March 16, 2007
- Newman wins pole at Atlanta: #12-Ryan Newman won the Budweiser Pole for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a speed of 193.124mph for his 1st pole of 2007, 1st in 22 races, 7th pole at Atlanta and 38th of his career. The rest of the top-10 are #19-Sadler, #48-Johnson, #01-Martin, #24-Gordon, #43-Labonte, #40-Stremme, #5-Busch, #49-Bliss [best of the non Top-35 teams] and #10-Riggs. #00-Reutimann was the highest qualifying Toyota at 24th [4 of 7 Toyota’s made the race] and the best Ford qualifier was #99-Edwards who will start 14th. The non-top 35 teams that made the race were: #49-Bliss, #13-Nemechek, #15-Menard, #00-Reutimann, #70-Sauter, #14-Marlin, #83-Vickers and #44-Jarrett [using a past champions provisional]. See the qualifying results, starting lineup, pole propgression on the Starting Grid/Qualifying Results and Order.(3-16-2007)
- Eight do not qualify for Las Vegas #33-Wimmer, #4-Burton, #37-Andretti, #55-Waltrip, #78-KWallace, #34-Lepage, #36-Mayfield and #84-Allmendiner.(3-16-2007)
- Ramblings – Atlanta Qualifying Notes: If we’re in Atlanta, it can only be Ryan Newman on the pole. Newman blistered a cold Atlanta Motor Speedway in 28.707 (193.124 mph) to take the Bud Pole by almost 2/10th’s of a second over Elliott Sadler for Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500. This is the 7th top-spot at AMS for Newman and the 38th overall in his Nextel Cup career (he’s now tied for 13th all-time with Herb Thomas & Tim Flock)….but first since Loudon last July. Ryan is the 4th different pole winner in 4 races this season. Bobby Labonte (6th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 3rd at Bristol last August.
Mike Bliss (9th) makes his first race of the season. This is his best starting spot since he qualified 6th at Texas in November of 2005.
David Reutimann (24th) has his career-best starting spot this weekend. His previous best was 26th at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in October of 2005.
Johnny Sauter (26th) has his best starting spot since he timed in 14th at Lowe’s last May (only four races).
STREAKIN….David Stremme has 3 Top-10 starts in the last 4 races.(Stock Car Fans)(3-16-2007) - Qualifying Notes:
Ryan Newman won the Bud Pole for the Kobalt Tools 500, his 38th Bud Pole 192nd career Nextel Cup races.
.. This is his first start better than 19th in 2007 and his first Bud Pole since New Hampshire last July.
.. This is Newman’s seventh Bud Pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He posted six straight Bud Poles here, sweeping 2003 through 2005. Newman has started from the top 10 in 10 of his 11 Atlanta races, including nine starts from the front row.
.. There have been four different Bud Pole winners in the first four races of 2007.
.. Seventy-four of the 95 Nextel Cup races at Atlanta have been won from the top-10 starting positions, including nine of the last 12.
.. Mike Bliss was the fastest of the 16 drivers that had to make the field on time and qualified for his first race of 2007. His last race was at Homestead in the 2006 season finale.
.. None of the three races this season have been won by a top-10 starter. The best start by a race winner to this point in 2007 is 23rd by Jimmie Johnson at Las Vegas.
.. Only six of the 30 top-10 starters have finished in the top 10 in the first three races of 2007.(NASCAR Media)(3-16-2007) - Robby has a sponsor for Atlanta UPDATE forced to pull logos: Add another cellphone company to the NASCAR mix. Verizon Wireless officials plan to announce today they will work with Motorola to sponsor Robby Gordon in the [#55] Busch Series. The first-time Busch sponsorship for both companies will begin with Saturday’s Busch race at AMS. Motorola will also sponsor Gordon’s Cup #7 Ford in the Kobalt Tools 500 on Sunday. The sponsorship also includes Busch races at Charlotte, Chicago and Texas.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), see images of the scheme on the #7 Team Schemes page and 2007 Busch Series Schemes page.
