March 16, 2005
- No Dodge win at AMS since 1977: did you know, the last time a Cup race at Atlanta was won in a Dodge was in 1977 by, who else….Richard Petty. I still had a full head of hair…(3-16-2005)
- Combo’s for Sadler this week: Elliott Sadler will sport a special paint scheme this weekend as the #38 Ford will be painted with Combos — The Official Cheese Filled Snack of NASCAR. This is the first of three appearances the Combos Brand will make this season on the #38 RYR Ford.(Elevation Group of Companies PR/M&M’s PR)(3-16-2005)
IMAGE see an image of the scheme on my #38 Team Schemes page.(3-16-2005) - Snap-On Tools to be featured on the #07 at Atlanta IMAGE: Snap-on Tools Company will be the primary sponsor of driver Dave Blaney and Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) #07 Chevrolet in the March 20 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jack Daniel’s, the team’s fulltime primary sponsor, will assume a secondary role in the one-race program designated to commemorate Snap-on’s 85th year as a worldwide leader dedicated to supplying professional tool users with unmatched quality and innovation. The move also opens up an opportunity for both Snap-On and Jack Daniel’s to explore the potential of a business-to-business relationship. Since 1994, RCR teams have utilized Snap-on tools exclusively in the shop and at the race track. Headquartered in Kenosha, Wis., organization also supplies RCR with custom-built work stations. About Snap-on Tools . For info on the Snap-on Tools Company, see snapon.com.(RCR)(3-15-2005)
IMAGE see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(3-16-2005) - McClure and #73 part ways? UPDATE: hearing that driver Eric McClure and the #73 Raabe Racing Enterprises have parted ways, the team is not listed on Atlanta entry list. No word on plans for the team or McClure….if true.(3-15-2005)
UPDATE: Larry McClure, President and Team Manager of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, Inc. announced today that effective immediately, the organization and driver Eric McClure have parted ways with Raabe Racing Enterprises. “With two consecutive top 25 finishes the #4 car is running well and we are working together as a team. Accordingly, all of our effort is focused on finishing in the top 25 for the season points championship,” said Larry McClure. “Eric will serve as a test driver and we will continue to look for marketing partners to launch our driver development program in the NASCAR Busch Series or the Craftsman Truck Series.”(Morgan-McClure Motorsports)(3-16-2005) - Charlotte try HOF gets a leader – Hendrick: Regional political and business leaders vowed Tuesday to produce a successful bid for a proposed NASCAR Hall of Fame, unveiling a powerful lineup of motorsports industry executives backing the campaign, including veteran team owner Rick Hendrick. NASCAR racing “was born here, it was built here and it belongs here,” Hendrick said at a press conference held at the team race shop. “We’re going to win this race.” Hendrick will spearhead a group of local and regional leaders working on the project. Charlotte is competing with six other cities and regions for the hall of fame. The competitors are Atlanta; Kansas City, Mo.; Richmond, Va.; Talladega/Birmingham, Ala.; Daytona, Fla.; and an undisclosed location in Michigan. Joining Hendrick as honorary grand marshals are Gov. Mike Easley, U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole, N.C. House Speaker Jim Black, N.C. Senate President Pro-Tem Marc Basnight, Congressman Mel Watt and NASCAR team owner {#40, #41, #42] Felix Sabates. Others involved include Mayor Pat McCrory, Bank of America Corp. executive Cathy Bessant and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority board Chairman Luther Cochrane. Bids are due May 31, with a decision expected by year end. NASCAR has intentionally left request for proposals vague, encouraging each community to be creative with its hall of fame ideas. The sanctioning body is not expected to pay for land and construction costs or ongoing operations costs. McCrory declined comment Tuesday on potential public funding sources. He said a range of scenarios are under consideration, though sources close to the talks anticipate a significant public funding component. General Assembly members have expressed support, though the state faces a $1.3 billion budget deficit this year. Similarly, local government funds could be hard to find. A $147 million cultural arts request from city and county government has been met with extensive questions and concerns, and both local governments also face tough budget decisions this year. Organizers decline comment on potential sites and other details. They anticipate releasing those plans later this spring.(Charlotte Business Journal)(3-16-2005)
- Taxes on Drivers in TN? Legislation that would impose taxes and license fees on professional athletes in Tennessee hit a wall Tuesday with race drivers and officials at Bristol Motor Speedway. Four bills currently before the state General Assembly seek to impose registration or licensing fees for all professional athletes and coaches, along with taxes ranging from $400 to $2,500 each. Another bill would charge $400 per $100,000 of annual adjusted gross income. The bills, all introduced by legislators from the Memphis area, are aimed at players and coaches for the state’s three professional franchises – the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the NHL’s Nashville Predators. But if approved, the measures would also apply to minor league baseball players and anyone who receives prize money at any auto race track in the state.(Bristol Herald Courier)(3-16-2005)
- Testing at Texas: Texas Motor Speedway will be the center of testing activity the next three weeks as NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series teams prepare for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 weekend April 14-17. The quest for Victory Lane in the April 16 O’Reilly 300 NASCAR Busch Series race and the April 17 Samsung/RadioShack 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event will result in six days of testing as teams prepare for race weekend.
