other three. AT& --T has been in negotiations to put its wireless division on the quarterpanel as sponsor either for Jack Roush or Dale Earnhardt Inc. NASCAR has vetoed those plans. However, yesterday AT& --T officials decided to 'make a stand' about their company's determination to stay involved in Winston Cup racing by expanding its sponsorship of Ken Schrader's #49 car [see PR below] for this race. AT& --T has been a part-sponsor of that team, and AT& --T, through its Comcast division, has been a part-sponsor of both the Matt Kenseth and Burton teams. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, has been negotiating with AT& --T to become full sponsor of Burton's team, and Ty Norris, general manager at DEI, has been negotiating with AT& --T to become full sponsor of the #1 DEI team that features Jeff Green [looks like Pennzoil is out]. 'We were in the final stages of negotiations with AT& --T Wireless,' Norris said. 'But we were quickly informed that if Nextel happens, that only the people who were already in the sport would be grandfathered in."(Winston Salem Journal)(6-21-2002)
UPDATE 2: hearing that Scott Riggs may be the new driver for the #1 DEI Chevy in 2004 if a sponsor is signed.(6-21-2003)

CITGO leaving #99 Roush Racing team at end of 2003: Roush Racing announced today that it has launched a search for a primary sponsor for the Jeff Burton driven, Roush Racing #99 Ford in Winston Cup competition. CITGO announced earlier today that it was ending its long running NASCAR sponsorship. “I am committed to Jack Roush, Roush Racing and my entire No. 99 team,” said Burton. “Jack and I have had a very successful history together, and we look forward to sharing and extending that history with a new primary sponsor. We’re convinced that the best is still in front of us, and we’re both committed to attaining our goals.”
"So far 2003 has been a banner year for attracting sponsorship interest in our programs,” said Geoff Smith, Roush Racing president. “Now that the Jeff Burton, No. 99 program is available for sponsorship, we can complete our program sales mix by offering one of the top primary sponsorships in NASCAR Winston Cup. The sport is at a great point in its history, with the “blue sky” potential of television being realized, and dynamic sponsorship programs being implemented by many great sponsors throughout the sport.”(Roush Racing)(6-16-2003)

Gone Fishing: Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Jeff Green, Hank Parker Jr. and Carl Edwards are scheduled to compete in the second annual Citgo Jeff Burton Celebrity Challenge fishing tournament on June 4 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The drivers will join BASS anglers Kevin VanDam, Gerald Swindle, Jay Yelas, Marty Stone, Jimmy Mize and Shaw Grigsby in a made-for-television event to be shown on ESPN2 during Bassmaster Classic week (July 28-Aug. 3) in New Orleans. Burton and VanDam were paired together in order to defend their 2002 title. The team caught a combined total of six fish that weighed a total of 14 pounds, seven ounces. The winning driver and angler will have a $10,000 donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association made in their name. The teams will compete for the crystal Jeff Burton Celebrity Challenge trophy. As well, the winning team has a $10,000 donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association made in their name on behalf of CITGO. The Tulsa, Okla., company is the largest corporate donor to the MDA, contributing more than $50 million throughout the past 17 years. Each team will bring their six-fish limit (three fish each) to the final weigh-in, which will be held at Noon, Wednesday June 4 at the Orlando Bass Pro Shops store. Fans are welcome and there will be interactive displays and giveaways for those in attendance.(Cox Marketing Group PR)(5-31-2003)

Two more to go for Roush: Kurt Busch won’t have to worry about sponsorship for a few years after Newell/Rubbermaid and Roush Racing announced a multi-year contract extension, this week. The extension, which is for an undisclosed term and dollar figure, will keep Busch with the sponsor that brought him Cup racing. This is the second multi-year team sponsorships put to bed in recent weeks by Roush Racing. First came DeWalt for Matt Kenseth’s car. Two Roush teams, however, still need sponsorships cemented beyond this year — Mark Martin’s and Jeff Burton’s. Roush Racing President Geoff Smith told TFR that in both cases the talks with Pfizer (Martin) and Citgo (Burton) are “beyond the money stage”, but still in process.(Team Ford Racing), plus the two Truck Series teams need sponsors.(5-24-2003)

Roush Racing to Open Destiny 3 Studio: Roush Racing will become the first NASCAR team to open its own in-house photography studio when Destiny 3 Studio opens June 16th. The full service studio will be located inside of Roush Racing’s newly built corporate headquarters located by its Winston Cup facilities in Concord, N.C. Destiny 3 Studio will be just one facet of the state-of-the-art 83,000 square foot Roush Racing world headquarters and museum opening this month. Destiny 3 Studio can accommodate a variety of shoots that include automotive, fashion, portrait, food, film and video. The facility is spacious enough to photograph five cars at once, from the ground level or from a second-floor catwalk. The 3,200 square foot facility will also have complete private hair, makeup and styling rooms, and a comfortable client lounge with work stations and internet access. Destiny 3 Studio will also be promoted to photographers, designers, ad agencies, film and video productions nationwide. In a related move, Action Sports Photography, Inc. will be relocating from Cornelius, N.C., to office space directly next door to the new facility and will also be using Destiny 3 Studios as its choice for studio photography. The new studio, as well as the new Roush Racing corporate headquarters, is located on Roush Place next to Concord Regional Airport, just minutes from Lowe’s Motor Speedway and a short drive from uptown Charlotte. The 25 acre complex is already home to Roush Racing’s five Winston Cup teams.(Roush Racing PR)(5-22-2003)

CITGO Launches Peel Out, Reel In and Win! Million Dollar Challenge: CITGO Petroleum Corporation announced plans to roll out its second annual "Peel Out, Reel In & Win! Million Dollar Challenge" that could result in two grand prize winner millionaires in the fall of 2003. More than $250,000 in additional consumer prizes will be awarded in the national promotion, which runs from May 23 through July 6, 2003. The grand prize winner will be drawn on September 15, 2003, to participate in the selection of one of the challenges, and the big chance to win the $1,000,000.(Cox Marketing PR), for more info on the contest, see my Racing Contests page, also a special paint scheme will be run, not sure what, see an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(5-13-2003)
UPDATE: the scheme will be run in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 25th.(5-14-2003)

Roush Street: NASCAR multi-team owner Jack Roush was the keynote speaker during a luncheon Wednesday for the Motorsports Madness 2003 event held at Concord Regional Airport by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event unites businesses related to motorsports. Roush’s company employees about 1,800 people in five states, 350 of which are employed in this region. With Roush moving his world headquarters and museum to Cabarrus County, many more jobs are expected. Concord Mayor Scott Padgett honored Roush Wednesday by designating the road that leads to Roush Headquarters as Roush Place NW. It was formerly Downwind Boulevard.(Independent Tribune)(5-8-2003)

Sponsorships Up: Roush needs 4? Pennzoil looking? UPDATE 2: Car owners working the sponsorship marketplace are starting to put offers on the table, and the next few weeks will likely be filled with rumors of possible driver and team changes, rumors based on some contract negotiating points. Jack Roush needs to lock up sponsors for four of his five teams, and DEI's sponsorship deal with Pennzoil is up for renewal. The Pennzoil contract may be the hottest one at the moment, and it's not at all clear if the company will remain with DEI.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-14-2003)
UPDATE: my records show that only the #99 is unknown, the #6 is thru 2005, the #16 and #17 are at least thru 2004 and the #97 is supposedly thru 2006.(4-15-2003)

UPDATE 2: Roush Racing’s president, Geoff Smith, spoke with Team Ford Racing regarding the status of the sponsorship deals on the five NASCAR Winston Cup cars his operation runs. Smith began by saying that of his five entries only Greg Biffle’s #16 Granger Ford is 100 percent locked-in with sponsorship, which spans through the 2005 season. Deals are pending with Matt Kenseth’s, Mark Martin’s, Jeff Burton’s and Kurt Busch’s existing sponsors, but are not complete, yet. Pfizer, via its Viagra brand, has a contract with Martin’s #6 team through the end of this year, with an option through the 2005 season. DeWalt, which sponsors Kenseth’s #17 Taurus, inked a one-year deal in 2002 for space. Burton’s #99 and Busch’s #97 both need renewals. Smith told TFR that he’s been “in detailed discussions for a period of time” with the four sponsors that are currently on Roush Cup entries and “in every case we’re past the stage of money.” Smith said that he hopes to have signed sponsors contracts near the end of May. His job is made somewhat easier, despite the tight economy, with programs among the strongest in the industry. As Smith works with potential sponsors the cars sit first (Kenseth) and fourth (Busch) in the point standings and the stable has two marquee drivers in Martin and Burton. Additionally, Smith said there is “interest in our programs beyond these [sponsors].”(Ford Racing)(5-1-2003)

Andrew's Proud: #99 crew chief Paul Andrews was showing some pride from across the country Sunday evening after his son, Busch North Series rookie Tim Andrews, scored a fourth-place finish in that NASCAR Touring division's opener, the Freedom 150 at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway.(NASCAR.com)(4-29-2003)

Pocono's France award goes to Jack Roush: Winston Cup car owner Jack Roush [#'s 6,16,17,97,99] has been named the recipient of the 2003 Bill France Award of Excellence, presented annually by Pocono Raceway. The award, first presented in 1977, is named for the late NASCAR founder and is presented to a person, company or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the sport. The award is a sculpted and highly polished piece of anthracite mined in Pennsylvania and will be presented in a ceremony on June 7 at the speedway.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-26-2003)

Roush Drivers Featured on Collectibles Tins: Racing fans nationwide now have the opportunity to collect four limited edition tins designed by motorsports master artist Sam Bass featuring four of Roush Racing's drivers: Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton. Through June, each limited edition tin is free with the purchase of three-packs of Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese Dishes and Velveeta Shells & Cheese. "The tins are truly a collectors item for race fans nationwide," said Bass. "I'm expecting them to fly off store shelves because they are truly a unique keepsake. I'm betting they won't last in stores long!" A perfect gift for racing fans or motorsports memorabilia collectors, each of the four tins is a reproduction of a watercolor original that artfully depicts a Roush driver from the 2003 lineup, his number, two views of his car, and signature, as seen through Bass' unique perspective. Bass' renditions of Roush Racing drivers, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, and Jeff Burton showcase their determination to the sport, and their own colorful personalities. The competitive spirit they represent is evident in these intricately detailed illustrations. "It's a great honor to be selected for these limited edition tins that feature me and my Roush Racing teammates," said Jeff Burton, a Roush driver since 1996. "Known among race fans and drivers as the first officially licensed artist of this sport, Bass' participation in this program is an incredible opportunity to collect his racing memorabilia." Furthermore, Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese and Velveeta Shells & Cheese will donate $5,000 to Duke (University) Children's Hospital in Durham, NC, a cause that Burton and his wife have supported for years. The tin and three-pack, which retail for $4.99 each and can be found on special display or in the Macaroni & Cheese section of your favorite grocery store, make Bass' hot collectible illustrations available to a wider fan base, a goal shared by both Bass and Kraft. Noted John Kelly of Kraft Foods: "Considering Sam Bass is a recognizable leader in the field of graphic design and that Macaroni and Cheese is everyone's favorite, who wouldn't want to collect these one of a kind tins?" For more information on the Sam Bass Collectible tins, visit www.kraftfoods.com or www.sambass.com.(4-15-2003)