UPDATE: Robby Gordon is removing a Motorola logo from the hood of his #7 Ford at the request of NASCAR officials, but he says he doesn’t understand how Motorola and Cup series sponsor Nextel are competitors. He also can’t understand why the company can be an associate sponsor on the car, as it has been the three previous Nextel Cup races, but cannot move into a primary slot. “I’m having a hard time understanding how Nextel and Motorola are competitors because that’s the reason we can’t use the sponsorship,” Gordon said. “They have been an associate sponsor on my car for the first three events, and they can remain as an associate sponsor on my car; they just can’t be a primary sponsor on my car.” Gordon said NASCAR officials told him that was the reasoning for the changes. NASCAR President Mike Helton said that Motorola is specifically listed among the companies barred from being a primary sponsor in the Nextel agreement, which gives Nextel (now Sprint) exclusivity among wireless providers as well as wireless handset manufacturers. “It’s a NASCAR decision, yes,” Gordon said. “This is the first time I have ever been involved in something like this. I’ve never been told no [on] a sponsor because we never felt we’ve gone after a sponsor that wouldn’t be approved. I didn’t even imagine that Motorola wouldn’t be approved. They’re the official radio of everybody in the garage area. It’s just mind-boggling, and I’m having a little bit of a hard time on it.” Gordon said he planned to use the sponsorship for two events. “We have a relationship with a competitor’s cell phone company [Verizon] in the Busch Series, and we felt that with them in the Busch Series and Motorola strictly in the Cup series, there wouldn’t be a conflict,” he said. Motorola has a relationship with NASCAR as it is the primary vendor of Racing Radios, which provides two-way radio service for NASCAR at the track. Gordon said he was unaware of exactly how Motorola could be considered a competitor. “That’s where a person like myself has a hard time because you go to the front page of Nextel.com and you find Motorola logos on there and Motorola phones on there, and it’s just a bit confusing why we’re having an issue with the race car being on the race track,” Gordon said. Helton added that NASCAR – not Nextel – made the decision on the car, a decision that he said seemed fairly black-and-white. “NASCAR is the group that polices the sport, so it’s NASCAR’s role to approve paint designs, approve sponsors on cars, approve how sponsors utilize the paint designs on the cars to promote and activate their relationships,” Helton said. Helton said that most of the times, these issues are handled before the car gets to the track. “There is a process in place where the paint scheme has to be approved … there wasn’t time to fix the car before it got here, but we have plenty of time here to correct things,” he said.(SceneDaily.com)(3-16-2007) - Irwin colors for McMurray at Atlanta: IRWIN Industrial Tools will be the primary sponsor the #26 Ford that Jamie McMurray drives this weekend in Atlanta, which marks the first of 11 races in which the IRWIN blue and yellow paint scheme will adorn McMurray’s #26 machine. Atlanta is a special race for IRWIN Industrial Tools, as they are part of the Newell Rubbermaid Company, which is based in Atlanta.(Roush Racing), the next race for IRWIN is Martinsville on April 1st. See an image of the scheme on the #26 Team Schemes page.(3-16-2007)
- Nextel Pit Crew Challenge Tix on Sale: Tickets for the 2007 Nextel Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman, featuring competition between the top 24 pit crews in the Nextel Cup Series, will go on sale Thursday, March 15. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling the Charlotte Bobcats ticket office at (800) 495-2295. The Nextel Pit Crew Challenge is set for Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. The competition is a signature lead-in event to the Nextel All-Star Challenge Saturday, May 19 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. See more and this year’s format on my Pit Crew News page and see my 2007 Pit Crew chart.(3-16-2007)
- Mikey to have XM radio show: XM announced that Michael Waltrip will join racing’s biggest stars exclusively on XM Radio. Waltrip will host the half-hour weekly show “Michael Waltrip Out Loud,” exclusively on XM. Debuting on March 20, “Michael Waltrip Out Loud” will air every Tuesday night from 7:00- 7:30pm/et on XM’s sports talk radio channel XM Sports Nation (XM 144). Waltrip’s show will feature his insight into the world of racing, as well as guests from the world of music and entertainment. Fans can tune in to hear Waltrip with breaking updates from the road or back at his newly opened Waltrip Raceworld shop in Cornelius, NC. In addition to being home to “Michael Waltrip Out Loud” show, XM will partner to become primary sponsor of Waltrip Racing’s #99 Busch Series car driven by David Reutimann for the Chicagoland race July 14. XM is home to racing’s biggest stars. In addition to Michael Waltrip’s new show, NASCAR fans can catch exclusive shows from Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.(XM Radio PR)(3-16-2007)