Drivers scheduled to test at Texas Motor Speedway include #44-Terry Labonte, #45-Kyle Petty, #5-Kyle Busch, Mark Martin (Busch car) on March 22; #40-Sterling Marlin, #12-Ryan Newman, #07-Dave Blaney, #44-Labonte, #45-Petty, #5-Busch, Martin (Busch) and Reed Sorenson (Busch) on March 23; #07-Blaney, #40-Marlin, #12-Newman on March 24; #91-Bill Elliott, #36-Boris Said on March 29 and 30; and #2-Rusty Wallace on April 5. All test sessions are closed to the public.(TMS)(3-16-2005) - Inside CAT Racing Available: The 2005 edition of “Inside CAT Racing” is ready to roll. The fourth annual edition of the 52-page collectible publication features driver Scott Wimmer, crew chief Derrick Finley, owner Bill Davis and many of their Bill Davis Racing teammates. Don’t miss your chance to go behind the scenes at BDR to learn more about what happens from checkered flag to green flag every week. You can order copies of “Inside Cat Racing – 2005” by going to www.insidecatracing.com. The first three annual editions are also still available. “Inside Cat Racing – 2005” is authorized by Caterpillar Inc. and produced by Shamrock Communications Group, LLC.(Bill Davis Racing)(3-16-2005)
- Newman Crew Wins at Las Vegas: Penske Racing South’s crew for the #12 Dodge of Ryan Newman has collected the $10,000 prize for the fastest pit work in Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway among teams participating in the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-16-2005)
- #200 For Sprague: Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Jack Sprague is poised to set another milestone in his racing career. Sprague will become only the second driver in series history to make 200 NCTS starts when the green flag waves over the field of the World Financial Group 200 March 18th at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “It is always an honor to set a record or achieve a milestone in NASCAR racing,” said Sprague. “The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is where I really got the opportunity to build a career in this sport and it has always held a special place in my heart. It is a tremendous place to race. I know (Rick) Crawford hit the 200 mark before me and his are consecutive but it is still cool that just he and I are at that mark right now.” Sprague held the record for consecutive starts from the NCTS inception in 1995 through the end of the 2001 season but left the series for opportunities in both NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series competition. He returned to full-time NCTS competition at the beginning of the 2004 season behind the wheel of the #16 Xpress Motorsports Chevy Trucks Silverado as a member of GM Racing’s Team Silverado. He picked up right where he left off, continuing to set records. He now holds the record for the most pole positions won, 26 total and sits second on the all-time win list with 24, moving to just two victories away from the record of 26 held by Ron Hornaday.(GM PR)(3-16-2005)
- Bobby Labonte to Kick Off 2005 Chevrolet Silverado All Star Program: 2000 NASCAR Cup Champion Bobby Labonte will kick off the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado All Star program behind the wheel of the Chevrolet “Nashville” All Star Phil Vassar Silverado on March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The World Financial Group 200 will be Labonte’s fourth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) start and his third as the driver of the Morgan-Dollar Motorsports fielded #47 Silverado. Country music star Phil Vassar, whose latest Arista Nashville album “Shaken Not Stirred” will highlight the paint scheme of the #47 Silverado, has been named the Grand Marshal of the race and will kick off event number three of the 2005 NCTS season with his rendition our “National Anthem.” In addition, Vassar will serve as the honorary starter of the race waving the green flag as the 36-truck field thunders out of turn four. Joining Chevrolet Silverado and Vassar as a partner on Labonte’s truck is the Nashville Visitors and Convention Bureau. “Nashville” will be featured for the first time in a major NASCAR series on the rear quarter panels of the #47 at the Atlanta event. Veteran crew chief Randy Goss will again head up the #47 team. Goss served as the crew chief on the #47 throughout the 2004 season that included the seven Chevy Silverado Celebrity All Star races and two driver development races (J.J. Yeley at Michigan and Kyle Busch, Indianapolis Raceway Park). Under his leadership, in nine NCTS 2004 starts, the #47 has an impressive record including four top-five finishes; four top-10s and seven top-15 finishes. Goss’ impressive NASCAR record includes championship-winning efforts in both the NCTS and NBS with driver Greg Biffle. Chevrolet Silverado and Morgan-Dollar Motorsports teamed to bring the All Star program to fans at seven NCTS events during the 2004 season-with several more to follow in 2005.(GM PR)(3-16-2005)
- #15 Gets Sponsor for Atlanta: Shane Hmiel and Billy Ballew are once again relying on support from the greater Atlanta area in order to field Hmiel’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry in this Friday’s World Financial Group 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Six different Georgia based companies have pooled their funds to provide the much needed sponsorship dollars to allow Hmiel to wheel the #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado this weekend. D and D Aviation, The Terry Reid Automotive Group, Alpharetta Self-Storage, GCR Tires, Woodard Pools and Spas and Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill are the other Georgia based companies helping to back Hmiel’s efforts. The one lone contributor from outside the Peach State is Mannhiem’s Central Florida Auto Auction.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(3-16-2005)
- New Crew Chief for the #13: ThorSport Racing says Shane Tesch has been named crew chief for its #13 Chevrolet driven by Tracy Hines in the Craftsman Truck Series. The team also announced that David Zoriki Motorsports has become an associate sponsor. Financial terms were not announced..(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-16-2005)
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