Roush Comments on the Restrictor Plate Racing: Jack Roush might have a new lease on life, and the accompanying attitude that a near death experience brings, but Roush has no love in his heart for the racing venues known as Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
Roush can rattle-off reason after reason why restrictor plate racing should become a thing of the past, including:
• Four races of the year cost the same as a whole program
• He’s tired of hauling wrecked cars home from such tracks
• He dislikes requiring his drivers endure the experience.
But, Roush sums-up the entire exercise — taxing. Add the new no call from NASCAR angle from last week’s Talladega race, where Roush had a vested interest in the winner, and he just shakes his head. “Five teams is probably a fifteen million dollar proposition,” Roush said regarding the investment that is made to prepare Mark Martin’s, Jeff Burton’s, Matt Kenseth’s, Kurt Busch’s and Greg Biffle’s cars for probable destruction on a plate track.(See full story at Ford Racing)(4-14-2003)

Parrott Speaks: Brad Parrott, car chief of the #99 Citgo Taurus, held a brief Q&A session in the Martinsville Speedway Infield Media Center before NASCAR Winston Cup qualifying to discuss his departure from Robert Yates Racing and re-hiring at Roush Racing. (a few choice tidbits, see link in parens for more).
“First of all, I’d like to say that there’s not a better person in this garage area than Dale Jarrett. He’s a great person, individual and race car driver. I worked from February 1st to Tuesday and had one day off. I worked to make Dale Jarrett the best race car driver in the garage area and I’m sorry I couldn’t make that happen. I’m here this weekend and I’m racing with Jeff Burton for the next three years for sure. I’ve got a contract now and I’m happy about it. I know Jeff Burton is gonna go out and win a lot of races and I’m gonna help Paul Andrews. I’m gonna be the car chief on the 99 Citgo team and we’re gonna go win races and go have fun.”
WHAT HAPPENED FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? “I was told there were too many opinions and that comes from going in the truck at Texas. I stayed out by the car and worked on the car at Texas a little bit and went in the truck and there were four guys in the truck telling Dale what the race car needed, so I turned around and walked back out.”
HAVE YOU TALKED TO TODD? “Todd is taking a month off and he’ll evaluate his situation when it comes time, but you’ll have to talk to him about what his plans are.”
DID YOU TALK TO YOUR DAD [Buddy] AND WHAT DID HE SAY? “Yeah, I heard from dad. He remembers the time back in 1978 that he walked into the DiGard shop and took care of business. He asked me if I took care of business and I said, ‘no’ because times have changed.”(Ford Racing)(4-12-2003)

Brad Parott back to Roush? UPDATE: hearing former #88 Crew Chief, Brad Parrott will be the new car chief for #99-Jeff Burton.(4-10-2003)
UPDATE: Roush Racing announced today that they have re-hired Brad Parrott and assigned him to join the #99 CITGO team, reporting to crew chief Paul Andrews. "We are excited to bring Brad (Parrott) back to Roush Racing," said Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 CITGO Ford. "Our Busch Series team had a lot of success last year and Brad was a big contributor to that success so we think he can come in and help the #99 team this year." Parrott was crew chief for Burton and the #9 Busch Series team in 2002 making the trip to victory lane five times in only 14 races. Crew chief Paul Andrews is excited to have this kind of experience in his stable. "I think this is a really good thing," said Andrews. "We will be able to utilize Brad's (Parrott) knowledge and expertise to help advance the #99 team. We are fortunate to have so many talented people working on the CITGO team, and Brad will help make us even stronger."(Roush Racing site)(4-10-2003)

Jeff Burton and Dan Ackroyd Team Up for "Auto Care Month": The month of April is "Auto Care Month" and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and American Lung Association are launching a massive public awareness campaign on behalf of cleaner air and more efficiently running cars. They are teaming up with Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 CITGO Ford, and actor/comedian Dan Ackroyd to produce a public service campaign titled, "The Little Light with a Big Message." "I'm honored to be a part of the campaign," said Burton. "Hopefully it will bring awareness and educate people about a topic most of us ignore." The campaign centers around the "check engine" light in the dashboard of cars and trucks. Research has shown that most people ignore the light when it comes on. This could shorten engine life, increase harmful emissions and reduce gas mileage. "This is a small but important thing." Burton continued, "If people would take the time to have their engines checked when the light came on, it would save them time, money and headaches down the road." Burton and Ackroyd have taped a :30 second TV spot and radio spots that will begin airing April 12 and run through July 12. The TV and radio campaign will be distributed to all TV/radio networks and cable outlets and will be run during NASCAR race broadcasts.(Roush Racing)(4-10-2003)

Roush 'Virtual' Engine? Some rival engine men say they believe that Roush Racing has been using an experimental engine-design program that creates a virtual engine inside a computer. If that is true, then Roush could be on the verge of a major breakthrough. And that would certainly be worth the risk of blowing a few motors. However, those rivals say that the problem at the moment is that those new engine designs need a lot more track time to prove their worthiness.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-25-2003)

#99 Darlington Engine Problem Found: Paul Andrews, crew chief for #99-Jeff Burton, says that a problem with the bearings caused Burton's engine to blow during last weekend's race at Darlington. "The bearings are coated and it looks like something with the coating might have messed up the bearings," Andrews said. That batch of bearings was in all the Bristol engines at Roush Racing, forcing the team to change the bearings in all its Bristol cars this week.(Roanoke Times)(3-22-2003)

DW vs Jeff Burton? Apparently there’s a bit of ill-will between TV’s Boogety, Boogety, Boogety-man, Darrell Waltrip, and Winston Cup driver Jeff Burton. Waltrip’s ire stems from comments made by Burton during Darlington rain delay coverage. Burton, who is among the best analysts in the sport, commented that driving these cars now takes everything that a driver can muster; and that drivers are up on the wheel for every foot of every race. Waltrip, at the time of Burton’s comment, fired back that modern day cars have power steering and air conditioning. Waltrip’s day, which was quite a while before he retired in 1999, saw him drive real cars, with manual steering and no spoilers. Apparently, Waltrip talked about Burton’s comments all week with anyone who would listen. The disagreement appears to be on par with countless other generation gap issues, when the old guard reminds the youngsters, how hard things were in the past.(Ford Racing Correspondent)(3-22-2003)

Burton testing at Kentucky: #99-Jeff Burton is scheduled to test Kentucky Speedway on Tuesday, March 4th(Kentucky Speedway PR)(3-4-2003)

2002 News

Burton returns to IROC broadcast team: #99 Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton will join Bob Jenkins and Scott Goodyear in the announcers' booth for the 2003 IROC Race Series. Burton, who made his broadcasting debut with the series last year, will return to help call the 27th season of the series, which is to be aired on ESPN.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(2-12-2002)

Cheesy Scheme: hearing that #99 Jeff Burton will run a Kraft Velveeta scheme sometime in 2003, maybe the Winston Open in May?(12-12-2002)

Burton Wants Safety Changes: Jeff Burton hasn't always had a spotter in the spotters' stand when he's practicing his Cup and BGN cars, but he will from now on. And he thinks NASCAR should require everyone else to do the same. "I think mandating that is a good idea," Burton said Friday after qualifying second for Saturday's Little Trees 300 BGN race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Most teams have spotters in place during practices, but there currently is no NASCAR rule requiring that. Spotters most often work from the tops of teams' transporters in the garage area in practices. Teams must have a spotter in the spotters' stand during a race. The spotting role has become an issue this week after Wednesday's crash during an ARCA. Burton said he thinks requiring spotters be in the spotters' stand for each practice is only part of what should be done to help prevent similar accidents. He supports the installation of more and brighter warning lights in turns so drivers will be more likely to see them when they indicate trouble on the track. He also thinks NASCAR cars should have onboard warning lights, similar to ones used in the IRL and other series, that come on when the track's lights are activated. He also believes NASCAR should begin penalizing drivers who attempt to make passes while racing back to the yellow flag. NASCAR encourages drivers to adhere to a "gentleman's agreement" not to race back to the flag, but has no rule preventing it. "The same thing that happened here the other night could happen on Sunday," Burton said of the ARCA incident. "This gentleman's agreement crap is just that, it's crap. There is no gentleman's agreement. People race back to the line. You'll be racing for sixth and a guy will beat you to the line with 50 laps to go. It only takes two or three people to screw it up. That's generally what happens. There are two or three people out there who don't give a damn. They'll pass you no matter what. I think NASCAR should step in and stay enough is enough. If they catch you racing back to the flag they should penalize you five laps I don't think it should be a gentleman's agreement. I think it ought to be a rule. If they don't make a rule, we'll never do the right thing. You're competitiveness overrides your brain. It puts you and your competitors in situations you don't need to be in."(ThatsRacin.com)(10-12-2002)

New 2003 Scheme for the #99: More than 3,000 CITGO marketers witnessed the unveiling of the #99 CITGO Ford 2003 paint scheme at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. Roush Racing team owner, Jack Roush, made the trip to the Opryland Hotel for the unveiling as CITGO driver Jeff Burton remained at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Roush unveiled the new paint scheme with W.A. DeVore, senior vice president of marketing, light oils and lubricants for CITGO. The paint scheme was revealed in conjunction with CITGO's annual President's Meeting. The President's Meeting is an intense, four-day event where CITGO's top marketers learn about product and retail development as well as new ways to leverage the CITGO brand through various promotional platforms, including NASCAR.(Cox Marketing). See this car and a few others on my new 2003 section of the Paint Scheme Gallery.(10-11-2002)

Roush Engine Problems at Kansas: Jeff Paxton, head engine tuner for Roush Racing, said the three Roush cars that had engine failures last weekend at Kansas City all had different problems with the valve train. He said Martin's engine suffered a broken rocker arm. Jeff Burton's engine broke a valve, and Kurt Busch 's engine broke a rocker arm stud. Paxton said he had not seen those problems this season until last weekend. Since those engines are similar to what the team will use at Charlotte next weekend, he'll have changes made. "The Charlotte motors are already built but we're going to change items Monday or Tuesday to hopefully prevent another failure from happening," he said.(Roanoke Times)(10-5-2002)