- Food City Founder Jack Smith Passes Away: Bristol Motor Speedway lost a close and valued friend Thursday with the passing of Jack Smith, the founder and chairman of long-time race sponsor Food City. The 81-year-old Smith died Thursday morning at his home in Abingdon, Va., after a brief illness. Bristol Motor Speedway president and general manager Jeff Byrd was extremely saddened by Smith’s passing. “Jack Smith was a great friend to all of us at BMS,” he said. “He was a true gentleman and I’ve always felt that he and the rest of the Food City folks were just an extension of our family here. We were in business together certainly but the relationship we had with Jack went far beyond that. He built a very successful business based on the same exemplary values and principals he lived by. He was an outstanding individual and we will miss him a great deal. All of us at BMS are thinking about the Smith family during this very difficult time and have them in our prayers.” In 1955 Smith opened his first store in his hometown of Grundy, Va., and so began his storied career in the grocery business. Now more than 50 years later, Food City stands at the top among supermarket chains serving the Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee Tri-State region and boasts nearly 100 stores. Smith built his chain upon the premise of providing superior customer service – a principle that still rings loudly throughout the Food City chain today. Food City joined Bristol Motor Speedway in 1992 and is celebrating its 15th anniversary as sponsor of the spring Nextel Cup race, The Food City 500. Food City, which also sponsors the Food City 250 Busch Series event in August, recently extended its sponsorship through 2010. Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon is in charge of the funeral service. Arrangements, however, are incomplete at this time.(BMS PR)(3-16-2007)
- Johnson’s win at Vegas #150 for Hendrick Motorsports: #48-Jimmie Johnson’s performance Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway marked the 150th points-paying Nextel Cup Series victory since 1984 for team owner Rick Hendrick. Each Hendrick win has come in a Chevrolet race car. Hendrick Motorsports 150th Cup Series win came in its 736th points-paying event (1984-present). That’s an average of one victory every 4.906 races. Hendrick Motorsports’ 150 Cup victories have been amassed by 12 different drivers: Jeff Gordon (75), Jimmie Johnson (24), Terry Labonte (12), Tim Richmond (9), Darrell Waltrip (9), Geoff Bodine (7), Ricky Rudd (4), Ken Schrader (4), Kyle Busch (3), Jerry Nadeau (1), Joe Nemechek (1) and Brian Vickers (1). Hendrick’s career total of 150 Cup wins is best among NASCAR’s modern-era car owners (1972-present). Second on the list is Jack Roush with 96 victories. Petty Enterprises is first all-time with 268 first-place finishes in Cup competition. Hendrick is second all-time. Hendrick Motorsports’ first Cup victory came April 29, 1984 at Martinsville, Va., with driver Geoff Bodine [in the #5]. Jeff Gordon notched the organization’s 50th on March 24, 1996 at Darlington, and its 100th on June 10, 2001 at MIchigan. Jimmie Johnson posted win No. 150 Sunday at Las Vegas. Car owner Rick Hendrick now has 198 combined NASCAR victories: 150 at the Cup level, 23 in the Busch Series and 25 in the Craftsman Truck Series. The total includes a 1983 Busch Series win by the late Dale Earnhardt at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in a car co-owned by Hendrick and Robert Gee. Hendrick Motorsports has earned six NEXTEL Cup championships, giving the organization more titles since 1995 than any other team in major American professional sports. With four World Series rings, the New York Yankees are second during that span, followed by the New England Patriots, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Red Wings, who each have three championships in their respective sports (1995-present). With Johnson’s win, Hendrick Motorsports has now earned at least one Cup Series victory in 22 consecutive seasons (1986-present). Rick Hendrick was not able to attend Sunday’s NEXTEL Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., for an event honoring high achievers at Hendrick Automotive Group car dealerships. Hendrick is the chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(3-16-2007)
- Klaussner steps up support of Waltrip’s #55: The new look of Klaussner Furniture Industries will make its debut this weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway with its expanded sponsorship of the #55, Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts Toyota. The logo of Klaussner Home Furnishings, Klaussner’s new consumer brand, will be prominently placed on the rear deck lid. Klaussner has supported Waltrip in a limited capacity for some time and recently chose to trade up from the window post to a more prominent placement on the car. Klaussner, which is gearing up for a new brand initiative later this year, is giving consumers and NASCAR fans a preview of its new look and new direction. More info about Klaussner Furniture at klaussner.com.(MWR PR)(3-16-2007)