Stoddard has a job...for this week..at Dover....in the BGNN: Crew chief Frank Stoddard, who was replaced by Paul Andrews on the 99 car two weeks ago, will be in Dover this weekend, but he'll be helping out his childhood friend Mike Olsen, the 2001 NASCAR Busch North champion. The North Series races at Dover Friday afternoon.(Fox Sports Net)(9-19-2002)

Stoddard wants to stay a Cup Crew Chief: Frank Stoddard, recently replaced by Paul Andrews on Jeff Burton's #99 team, made it clear Friday that he still has his mind set on being a Winston Cup crew chief. Stoddard still works for Roush Racing and said he has been offered the chance to stay there and work with Roush's Truck series operations. But he doesn't sound like he's seriously considering that option. "I've had calls from three or four teams," Stoddard said. "There's no doubt in my mind that I have something to offer some team in this garage."(ThatsRacin.com)(9-14-2002)

Andrews In, Stoddard out at the #99 UPDATE Stoddard to Davis?: Roush Racing announced that Paul Andrews has been hired as the crew chief of the #99 CITGO Ford, effective immediately. Andrews has been a Winston Cup crew chief since 1988 when he was teamed up with the late Alan Kulwicki. In 1992 the pair won the Winston Cup Championship in addition to racking up two wins and six poles. Andrews has achieved 12 total Winston Cup victories in addition to 74 top-five and 145 top-10 finishes. Andrews was most recently crew chief of the #1 car of Steve Park (see next story). "Paul will make a great addition to the #99 CITGO team," said Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 CITGO Ford. "The CITGO team has been running really well and we're looking to build on that with the addition of Paul. Frank has done a magnificent job helping to build a Winston Cup championship contending team," said Burton. "But after long consideration, we both think we're better served to take the next step forward by revamping the chemistry of the team, by making this change." Former Crew Chief Frank Stoddard has been offered a choice of other management positions within the Roush Racing organization, and his decision will be announced in the near future. "I'm proud to have been crew chief for a start up team that has been able to win 17 times and earn three top-five seasons' point finishes," said Stoddard. "And I think the addition of Paul Andrews to Roush Racing will be a positive one for the organization."(Roush Racing PR)(9-4-2002)
UPDATE: hearing some rumors that former #99 crew chief, Frank Stoddard could be heading to Bill Davis Racing as the crew chief for Kenny Wallace and the #23 Hill Bros Coffee (Stacker2 in 2003) Dodge.(9-6-2002)
UPDATE 2:You’ll likely be reading tomorrow about Frankie Stoddard’s big deal with Bill Davis to take over as crew chief of the #23, Kenny Wallace, Dodge. The story, while intriguing – and possible, will be premature if it should make it to print. Davis said, “We’ve been good friends with Frankie for years. Of course we’re interested in talking with him —when he’s ready.” Stoddard’s wife, Heidi, works for Davis and told TFR that Frankie is going to take a little rest this weekend and clear his mind. Frankie will have options with Roush, but nothing has been offered firmly to the displaced crew chief.(Ford Racing)(9-7-2002)

IRWIN Rough to Finish Award #99 Team: Gray skies and rain were consistent at Sunday's Mountain Dew Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C., and so was the No. 99 CITGO Ford of Jeff Burton. As a result of the team's top-10 finish, Frank Stoddard takes home this week's IRWIN "Rough to the Finish" Award, his second award in as many weeks and third overall. As the storms began to subside Sunday on a rain-filled weekend at Darlington Raceway, the race cars began shuffling onto the track. Starting from the 13th position, Burton quickly climbed his way through the field to sixth position by lap 45. Fueled by quick pit stops, Burton was able to take the lead by lap 129, where he remained for the next 24 laps. On lap 204, Burton, now running third, ran through some oil and crashed into the wall causing damage to the #99 CITGO Ford. The No. 99 team sprung into action and by lap 245, the team had the car fixed and Burton was running in 22nd. One by one Burton worked his way back through the pack, again with the help of some of the day's quickest pit stops, to cross the start/finish line in 10th place, the team's 10th top-10 finish of the year. "The CITGO team is running well," said Stoddard. "It's a shame that we hit that oil patch in turn one after the accident, but what can you do. I applaud the efforts of everyone in the pits today. When our backs were up against the wall, these guys really came through. These guys, including Jeff, deserve all the credit." With this week's award, Stoddard is now tied with #97 crew chief Jimmy Fennig for the points lead in the year-long competition. Each crew chief has three awards to his credit so far this season. Four other crew chiefs are tied for second with two awards apiece. They include Chad Knaus (#48), Bill Wilburn (#2), Tony Eury (#8) and Todd Parrott (#88). Five others are tied for third with one award each.(NOTE: Stoddard is no longer the crew chief of the #99, see story below)
Each week throughout the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, Irwin, makers of professional power tool accessories like Marathon Plus saw blades and Speedbor flat bits, is partnering with Performance Racing Network to honor the crew chief who had the toughest day in the pits, but still managed to help his team to a strong finish. The IRWIN Rough to the Finish Award includes an assortment of tools for the crew chief and a $250 check donated to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund in the racing team's name.. The year-end winner of the crew chief points standings will win a $5,000 check donated to the Fund.. Race fans wanting to make a contribution to the Fund may do so by sending it to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund, PO Box 443, Ellerbe, NC 28338. In addition to the crew chief award, Irwin is also sponsoring the weekly nationally syndicated radio show, "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons", throughout the upcoming year.(Golin Harris PR)(9-6-2002)

NAPCM Pit Crew Of The Week (Darlington) #99 CITGO Crew: This Weeks NAPCM Pit Crew Of The Week sponsored by Toxabsorb, 21st Century "Spill Magnet", Pit Road Competitive Edge and the Official Spill Response Agent of The National Association Of Pit Crew Members goes to the #99 Crew for their hard work all day in making repairs and keeping their car on the lead lap and coming in with a top 10 finish. The #99 Crew fought adversity for the last to weeks in a row now with a good finish. Visit www.toxabsorb.com for all Toxabsorb household and pit road uses. Check out the latest Mechanix Wear "Pit Crew Of The Year" standings and finalist available ONLY at the National Association Of Pit Crew Members website.(www.napcm.com).(8-29-2002)

IRWIN Rough to Finish Award: At last Saturday's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, tempers flared, cautions were abundant and emotions ran hot. In the end, few cars were able to escape the race without any damage.. The #99 CITGO Ford of Jeff Burton's was no exception. But the team overcame some mid-race bad luck to finish in the top-15, helping earn team crew chief Frank Stoddard this week's "IRWIN Rough to the Finish" award. Starting from the 36th position, Burton methodically made his way through traffic all night, climbing as high as 5th after a fast pit stop during a caution flag on lap 292. When the field came to the restart, the #19 and #88 got tangled up in front of Burton. Burton had nowhere to go, and ran into the #88 causing severe damage to the nose of the car. The #99 CITGO Ford would come in for a series of green flag pit stops to assess and fix the damage, eventually going a lap down on lap 355. But Burton persisted, and was able to regain his lap later in the race and climb to 13th position, where he would finish the night. "The #99 CITGO team did a great job in the pits this past weekend," said Stoddard. "We were really running strong before the accident. Unfortunately, we won't know how well we could have done tonight. But this team really came through under some difficult circumstances and allowed Jeff to post a top-15 finish.. My hat's off to all those guys in the pits - they deserve all the credit."
Each week throughout the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, Irwin, makers of professional power tool accessories like Marathon Plus saw blades and Speedbor flat bits, is partnering with Performance Racing Network to honor the crew chief who had the toughest day in the pits, but still managed to help his team to a strong finish. The IRWIN Rough to the Finish Award includes an assortment of tools for the crew chief and a $250 check donated to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund in the racing team's name.. The year-end winner of the crew chief points standings will win a $5,000 check donated to the Fund.. Race fans wanting to make a contribution to the Fund may do so by sending it to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund, PO Box 443, Ellerbe, NC 28338. In addition to the crew chief award, Irwin is also sponsoring the weekly nationally syndicated radio show, "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons", throughout the upcoming year.(Golin Harris PR)(8-28-2002)

Jeff Burton to help out MDA at Darlington: #99-Jeff Burton will run a special paint scheme for this weekend's Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington to help raise money to find a cure for muscular dystrophy. It's the second year that Burton and his car's sponsor, CITGO, have teamed up in the benefit. Burton's car will have a red, white and blue paint scheme for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Burton will wear a specially designed helmet and firesuit that will be auctioned off later to help raise money for MDA.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(8-27-2002)

#99 Scheme at Chicago: The #99 CITGO Ford, driven by Jeff Burton, will be sporting the Bassmasters Classic paint scheme for the second annual Tropicana 400 at Chicago. "I'm looking forward to Chicago this weekend," said Burton. "The CITGO car has a special paint scheme to help promote the Bassmasters Classic this weekend. It's a cool paint scheme and has a lot more yellow than the fans are used to seeing." The CITGO Bassmasters Classic will take place in Birmingham, AL July 25-27. Burton attended the event last year, along with 20,000 fans, which jammed into the Louisiana Superdome for the annual event. This year's event features 52 of the top anglers, from around the world, who will be competing for the title of World Champion. The event will take place at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center and the weigh ins will be held at the venue's arena. The event is free to the public and in addition to the Classic. Burton will be appearing at the trade show on Thursday, July 25 from noon to 2:00pm at the CITGO booth. Burton will be signing autographs for visitors to the CITGO Bassmasters Classic.(Roush Racing PR)(7-11-2002)

Congrats: Heidi Stoddard brought into the world a 6 lb. 7 oz. baby girl at 7:30am this morning. Heidi and Frank [#99 Crew Chief] named her Alexis Heather Stoddard. Mother and baby are doing great. Heidi does the PR for Ward Burton and the #22 CAT team.(6-25-2002)

Burton tests at road course: #99- Jeff Burton was at Virginia International Raceway Tuesday testing his road course #99 CITGO Ford in preparation for the upcoming race at Sears Point on June 23 in Sonoma, CA.(Danville Register Bee)(5-22-2002)

Burton denies rumors - update: Though his name has been mentioned among the list of drivers changing rides in 2003, Jeff Burton says he has no intention of leaving Roush Racing. "I can tell you that I am 100 percent committed to Roush Racing and Citgo," Burton said. "I have not sat down with Rick Hendrick to discuss me driving his cars nor anyone else. I am committed to where I am. I have a true dedication to Roush Racing that has developed and shown over time and to give all that away would be stupid." The current rumor, which began to swirl last week at Richmond, is that Burton had met with Hendrick to discuss driving the #25 Chevy. Interestingly, he wasn't even in North Carolina at the time of the alleged meeting. "In Richmond I was asked about the Hendrick deal and that I was supposedly over there talking to somebody, and the time that was mentioned I happened to have been in Boca Raton," Burton said. "So I am confused about where I am supposed to be and where I actually am on any given night." This isn't Burton's first foray into the Winston Cup rumor mill. Last year, he was rumored to be leaving Roush for Richard Childress Racing. That was also inaccurate. "I stand by what I said last year. I have no idea at all where all this is coming from," Burton continued. "We have a team running second in points, a car that's third in points, a car that's fourth in points and a car that's ninth in points. There is no other team right now that can boast those credentials. For me to say that I need to go somewhere else really doesn't make any sense. If my teammates are out performing us, then we need to get off our butts and get where we are second in points. Where I am is where I need to be."(NASCAR.com)(5-14-2002)

Roush Drivers Locked In thru 2003 UPDATE 3 But: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith says all his drivers are under contract through next season. The only negotiations he's involved in now are with Matt Kenseth's sponsor, DeWalt. And those talks are proceeding without any outside interference - the two have a "good faith" negotiation policy in effect until May 31. After that, each becomes a free agent. Smith was involved in the original contract between Elliott Sadler and Wood Brothers Racing. He said that contract can only be dissolved if it is beneficial to both.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-5-2002)
UPDATE: hearing a bit 'out there' rumor from many sources saying Jeff Burton currently driving the #99 CITGO Ford and his crew chief may move to the Hendrick #25 Chevy. BUT last I heard Burton is signed thru 2005 with Roush.(5-6-2002)
UPDATE 2: Rumors had Jeff Burton possibly taking over in the #25 car after reports of Burton being spotted at Hendrick Motorsports. Burton told reporters Wednesday he's confused about where he's supposed to be because the day he was supposedly seen at Hendrick he was in Boca Raton, Florida. Burton says he's 100% committed to Roush racing and sponsor CITGO. "Rick Hendrick and I have had no sit down conversation about me driving his cars nor anyone else. I'm committed to where I am. I have a true dedication for Roush Racing which I've shown over the period of time, and to give all that away would be stupid. Where I am is where I need to be and that's where I intend to stay". Noting that all of the Roush cars are currently top-10 in the point standings, Burton said "For me to say that I need to go some place else and race doesn't make any sense". Burton spent part of Wednesday pumping gas and giving away Coca-Cola at a Citgo station near Lowes Motor Speedway as drivers lined up around the block waiting for Burton to fill-up their cars.(PRN's Garage Pass)(5-8-2002)
UPDATE 3: When the Winston Cup Series arrived at Richmond, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth were part of a rumor mill that has cranked up just 10 races into the season. According to garage-area gossip, both drivers are talking to Hendrick Motorsports about replacing Jerry Nadeau on the #25 team, with each taking their crew chiefs with them. Both were also mentioned as possible replacements for Ricky Rudd at Robert Yates Racing if Rudd retires. Like Smith, Burton and crew chief Frank Stoddard shrugged off the rumors as nothing more than gossip. “The truth is, I’ve had absolutely no conversation about driving the 25,” Burton says. “I have not been to Hendrick Motorsports to sit down and talk. That’s what I heard yesterday, that I was over there the other night. None of that’s true.” According to Kenseth, neither has he. “That’s the first time I heard that one,” he said. “I don’t really pay too much attention to all that stuff to tell you the truth. The same thing happened to me last year and I’m still in the same place that I was last year, so I don’t really get too concerned over it.” For the record, Kenseth has a contract with Roush through 2004. Burton, meanwhile, has a long-term contract that was just extended two years ago, Smith said. Burton’s sponsor, Citgo, is signed through 2003, but the agreement for DeWalt Tools to sponsor Kenseth ends after this season. Smith says, however, that he is in negotiations with DeWalt on a new deal.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(5-9-2002)

New Heart: Sherman Forrester didn’t have to wait long for a new heart. The motorcoach driver for Jeff Burton received a heart transplant April 12 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. On April 14, he was moved into a private room.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(4-18-2002)

#99 Special Schemes: hearing that #99 Jeff Burton will be running three special paint schemes this year. CITGO Peel In Reel out and Win at the Winston and Sears Point (image in Paint Scheme Gallery), CITGO BASS Fishing (Daytona, July 6th) and MDA Charity Citgo (Darlington).(4-17-2002)

#99 Jackman UPDATE 2: hearing that Britt Goodrich, the jackman for #49-Shawna Robinson (who is not racing this week at Rockigham) #49, will jack the #99-Jeff Burton Ford at Rockingham as thee regular #99 jackman, Brian Perry, injured an ankle last weekend in Daytona.(2-22-2002)
UPDATE: Shawna Robinson's jackman, Britt Goodrich, will jack Jeff Burton's No. 99 Ford today at the Rock. Burton's regular jackman, Brian Perry, injured an ankle last week at Daytona International Speedway when Kyle Petty's car ran into the jackman on pit road during the Daytona 500.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-24-2002)
UPDATE 2: Brian Perry, the jackman for Jeff Burton, will go to a doctor later this week to see if he can jack the car this weekend at Las Vegas. Perry was hit in the ankle by the car of Kyle Petty during the Daytona 500. Perry suffered a cut on his right ankle that required stitches, but his ankle was not broken nor sprained.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-26-2002)

Burton the Announcer: #99-Jeff Burton will announce the 2002 True Value IROC Series along side Bob Jenkins and Scott Goodyear on ESPN and ABC. Burton will now be doing double and sometimes triple duty on race weekends driving the #99 CITGO Ford in Cup, the #9 GAIN Ford in the BGN and announcing the IROC races. Burton has been a participant the past four IROC seasons with one win in 1998 at Michigan. He also finished second overall in points that same year in the IROC series. However, this is Burton's first stint as an announcer and he feels confident he can do the job. There will be 12 drivers representing four different race series in 2002 and that should make for some exciting racing. The combination of Burton, who will be representing NASCAR, and Goodyear, who will be representing the IRL, should also make for some colorful commentating.(Roush Racing PR)(1-26-2002)

Kraft Foods and Roush Racing Launch Sponsorship: Roush Racing announced that eight Kraft brands have become associate team sponsors on all five Winston Cup cars in the Roush stable, as well as one Busch series car. Kraft will launch its racing program in Daytona as the primary sponsor of Mark Martin's #6 Kraft Ford Taurus in the pre-season Budweiser Shootout on February 10. All eight of the participating Kraft brands will make their debut - through signage on the car - as Martin kicks off the program. Race fans will have Roush drivers and Kraft brands to root for once the official racing starts. Brand logos will be positioned prominently on the car of each respective driver. Mark Martin's #6 Ford will include Maxwell House Coffee as an associate sponsor in the regular Winston Cup schedule. Jeff Burton's #99 Ford features Velveeta, while Matt Kenseth's #17 Taurus features Kraft Singles, Miracle Whip Salad Dressing and Kraft Mayonnaise as associate sponsors. Kurt Busch's #97 Ford brandishes the Tombstone Pizza brand as an associate sponsor and Greg Biffle's #16 Winston Cup ride and #60 BGN Ford highlights the Taco Bell Home Originals brand as an associate sponsor.(PR), see my Paint Schemes Gallery for a couple images of the car/scheme - links fixed(1-18-2002)

Atlanta Testing UPDATE 4: #99-Jeff Burton will test at Atlanta Motor Speedway for Goodyear on Jan 7-8th and #28-Ricky Rudd will test there on Jan 21-22.(AMS PR)(1-2/7-2002)
UPDATE: testing was pushed back a day due to poor weather and will now run Tues/Wed instead for Burton and Goodyear(PRN's Garage Pass radio show)(1-7-2002)
UPDATE 2: no speeds to report, but hearing Burton has blown two engines during the test and has brought out a 2nd car to test(1-8-2002)
UPDATE 3: Jeff Burton's two-day Goodyear Tire test started slowly Tuesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, as Burton managed to complete just six laps before blowing his second engine of the day. The team pulled out the backup car with a third engine to complete the afternoon.s test session. "We don.t really know what happened," Burton said. "We would rather spend our time getting back out on track and taking advantage of our time than thinking analytically about how and why the engines blew. We'll figure that out later. But we really don't have any idea why both of them blew they're the same engines we had here in November for the race, just rebuilt." Mart Keto, Goodyear's lead engineer for NASCAR, said there will be enough time Wednesday to complete the Goodyear testing. Goodyear is trying to increase wear for the left-side tires before the March 10 Atlanta 500. "We don't want to change too much with the tires, because we've had some really good races here in Atlanta, and we don't want to screw that up," Keto said. "We'll test 5 or 6 different left-side compounds and leave the right side alone." Burton is the first driver on track in 2002. The next scheduled test is Jan. 23-24 with Ricky Rudd and Robert Yates Racing.(AMS PR)(1-8-2002)
UPDATE 4: After shaking off all the cobwebs yesterday, #99-Jeff Burton returned to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second of a two-day Goodyear Tire test Wednesday, turning a top lap of 184.125 mph. Burton lost two motors and turned only about 20 laps Tuesday before pulling out the backup car and third and final engine. They continued the test Wednesday with that package, completing tests for Goodyear designed to help find a left-side tire with better wear before the March 10 Atlanta 500. "I think we found something good," Burton said. "I feel good about it. We came in looking for better grip and more wear, and that.s what we found." The next scheduled test at Atlanta Motor Speedway is Jan. 23-24 with Ricky Rudd and Robert Yates Racing.(AMS PR). NOTE: Yates has said Rudd would not test but the team would, so look for another driver to sub for Rudd.(1-10-2002)

2001 News

Buddy Parrott leaves Roush? UPDATE retires: hearing rumblings that Roush Performance Development Manager and lengendary crew chief, Buddy Parrott has parted ways with Roush Racing(12-24-2001)
UPDATE: One of the longtime mainstays in the NASCAR garage has retired. 62-year old Buddy Parrott steps down following.34 years in Winston Cup racing, the last seven with Roush Racing where he had recently served as Performance Development Manager. Parrott.told PRN's Garagepass that.Ted Musgrave.once said he had been around so long he greased the wheels on Ben Hurr's chariot! Parrott said his most memorable racing moments he was a part of include Jeff Burton's first win at Texas, Richard Petty's 200th victory at Daytona, Derrick Cope's Daytona 500 triumph in 1990, and helping Rusty Wallace win 19 races in two seasons. He'll still visit the NASCAR garage now and again, and may serve as an occasional consultant to Roush Racing. Parrott says his health is good so he wants to enjoy life and ride his motorcycle.(PRN's Garage Pass)(1-3-2002)