- Kyle Busch visits school as part of Animal Ambassadors Program:Virginia Busch, president of the Sea World and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund teamed up today with Nextel Cup driver #5-Kyle Busch to present several unique and exotic animals to students at Luella Middle School in Locust Grove, Ga. Eighth-grade students got an up-close and personal look at a bald eagle, alligators, penguins, otters and more, all while learning about their ecosystems and how they can help protect them. Kyle Busch, who’s #5 Busch Series Chevy will be sponsored by the Sea World and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, talked to the students about his racing career as well.(AMS PR/Hendrick Motorsports)(3-16-2007)
- Chase Austin Named Development Driver for RWI: Rusty Wallace Racing Inc. officials announced that Chase Austin has joined the team’s driver development program in preparation for driving a Busch Series entry full time for the team in 2008. Austin, 17, will compete for the team in the 14-race NASCAR Busch East Series with backing from HomeLife Communities.(SceneDaily.com)(3-16-2007)
- Where’s Buckshot? Quick. Hide the women and children, and slap a straitjacket on Randy LaJoie. Buckshot Jones might be headed back to the Busch Series. After running the Snowball Derby in December, Jones is scheduled to make eight Hooters Cup races this season for DMT Motorsports owners David Bowen and Mike Phelps. It’s not a full-fledged return to the sport, but there are plans for Jones to possibly enter a couple of Busch Series events later this year at New Hampshire and Bristol.(NASCAR.com)(3-16-2007)
- XM to Be Sponsor Reutimann at Chicago: XM announced that Michael Waltrip will join racing’s biggest stars exclusively on XM Radio. Waltrip will host the half-hour weekly show “Michael Waltrip Out Loud,” exclusively on XM. Debuting on March 20, “Michael Waltrip Out Loud” will air every Tuesday night from 7:00- 7:30pm ET on XM’s sports talk radio channel XM Sports Nation (XM 144). In addition to being home to “Michael Waltrip Out Loud” show, XM will partner to become primary sponsor of Waltrip Racing’s #99 Busch Series car driven by David Reutimann for the Chicagoland race July 14.(XM Radio PR)(3-16-2007)
- Robby has a sponsor for Atlanta: Add another cellphone company to the NASCAR mix. Verizon Wireless officials plan to announce today they will work with Motorola to sponsor Robby Gordon in the [#55] Busch Series. The first-time Busch sponsorship for both companies will begin with Saturday’s Busch race at AMS. Motorola will also sponsor Gordon’s Cup #7 Ford in the Kobalt Tools 500 on Sunday. The sponsorship also includes Busch races at Charlotte, Chicago and Texas.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), see images of the scheme on the #7 Team Schemes page and 2007 Busch Series Schemes page.(3-16-2007)
- Stewart to Debut the Goody’s Cool Orange Chevy at Atlanta: Goody’s Headache Powders, the favorite pain reliever of race fans, recently introduced a revolutionary new flavor, Cool Orange. To celebrate the new flavor, Tony Stewart will drive the #20 Goody’s Cool Orange Chevy in the Nicorette 300 race this Saturday at.(Goodys PR)(3-16-2007)
- New crew chief for Setzer: Tom Ackerman has replaced Dave McCarty as crew chief for the #75 Spears Mfg. Chevy driven by Dennis Setzer. It was reported that McCarty has assumed other duties at the Spears Racing shop.(SPEED/TV)(3-16-2007)
- Cancer screening at AMS: With the recent passing of driver Bobby Hamilton from head and neck cancer, this terrible killer is all too relevant. Now Atlanta Motor Speedway is teaming with the Yul Brynner Foundation in honor of Bobby Hamilton to help race fans with free early screening for this devastating disease, which kills more than 15,000 people each year. Members of Bobby Hamilton Racing, including Lori Hamilton, wife of the late racer, will be joining the screening event to help communicate the importance of early detection. Bobby Hamilton announced during last spring’s Atlanta race that he was diagnosed with throat cancer and would begin his treatments. As Hamilton fought the disease, he became a strong advocate of early detection. It will be the second year for the screening at AMS, with six private screening rooms available in the corporate display area in front of Atlanta Motor Speedway. The screening rooms will be open Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be manned by doctors and nurses. Last year, head and neck specialists screened more than 200 race fans at AMS, catching many pre-malignant lesions and even some early cancers. (Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(3-16-2007)
- Shepherd to drive the #44 at AMS: Morgan Shepherd’s on-again, off-again race weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway is apparently back on, Faith Motorsports announced March 16. Shepherd said around noon on Friday that he had been asked to drive the #44 Sile Stone USA Chevy truck for Key Motorsports in Friday night’s American Commercial Lines 200 at AMS. [Huffman listed as driver during practice session.](Morgan Shepherd PR)(3-16-2007)
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