#9 crew members to #99? Crew members Ryan Buscaglio [Front Tire Carrier], Andy Thurman [Front Tire Changer], Heath Cherry [Rear Tire Carrier] and Marc Jacobs [Jackman] left Bill Elliott’s [#9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge] team for jobs with Jeff Burton’s #99 Ford in 2002(Sporting News), hearing Cherry and Jacobs went to the #41 Ganassi Racing team and driver Jimmy Spencer and that Thurman went to Roush, but to the #97 team(12-24-2001)

Rolex 24 and Cup Drivers: Kyle Petty, John Andretti, Jeff Burton will race together in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Petty, Andretti and Burton will drive an Orbit Racing Porsche in the GT class, while Wally Dallenbach will take the wheel of Robinson Racing's prototype for the race Feb. 2-3. Petty helped Orbit Racing to a fourth-place finish last year in the GT class, and teamed with Andretti in Orbit's Porsche GT3 RS to win the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 at Watkins Glen International. Dallenbach will join team owner George Robinson, Jack Baldwin and Steve Knapp in a Judd-powered Riley & Scott Mark III-C.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(11-8-2001)

Jeff Burton wins at Phoenix: #99-Jeff Burton wins the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix. It is Burton's 2nd win of the 2001 season and 17th career Cup win and the 50th Cup win for Roush Racing. Burton is only the 2nd driver to have two wins at Phoenix (Davey Allison in 1991-92). #12-Mike Wallace continues his nice run in the #12 Mobil One Ford with a 2nd place finish, his best ever career finish and his first top five since Atlanta in Nov of 1994 when he finished 5th. Points leader #24-Gordon finished 6th and now leads #28-Rudd by 380 points (4662 to 4282) with four races to go. See That's Racin' for Sunday's Checker 500 race results and Jeff Burton picks up 2nd win of '01 amd my 2001 Drivers Cup Points Page(10-28-2001)

Burton says never: The longstanding rumor that has Jeff Burton leaving Roush Racing [to the #12 or #31] at the end of the year has already been denied by Burton dozens of times. After Monday’s race, Burton went a step farther, going so far as to say he would "never" leave Roush’s Ford team.(Gaston Gazette)(10-16-2001)

Roush Team Intact for 2002: [#6-Mark] Martin is not retiring, moving on, slowing down or considering the end of his career. He is spending next season racing with Roush Racing teammates Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. According to Martin, neither is considering leaving the Roush fold. They plan to figure out the problems that have caused each of the teams to struggle this season. Martin's contract runs through 2005 - he's not thinking that the end of that contract will be the end of his commitment to racing.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-14-2001)

Burton Rumor Squashed...again: [#99-Jeff] Burton once again finds himself the center of attention, according to rumors and at least one report, ready to jump ship to Penske Racing in place of the recently departed Jeremy Mayfield. This just in: Not happening. Period, end of story. First of all, there are reports that Burton has a financial stake in the organization, and while it's certainly true that he could divest himself of those interests (if, in fact, they exist), there also is the fact that on numerous occasions Burton has claimed that he hopes to become a member of Roush Racing's management when his driving days are done. And if neither of those bits of data seems compelling enough to keep Burton honest, there's this: Geoff Smith, President of Roush Racing, is known to write contracts that are exceedingly difficult to break(CNN/SI), BUT Jeff Hammond of FSN's Totally NASCAR reports: One of the biggest rumors right now has to do with the 12 car, and Jeff Burton's name has been mentioned as a defector from the Roush camp.(10-10-2001)

Burton on TV: Jeff Burton will be featured on NBC Nightly News at 6:00pm/et Tuesday AND on ABC World News Tonight at 6:30pm/et. This past week, NBC followed the Burton's to daughter Paige's horse riding lessons. They also taped the family at their home and did an extensive interview with Jeff and Kim. The NBC crew then traveled to Michigan to see the 'Burton Raceday Routine'. They shot footage at hospitality, their motorcoach, and all during raceday. ABC visited Jeff at the Roush Racing shop in Concord on Monday to speak with him about his new aluminum seat along with other safety measures he's taking in order to improve the future of racing overall.(Roush Racing)(8-21-2001)

Special Assoc on the #99 at Michigan: Aerotek is going to have a logo on the #99 CITGO Superguard Ford this weekend at Michigan. It is the associate deal they normally have via Onsite Companies but they will run the Aerotek logo on it for the Pepsi 400 (lower door panel behind the number 99) because of their strong automotive presence in Detroit. Aerotek is going to have a hospitality rig at the track(8-16-2001)

Won't Go Away: Despite the insistence of Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, that all his drivers are solidly under contract, that he has no plans to let any of them buy out, and that all will back again next season, reports are hotter than ever that some of those Ford stars will be in Richard Childress' Chevrolet camp next season. Greg Biffle has toured Childress' shop south of Winston-Salem, according to team sources who insist Biffle is still a very strong candidate for a ride with Childress. However, Bobby Hutchens, general manager for Childress' racing operations, denied reports that Jeff Burton had signed or was close to signing a five-year contract with Childress to drive a Lowe's sponsored car. Lowe's officials have said privately their big goal now is to back a team that can beat Home Depot's Tony Stewart and that cost is not an issue(Winston Salem Journal), see the #17 Team News and Links page(Kenseth), #6 Team New and Links page(Biffle) and #99-Team News and Links page(Burton) for the past news on these rumors and denials(6-18-2001)

Jeff Burton wins Coca Cola 600: #99-Burton wins his first races of the 2001 season, the Coca-Cola 600 and puts him in the 2002 The Winston. Pole sitter #02-Ryan Newman crashed on lap 12 when he got loose and finished 43rd. The top four starters finished 26th or worse (#02-43rd, #24-29th, #66-37th, #9-26th). #20-Tony Stewart who officially started 12th but had to drop to the tail end of the field finished 3rd and was coming strong at the end. Stewart completed all 1,100 miles/600 laps and seemed fine after the Coca Cola 600.
#88-Dale Jarrett who used his first provisional ever with Robert Yates Racing(1995) was able to finish 8th and increased his points lead to 75 over #24-Jeff Gordon.
See That's Racin' for Coca-Cola 600 results and standings by the AP and for Winston Cup points (after Charlotte)(5-27-2001)

LI>Jeff Burton to test restraints: #99-Jeff Burton says he has scheduled to crash test the HANS device, the Hutchens device, the Simpson Decelerator and compare the results(Roanoke Times), no word on where or how(5-5-2001)

No HANS for Burton: Jeff Burton is wearing the Hutcherson Device (note: thought it was the Hutchens device), an alternative to the HANS (head and neck safety) Device that is supposed to prevent the neck-whipping action that may have caused Dale Earnhardt's death. "The reason I like it is because in a rearward impact, there is absolutely zero problem with the device causing some sort of issue that we don't know about," Burton said. "When I look at the HANS Device, with the parameters that we have to work in, the HANS is crammed into the car, crammed up against the driver's head and crammed against the seat." The HANS Device was designed for open-wheel racing and has been adapted for stock cars, although not to a universally acceptable degree. Some drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., are not wearing any head-and-neck restraint system. Burton concedes that the Hutcherson Device is not as effective in a head-on impact as the HANS, but he says that at a 30-degree impact, it works just as well.(Dallas Morning News)(4-5-2001)

Robinson and Burton test California: #99-Jeff Burton tested at California Speedway Monday and Tuesday of this week in preparation for the NAPA 500 on April 29 in Fontana, Calif. They not only became familiarized with the track, but they learned a number of things that will be helpful at other NASCAR tracks. "This was probably the most effective test we've ever had," Burton said. "We went there with some goals, and we achieved all of them while we were there. We used this test for many things, one being to learn more about the tire. I am happy with the results we got, and I feel more comfortable with the tire." Burton spent the first day of the test working on his qualifying setup, while the second day of the test was spent specifically on his race setup. The team tested its Atlanta car that competed in the Cracker Barrel 500 last month along with the Atlanta car that raced last season. #84-Shawna Robinson was the only other driver to participate in the two-day test with Burton at California Speedway.(Roush Racing)
AND Some quotes from Shawna Robinson regarding her test at California Speedway and her desire to be the first woman in 12 years to compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Robinson tested at the speedway in preparation for the upcoming NAPA AUTO PARTS 500. (On how her test is going): "The car is getting better and better, but not where it needs to be. We are making progress; small gains, but gains nonetheless. Every time I think I have the track figured out, we change something in the car and the comfort level goes down. One run could be fine and the next could be completely different. Basically, we've been concentrating on short runs and not focusing on time right now. This is my first experience with a Cup car, and my first time at this track. I have a pretty good comfort level at Michigan and this place is similar, but this place is really fast. Getting into the corners is very important here. We are going to stay tomorrow and do some more work. We need it. We need every minute of track time we can get." and (On her desire to compete in the Winston Cup Series): "My goal is to drive full-time next season. That is what it takes to be successful. I would not be at this level if I didn't think I deserved to be. My time is now. I have a lot of experience, but things have to be done right. That is why we are testing - to get a good feel for the car and get the team working together and on the same page. I feel I'm in my place when I'm in a race car. It is what I'm supposed to be doing."(California Speedway PR)(4-5-2001)

California Testing: Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 Citgo Supergard Ford, along with Shawna Robinson, the first woman to attempt to compete in a Winston Cup race in 12 years, will be at the speedway April 2nd and 3rd to test. The two-day test session will serve as a tune-up for the drivers heading into the NAPA AUTO PARTS 500 weekend, April 27-29.(California Speedway PR)(3-27-2001)

Jeff Burton to Childress? um...NO - UPDATE 3: it was reported on the radio show The LTN Hour NASCAR Radio Show(RA) last Sunday(3-18), that while Jeff Green will drive the #30 AOL Chevy fielded by Richard Childress Racing this year in seven races, there will be a big surprise who will drive the #30 car next year and said it will be Jeff, but not Green and will come from a Ford team. That leaves...Jeff Burton, one catch I see a problem with, Jeff Burton has a contract with his current team owner Jack Roush through 2005. Also said that Jeff Green will move up to Winston Cup with his current BGN team, ppc Racing in 2002
AND from this weeks Winston Cup Scene: Jeff Burton, who's been with Ford his entire Winston Cup career, was also rumored to be in the running for the full-time AOL ride. Despite Burton's terrible start, Burton denied the rumor, as did Childress. "I'm very committed to Roush Racing. I'm very committed to (primary sponsor) Citgo," Burton said. "I have no desire to leave Roush Racing. We are a team that has been in the top five in points the last four years and we've won a lot of races the last four years. The fact we've gotten off to a slow start isn't my team's fault." Asked if Burton was being considered for the AOL ride, Childress said, "Right now, no. I haven't talked directly to Jeff. Nobody (has). I wouldn't even throw his name in the rumor mill." As for ppc Racing, they tried unsuccessfully to put together a limited Winston Cup program for Green this year. Green would like to stay with team owners Greg Pollex, John Bender and Bob Campbell, if possible.(Winston Cup Scene - need subscription to read online)(3-22-2001)
UPDATE: Green apparently will have to prove himself to stay in the #30 car for 2002. Other drivers whose names have come up in connection with the ride are Stacy Compton and Roush Racing drivers Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle(Dallas Morning News)
UPDATE 2: from The Morning Buzz radio show on 100.3 WHEB, and Rock 101 in New Hampshire. They had Frank Stoddard, #99 Crew Chief on the show this week (as they do each week) and today they interviewed Jeff Burton. Their first question was about the rumors of his move to Childress. He flatly denied the rumors, and added that the story makes him "furious". He said he has "no idea" where the story came from, and that there is no truth at all to it. He wants everybody to know for a fact that he is NOT leaving Roush Racing - Also an announcement is expected at Bristol on Friday about Jeff Green driving this year(3-22-2001)
UPDATE 3: Jack Roush uses direct reasoning as he states his case and makes the point that he is always willing to address the fodder that climbs the grapevine. NO, Jeff Burton isn't leaving Roush Racing to drive for Richard Childress Racing. NO, Burton and Martin didn't demand that the organization lease engines from another organization until the reliability and horsepower woes are resolved. And NO, heads aren't rolling in the engine departments at Livonia (Mich.) and Mooresville (NC).(Sporting News)(3-23-2001)

2000 News

Burton to IROC: Jeff Burton will return to the International Race of Champions for a fourth consecutive year. Burton is the sixth driver to be named to the 2001 campaign. A total of 12 will compete in the four-race series at Daytona, Talladega, Michigan and Indianapolis. Eddie Cheever, Dale Earnhardt, Scott Goodyear, Buddy Lazier, Ricky Rudd and now Burton are the six drivers who have been selected, so far(NOL). See my IROC 2001 page for info and my IROC 2000 Page for info on the past series(12-20-2000)

Burton all charged up: Jeff Burton driver of the #99 Exide Batteries Ford thru Martinsvilles Fall race, the the #99 CITGO/Superguard Ford(when sponsorship changed), won the Exide Select Batteries All Charged Up Award in 2000. Burton will receive a $50,000 check and a trophy from Exide Technologies at next Friday's Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast in New York City. The Exide Select Batteries All Charged Up Award went each week to the driver (his team had to be part of the Exide Contingency Award Program) who advanced the most number of positions from start to finish in the previous race. The Exide NASCAR Select Battery is the Official Battery of NASCAR's Winston Cup Series(Exide PR). For final results, see my Special Awards Standing page(11-30-2000)

former Exide PR: Who says NASCAR's silly season is confined to drivers, crew chiefs and the like? Even PR people get caught up in it. Former Exide Racing PR rep Chris Dirato and the company he works for, New York City-based Kermish-Geylin Public Relations, are still without a "ride" for the 2001 season. Although discussions with a handful of teams from NASCAR's three main series have taken place to date, nothing is set as yet. Hence, Dirato & Co. continue to cast their line out. Interested parties may contact Dirato at 201-750-3533 or at cfd@kgpr.com.(11-27-2000)

Sad News: Frank Stoddard, crew chief of the #99 CITGO Ford, which won at Phoenix, mentioned at the end of the broadcast at Phoenix that his grandmother passed away on Saturday, thoughts go out to Stoddard and his family(11-5-2000)

Burton's Baby: Jeff Burton's wife Kim, gave birth today to a boy, named Harrison. Burton drives the #99 CITGO Ford(sounds weird still), Congrats!!(10-9-2000)

#99 Announcement UPDATE ?: hearing that starting with the race at Charlotte in October, the #99 Ford will carry the CITGO colors for the balance of the 2000 season as CITGO has purchased the space from Exide. Exide continues to downgrade it's motorsports expenses and while they have expressed interest in remaining as an associate sponsor on the #99 for the 2001 season, it's only a slight chance as they continue to downsize in the company(9-11-2000)
UPDATE: There will be a press conference/announcement on Tuesday, Oct 3rd at 12:30pm/et in Charlotte regarding the #99 Roush Racing team and it's new sponsor: CITGO. Got a rough image of what the car will look like, see it at my Paint Schemes Gallery(10-1/3-2000)
UPDATE - It's OFFICIAL: CITGO has expanded its NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing sponsorship program to include Roush Racing and veteran driver Jeff Burton. Beginning with the Lowe's Motor Speedway Race on October 8, 2000 and for the remainder of the 2000 season and the full 2001 season, CITGO will be the primary sponsor of the #99 CITGO SUPERGARD Ford(CITGO PR) AND See an image of the scheme from CITGO on my Paint Schemes Gallery and see an image of the actual car at NASCAR Online - Burton flying the colors of CITGO
and the #21 CITGO Ford? CITGO has been sponsoring the Fords fielded by the Wood Brothers for 16 years and will continue to have its colors displayed on the team's #21 Fords driven by Elliott Sadler through the rest of the 2000 season. The Wood Brothers are set to announce their 2001 sponsorship plans Wednesday(NOL) added four images of the actual car taken at the Press Conference, see my Paint Schemes Gallery, 2000 Cup Schemes page(10-3-2000)

Bye-Bye Exide: For the last seven seasons, Exide has been a prominent fixture among primary sponsors in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. That's about to change. Effective with the checkered flag falling on Sunday's NAPA AutoCare 500 here at Martinsville Speedway, Exide, the global leader in stored energy solutions, will no longer be the primary sponsor of the #99 Ford Taurus, driven by Jeff Burton. The Martinsville race marks the end of a run for Exide which saw Geoffrey Bodine and Burton carry the company name on their race cars from 1994 into much of the 2000 season. Bodine piloted the #7 Exide Ford for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, while Burton has driven the #99 Exide Ford since 1996. Heading into his last race with Exide as the featured sponsor, Burton has posted three wins in 2000 and currently has a firm grip on fourth in the standings. While primary sponsorship of the #99 car is ending, Exide has intentions of remaining on the car as an associate sponsor for the 2001 season, while continuing its affiliation with NASCAR(Exide PR)(10-1-2000)

#99 and #21 Sponsor News UPDATE 3: as reported a few weeks ago, CITGO will be the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford in 2001, hearing the paint scheme will not be the familiar red-orange/white/black but would be red, white, and blue. The #21 Wood Bros Ford is supposed to get Ford Quality Credit and be announced at Charlotte(9-10-2000)
UPDATE: hearing that starting with the race at Charlotte in October, the #99 Ford will carry the CITGO colors for the balance of the 2000 season as CITGO has purchased the space from Exide. Exide continues to downgrade it's motorsports expenses and while they have expressed interest in remaining as an associate sponsor on the #99 for the 2001 season, it's only a slight chance as they continue to downsize in the company(9-11-2000)
UPDATE 2: hearing the Ford 'brand' that will be featured on the #21 Ford will be Motorcraft which used to be featured on the #15 Bud Moore Fords back into the early 90's(9-14-2000)
UPDATE 3: CITGO Petroleum has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday October 3, 2000 in Charlotte where they will announce their sponsorship for the remainder of the 2000 series and the 2001 campaign. It is speculated that they will move to Roush Racing and sponsor the #99 Jeff Burton driven car. Ford is expected to be moving to the #21 Wood Brothers team next season with the Motorcraft banner(Racin' Network)(9-26-2000)

Exide PR? With Exide, basically, leaving motorsports all together, wonder what becomes of Exide Racing PR person, Chris Dirato? Am told Dirato and the agency he works for, NYC-based Kermish-Geylin Public Relations, will be considering team and/or sponsor PR program opportunities in the NASCAR community (Winston Cup, Busch or Trucks) for 2001. For contact info see a PR on my Press Release page: Jeff Burton PR(9-15-2000)

#99 and #21 Sponsor News UPDATE 2: as reported a few weeks ago, CITGO will be the primary sponsor on the #99 Ford in 2001, hearing the paint scheme will not be the familiar red-orange/white/black but would be red, white, and blue. The #21 Wood Bros Ford is supposed to get Ford Quality Credit and be announced at Charlotte(9-10-2000)
UPDATE: hearing that starting with the race at Charlotte in October, the #99 Ford will carry the CITGO colors for the balance of the 2000 season as CITGO has purchased the space from Exide. Exide continues to downgrade it's motorsports expenses and while they have expressed interest in remaining as an associate sponsor on the #99 for the 2001 season, it's only a slight chance as they continue to downsize in the company(9-11-2000)
UPDATE 2: hearing the Ford 'brand' that will be featured on the #21 Ford will be Motorcraft which used to be featured on the #15 Bud Moore Fords back into the early 90's(9-14-2000)

#99 Crew: Jeff Burton's #99 Exide team will use two new over-the-wall pit crew members at Richmond. Burton's car chief, Pierre Kuettel, will serve as the team's front-tire changer this week, while Fred Martin, who works for Jason Keller's #57 BGN team, will serve as front-tire carrier. The positions are week to week(That's Racin')(9-9-2000)

Exide Out? UPDATE 2 yep It's OFFICIAL: Exide Batteries, who will leave the #99 Roush CTS Truck at the end of the year, may be leaving the #99 Cup team of Jeff Burton too. Rumors have CITGO moving from the #21 Wood Bros Ford and moving to the #99 (was rumored on the #16 too). Supposedly, Quality Care/Ford Credit(being replaced on the #88 with UPS) will go to the Wood Bros. ALSO hearing that Roush Racing sent out a fax on Wednesday(8/23) saying that Exide would not return as the primary sponsor for the #99 in 2001 and that they are looking for a sponsor
UPDATE: Exide Corp., which sponsors the #99 Fords of Jeff Burton, has informed the team of its intention not to return next season. Exide has a contract with Roush Racing and Burton's team through the 2001 season. The company has undergone financial difficulties over the past several months and is re-evaluating its entire involvement in motorsports. Sources said Friday that Burton's car owner, Jack Roush, was aware of the company's thinking and already has plans in the works for a new sponsor for Burton's team. A formal announcement of Exide's departure is expected Monday(That's Racin')(8-25-2000)
UPDATE 2: Exide isn't expected to return next season as Jeff Burton's sponsor, and Geoff Smith, head of Roush Racing, says he's looking for a major new sponsor of the caliber of Pfizer, the company that will be backing Mark Martin the next five years at $12($15?) million a year. Kevin Lepage will be back for another season with Jack Roush, Smith said. CITGO will probably not be back as sponsor for the Wood Brothers, Smith said; Quality Care could be their new sponsor(PitNow). Expect an announcement this week about Exide leaving and CITGO being the new #99 sponsor(8-27-2000)
UPDATE 3: Exide will shift the focus of its motorsports programs to an associate sponsorship of the Roush Racing Team while retaining the company's association with NASCAR. Total savings will be approximately $15 million annually, beginning in October 2000(Yahoo Biz) AND Roush Racing announced Monday that Exide Batteries would not continue its primary sponsorship of the #99 Ford driven by Jeff Burton. Exide will retain an associate sponsorship with the team(NOL)(8-28-2000)

Exide and Burton Honors: To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, The #99 Exide Bateries Ford, driven by Jeff Burton, will display the United States of America Korean War Commemorative Insignia during the upcoming New England 300 at New Hampshire. For the entire July 7-9 weekend in Loudon, NH, the 50th anniversary insignia will be positioned on the hood of the #99 Ford. The 50th anniversary commemorative period began Sunday, June 25 - the day the war broke out in 1950. It will last until Veterans Day, 2003. Over 1.7 million Americans served in the war, which lasted more than three years. Nearly 37,000 gave their lives for America and the cause of freedom in Korea. Over 8,100 Americans remain unaccounted for (unrecovered or unidentified). General information about the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration may be found at the official Commemoration web site - korea50.army.mil.(Exide PR)(6-30-2000)

Burton wins 2nd Quarter: Jeff Burton, whose dedication and commitment to Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center, is the second-quarter nominee for the NASCAR True Value Man of the Year Award. True Value, the Official Hardware Store of NASCAR, is once again sponsoring the NASCAR True Value Man of the Year. The award is designed to honor a driver not only for their accomplishments on the track but for their community service contributions and charitable efforts. Ward Burton, driver of the No. 22 Caterpillar Pontiac and Jeff's older brother, was the first-quarter nominee. Burton pledged to help raise a minimum of $1 million to assist in the completion of the McGovern-Davison Children's Health Care Center, a $30.5 million outpatient facility, designed exclusively for children. This center will feature a racing-themed interactive learning display on the second floor. On May 13, 2000, in honor of Burton's involvement in the project, Duke named the display the "Jeff Burton Racing Zone."(NASCAR PR and NOL)(6-27-2000)

Roush News: Roush Racing and Northern Light Extend Partnership to Bring New Sponsors to NASCAR by Terry Callahan(AutoChannel)(5-16-2000)

Burton 200: Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 Exide Batteries Taurus, will be making the 200th start of his NASCAR Winston Cup career this weekend at Richmond(Ford Racing/Campbell and Co)(5-4-2000)

Dyno Testing: NASCAR officials tested the cars of #18-Bobby Labonte, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #99-Jeff Burton on the chassis dyno following the DirecTV 500(Times-Dispatch)(4-3-2000)

Exide Safe: the withdrawal of Exide as the sponsor of the #99 Roush Racing CTS(truck) team after the 2000 season will not affect the #99 Roush Racing CUP team whose contract with Exide runs thru 2001 and negotiations are underway to extend that deal(Winston Cup Scene Magazine)(3-17-2000)

Virginia Lottery: Rick Mast said he's one of seven Virginia drivers who will be featured on a new lottery game expected to debut this spring. The other Cup and BGN drivers are Jeff and Ward Burton, Elliott and Hermie Sadler and Kevin and Wayne Grubb(Roanoke Times)(3-12-2000)

500th: with #99-Jeff Burton's win at Las Vegas, Ford claimed it's 500th victory in the Winston Cup series(3-5-2000)

Double Win: Jeff Burton became the first driver since Mark Martin in October 1995 at Charlotte to win both the BGN and CUP races at the same track(ESPN)(3-5-2000)

Crew Move: Tire changer Mark Armstrong has left #2-Rusty Wallace for #99-Jeff Burton‘s team(Times-Dispatch)(2-12-2000)

Burton's Sponsor UPDATE: All indications are that Jeff Burton's BGN team will be sponsored by Northern Light and possibly Hardee's at Richmond. The #9 Ford was painted up in Northern Light colors at the BGN preview last week (image in the Paint Scheme Gallery) and I hear the official announcement will be made on ESPN2's RPM2Nite sometime soon(1-22-2000) -- UPDATE: Northern Light signed on over the weekend as the primary sponsor on the #9 Ford Taurus of Jeff Burton for his 14-race Busch Grand National schedule for Roush Racing. Northern Light already has created a special Jeff Burton web page www.NorthernLight.com/jeffburton that will keep fans up to date with the team’s progress throughout the year.(SpeedVision)(2-8-2000)

Exide Returns: Exide Corporation, primary sponsor on Jeff Burton's #99 Roush Racing Ford Taurus, will once again sponsor a contingency award for the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The Exide Select Batteries All Charged Up Award will go to the driver (his team must be part of the Exide Batteries Contingency Program) who advances the most positions from start to finish in the previous race. The first award of the 2000 season will be presented just prior to the Dura-Lube Big Kmart 400 at Rockingham based off performances in the Daytona 500. Entering its fourth season as sponsor of the award, Exide will up the weekly purse to $4,000 this year. Drivers who win an award also record points connected to their finishes (i.e., started 20th and finished 3rd - an improvement of 17 spots and an allocation of 17 points as a result). The driver who totals the most points by season's end will receive a $50,000 check and a trophy from Exide during the NASCAR Awards Banquet week in New York City. Burton, the South Boston, VA native, has won the Exide contingency award each year since its inception. Last year, he won in impressive fashion, besting second-place finisher Johnny Benson by 117 points(Exide PR)(2-8-2000)

Burton Wing: Jeff Burton, a member of the board of directors at Duke Children's Hospital(NC), came to the Durham area on February 1 to have a wing of the hospital dedicated in his name. The new wing at the Children’s Health Center will provide an interactive learning display that helps ease a child’s health concerns through a fun and educational NASCAR experience to be known as “The Jeff Burton Speedzone Wing.”(Racing Milestones)(2-3-2000)

Exide Trouble? UPDATE 3: saw this on TNN's Motorsports site and getting many questions on how it'll effect Jeff Burton and the #99: Exide Pulling Top Fuel Program?: According to sources, Exide Batteries has apparently pulled out as sponsor of the Top Fuel team owned by Tony Schumacher's father Don for 2000. The elder Schumacher reportedly will not field his championship-winning team without a major sponsor, leaving his title-winning son without a ride to defend it(TNN) I have not heard any problems with Exide and Roush for either the CUP or CTS deal. The CUP team even has a new Paint Scheme for 2000, but then again, so did Schumacher -- UPDATE: a source tells me that the Schumachers are looking into the legalities of Exide leaving but that the move by Exide should not effect the CUP or CTS sponsorships(1-8-2000) -- UPDATE 2: Exide restructured its motorsports sponsorship after suffering third-quarter financial losses, which reportedly caused them to get out of drag racing. Exide is staying with Jack Roush’s NASCAR Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck teams – both of which get more television exposure than the National Hot Rod Association – despite the fact that Schumacher is the NHRA defending champion, while Roush’s truck is driven by a series rookie(Kurt Busch)(SpeedVision)(1-10-2000) -- UPDATE 3: Exide has decided not to leave NHRA and had re-joined Schumacher as his sponsor for 2000(SpeedVision)(2-3-2000)

#99 Changes: Jeff Burton's crew chief, Frank Stoddard is giving up his role as an active part of Jeff Burton’s pit crew, relinquishing the duties of front tire changer on the crew in order to focus on the crew-chief role(Gaston Gazette/AP)(1-30-2000)

Roush Dodge? Jack Roush, owner of the #'s 6,16,17,97,99 Fords, will not rule out a move to Dodge in the future. Roush has met with representative of the new Dodge entry scheduled for next season and said he is impressed. Roush said he is committed to Ford this season, but has no contract after that(Tennessean)(1-15-2000)

Exide Trouble? UPDATE 2: saw this on TNN's Motorsports site and getting many questions on how it'll effect Jeff Burton and the #99: Exide Pulling Top Fuel Program?: According to sources, Exide Batteries has apparently pulled out as sponsor of the Top Fuel team owned by Tony Schumacher's father Don for 2000. The elder Schumacher reportedly will not field his championship-winning team without a major sponsor, leaving his title-winning son without a ride to defend it(TNN) I have not heard any problems with Exide and Roush for either the CUP or CTS deal. The CUP team even has a new Paint Scheme for 2000, but then again, so did Schumacher -- UPDATE: a source tells me that the Schumachers are looking into the legalities of Exide leaving but that the move by Exide should not effect the CUP or CTS sponsorships(1-8-2000) -- UPDATE 2: Exide restructured its motorsports sponsorship after suffering third-quarter financial losses, which reportedly caused them to get out of drag racing. Exide is staying with Jack Roush’s NASCAR Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck teams – both of which get more television exposure than the National Hot Rod Association – despite the fact that Schumacher is the NHRA defending champion, while Roush’s truck is driven by a series rookie(Kurt Busch)(SpeedVision)(1-10-2000)

Roush Auction: Roush Racing has fliers up in the Winston Cup garage area advertising an auction of some of its cars and equipment from the two teams it operates out of a shop in Liberty, N.C. Roush is building a new shop in the Charlotte area and will move its Liberty operation there. Kevin Lepage and Johnny Benson have had their teams housed at that shop. The auction, set for 10 a.m. on Nov. 29, is scheduled to include 18 Ford Taurus race cars along with other car parts and shop equipment(That's Racin')(11-21-1999)

Sad News: Ruby Parrott, the mother of Roush Racing’s Buddy Parrott and grandmother of Todd Parrott, Dale Jarrett‘s crew chief, died on Thursday(Times-Dispatch)(11-6-1999)

Roush-Dodge? Word among Dodge's dealer advertising and marketing community is that Jack Roush will field an Intrepid for Jeff Burton(Autoweek Magazine), also mentions it in a PitNow story(10-20-1999)

Tough Day for the crew: Jimmy Spencer ran over the foot of Bill Elliott's front tire changer, Gordy Arbitter, while making a pit stop. In a separate incident, Jeff Burton had brake problems and hit his front tire carrier, Mike Brill, sending the crewman flying. Despite the setback, Brill was able to get back on his feet, grab the tire, then rush to the car to complete the stop. Neither pit crew member was seriously hurt(Orlando Sentinel)(10-18-1999)

Lucky Fan...Maybe: As Jeff Burton heads to Napa AutoCare 500 at Martinsville Speedway this coming week, he will be racing for more than just money and Winston Cup championship points. He'll be racing for a home. That's right if Jeff wins the race on October 3rd, one lucky fan will walk away the proud owner of a new Nanticoke town home package worth $250,000. When the lucky winner opens the garage door to their new Nanticoke Home, they will find a brand new Ford Taurus LX courtesy of Ford Motor Company. Not only that, but when they open the kitchen cabinets boxes of Hamburger Helper, Specialty Potatoes, Supermoist Cake and Bisquick stand ready to feed the hungry homeowners thanks to Betty Crocker, a proud associate sponsor of Burton's teammate Johnny Benson, who drives the Cheerios Ford. In order for Nanticoke to give the home away Burton had to win two of the three races: The Jiffy Lube 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway on July 11th; The Napa AutoCare 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 3rd; The Napa 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on November 21st. Mission accomplished on July 11th as he won the gas mileage war at New Hampshire. So all Burton needs to do is win the Napa AutoCare 500 on October 3rd at Martinsville Speedway(or Atlanta) and Nanticoke Homes will award the townhome package to one lucky fan(PR)(10-2-1999)

Roush News: Jack Roush likely will have five Winston Cup teams next season, one way or another. Team officials say the outlook has brightened for the #16 car, driven by Kevin Lepage, but more serious questions now hover over Johnny Benson’s #26. Benson will leave the team after the season, and sponsor Cheerios will a) transfer its primary sponsorship to Richard Petty’s No. 43, and b) scatter among the Roush teams as an associate, leaving the #26 with no primary sponsor and no driver. Roush representative Stephanie Marquez said it appears very possible there will be no #26(Roush team) next season, although “anything can happen,” she added. Meanwhile, TV Guide appears enthusiastic about stepping up its efforts around Lepage and the No. 16, Marquez said. In addition, Roush will add the #17 team of Matt Kenseth, with Roush superstar Mark Martin at some level of ownership. Roush’s other three teams – those of Martin, Jeff Burton and Chad Little – will continue unchanged at least for one more year, Marquez said(Racer Magazine)(9-10-1999)

Two Million Dollars: With Jeff Burton's Southern 500 win, he wins one million dollars in the No Bull 5 program. His 'partner' Phyllis Farmer from Hillsboro, MO also won one million dollars, congrats to both. See my No Bull Five Page for info on the program and the contest(9-5-1999)

#99 News hearing from a few readers that #99 crew chief, Frank Stoddard was on local New Hampshire radio show(WGIR-FM and WHEB) and was asked about the rumor of his leaving Roush to take over for Ray Evenham in the #24 car. Stoddard stated that while he was flattered to be considered for the #24 crew chief's position, he would stay with Jeff Burton, "the driver who gave him his WC opportunity" and that he would not leave for any amount of money(8-24-1999)

Roush Renews drivers: Mark Martin(#6) and Jeff Burton(#99) have agreed on contracts that will keep them with car owner Jack Roush through 2005, Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said Thursday(USA Today)(8-20-1999)

#99 Lugnuts UPDATE 2: a few tidbits found on the 'net: #99 Crew Chief Frankie Stoddard called for a four-tire stop, but Jeff Burton changed that call in the middle of the stop when he saw Jarrett taking just two. Stoddard(who is also the front tire changer) had already loosened two lugs on the left front when Burton screamed for "Two!" But he got one of them retightened just before Burton roared off. NASCAR officials called Burton and Stoddard to the trailer after the race to review tapes of the incident and remind them that loose wheels are an important safety issue(from PitNow) and Jeff Burton, meanwhile, changed his mind midway through his stop. His front tire changer frantically worked to reverse the two lug nuts he had loosened before Burton peeled out of the pits. Crew chief Frank Stoddard watched the tape to make sure the car was safe and Burton stayed on the track(Times-Dispatch/SpeedNet)(8-8-1999) -- UPDATE 2: have not seen this confirmed anywhere, but a few readers say they heard either Bill Weber or Jerry Punch say on the Satellite feed that NASCAR checked the car when it came in after the race and found three of the lugnuts were only finger tight, but I have not been able to confirm that anywhere with any sources and doubt the report. Am not looking to speculate on this(8-9-1999)

Ford Taurus and RPM2Nite UPDATE: Jeff Burton will debut the 2000 Ford Taurus on Wednesday's ESPN2's RPM2Nite(8-3-1999)

WOW! Jeff Burton is the first driver to win from a provisional starting spot and that is the farthest back any driver has won from since Kyle Petty won from 37th at Dover in June 1995(in 1995 37th was not a provisional starting spot). Bill Elliott also won from 38th spot in the 1988 Pepsi 400. In fact ALL the provisional starters for the race finished in the top 25.(7-11-1999)

Roush News UPDATE 3: I hear some sort of major announcement from True Value Hardware, NASCAR, Roush Racing and Exide will happen soon(6-3-1999) -- UPDATE 1: I hear an announcement will take place at Michigan on Friday of next week. Check out the Toolbox that Rocks at the TrueValue Site(6-4-1999) -- UPDATE 2: True Value, Exide and NASCAR announced the #99 Ford driven by Jeff Burton in Sunday's Kmart 400 will feature a NASCAR Rocks-themed paint scheme to commemorate the kick-off of the summer music tour and festival in Denver this weekend. The car will be unveiled on Friday(NOL)(6-9-1999) -- UPDATE 3: See NOL updates on the helmet, uniform and car at: NASCAR Rocks, NOTE: please do NOT send me the NOL images)(6-11-1999)

Roush Shop: Roush Racing's new headquarters may not be coming to Concord, after the company Tuesday withdrew a controversial rezoning request to build its new facility and test track there. The $75 million proj-ect drew opposition from hundreds of Concord residents who live near the proposed 106-acre facility on U.S. 29. The residents feared the test track would generate too much noise. See the rest of the Charlotte Observer article at: Roush Racing abandons rezoning effort, Concord site(6-10-1999)

Roush, good day: Not only did his #99 team win the Coca Cola 600, the engine in the #14 A.J. Foyt-owned IRL car driven by Kenny Brack to victory in the Indy 500, was built by Roush Racing(many sources, AP/NOL)(5-31-1999)

More on Burton Engine: GM executives are not letting the Jeff Burton engine controversy drop. Several GM teams complained Friday that Burton should have been penalized somehow at Talladega because his engine didn't pass one of NASCAR's standard post-race inspections. NASCAR officials said in their view there was no performance enhancement for Burton(PitNow)(5-3-1999)

Driver of the Year: NASCAR driver Jeff Burton has clinched first quarter voting for the Driver of the Year award as voted on by national motorsports media. Burton had 10 first place votes and 102 points which gives him a 54-point lead over three-time Driver of the Year Jeff Gordon with 48 points. NHRA funny car driver John Force is third with 41 points followed by World of Outlaws driver Mark Kinser with 40 and CART driver Greg Moore with 22(SpeedNet)(4-28-1999)

Post Race Inspections: Cars that were inepcted after the Diehard 500 were #3-Dale Earnhardt, the winner; runner-up #88 Dale Jarrett; #6-Mark Martin(3rd); #00-Buckshot Jones(fastest 2nd round qualifier) and #99-Jeff Burton(smoking problem)(That's Racin')(4-26-1999)

Burton Homes: A fan will have the opportunity to win a new home built by Nanticoke Homes if Jeff Burton is able to win two of three selected races this season. A fan will be selected from a drawing and win the home should Burton win at least two races among the following three - July 11 at New Hampshire, Oct. 3 at Martinsville and Nov. 21 at Atlanta(That's Racin') Also Burton is a spokesperson for Nanticoke Homes and will carry a Nanticoke Homes decal on the #99(NOL)(3-14-1999)

Burton New Engine: Jeff Burton had engine problems during Happy Hour and the team changed engines(ESPN2 Happy Hour Coverage)(2-14-1999)

The Hardee's Rumor: It grew into it's own story, it all started innocently enough - Pop Secret will not be back on the #26 Cheerios Ford in 1999 and will have Hardee's as an associate as all the Roush cars will, the #16 Primestar Ford of Kevin Lepage will have a different look to make it more identifiable to Lepage(no idea what) UPDATE 1: CORRECTION I now hear Pop Secret WILL return to the #26 Ford (the General Mills products have been rotated, Hamburger Helper is on the trunk, Betty Crocker spoon is on the side, and Pop Secret is lower on the rear fender) and Hardee's will not come aboard as an associate sponsor on the Roush cars.(1-7-1999) -- and now I hear Johnny Benson filming a TV commercial for Hardees yesterday in Charlotte's Freedom Park and that Hardees is shooting a commercial using all Roush cars at Concord Motorsport Park, Jan 6 thru Jan 10, the shoot is being done by Dektor Films out of Hollywood(1-9-1999) more to come?.....

#99 Change? On the Official Jeff Burton Site in the Q&A section, Burton mentions that they will probably have a new paint scheme for 1999 on the #99 Exide Ford(12-17-1998)

Texas Testing: Both Firestone and Goodyear are scheduled to test during the first two weeks of December with drivers such as NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jeff Burton and Greg Ray of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League. The Indy Racing League will also hold a two-day test for five potential new drivers for the IRL. Test are closed to the public. On Ded. 8-9 / GOODYEAR - NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jeff Burton will be on the speedway testing for Goodyear. Burton, who won the inaugural Winston Cup event at Texas in 1997, will be the first Cup driver to run full speed on the reconfigured speedway(Sue's ADNASCAR Daily Newsletter)(11-28-1998)

Hardee's with Roush: As rumored here a few weeks ago: Hardee's Food Systems, Inc. is ready to add another chapter to its storied association with the popular sport of stock car racing. The restaurant company announced today that it had teamed with Roush Racing to promote nine NASCAR race vehicles and seven drivers, beginning with the 1999 season. The partnership gives Hardee's the opportunity to feature the drivers in a variety of marketing programs; including advertising, promotion, merchandising and packaging(Yahoo Biz)(11-7-1998)

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