March 20, 2007
- DEI testing at South Boston? been told that DEI is testing the COT [Car of Tomorrow/Today] today [Tuesday, Mar 20th] at South Boston Speedway [VA] with #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #1-Martin Truex Jr. supposedly doing the testing.(3-20-2007)
- AT&T to sue NASCAR to place logos on #31 UPDATE and image:The cell-phone industry’s ruthless fight has spilled over into NASCAR, and landed squarely on the hood of Jeff Burton’s #31 Chevy. AT&T’s wireless unit, formerly known as Cingular Wireless, planned to file a lawsuit later on Friday in Atlanta’s U.S. District Court against NASCAR. The suit will center around AT&T’s sponsorship on the #31 Chevrolet driven by Burton. The car has traditionally been sponsored by Cingular, with its familiar orange paint scheme. Though federal regulators approved AT&T’s acquisition of BellSouth and its wireless unit Cingular on Dec. 29, NASCAR will not allow AT&T logos to appear on the #31 car because it would violate its current agreement with Sprint Nextel, which owns the naming right to NASCAR’s top series. “We’re filing a lawsuit to protect the right to transition from Cingular to AT&T on the #31 car,” AT&T spokesperson Clay Owen said Friday afternoon. NASCAR officials were not immediately available for comment. Burton’s car will continue to sport the Cingular Wireless paint scheme for this weekend’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-16-2007)
UPDATE: AT&T Inc., owner of the largest U.S. mobile phone carrier, sued NASCAR after meeting resistance to its efforts to replace the Cingular brand with the AT&T brand on the #31 Chevy car that the company sponsors. “NASCAR’s refusal is apparently a result of its fealty to Spring Nextel Corp., a wireless provider that, since 2004, has been lead sponsor of NASCAR’s ‘Cup Series,’ which is a series of NASCAR’s highest profile races,” stated AT&T in a complaint for injunctive relief. The complaint, filed in federal court in Atlanta, also seeks a declaratory ruling and damages. AT&T, which acquired the remaining 40% ownership of Cingular Wireless L.L.C. in its acquisition of BellSouth Corp. late last year, has a sponsorship agreement with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) that runs from 2005 through 2007, with an exclusive right to negotiate a renewal beyond 2007, the suit said. RCR owns the #31 car, which is driven by Jeff Burton. “NASCAR granted Sprint Nextel a lead sponsor of the Cup Series, exclusivity as the sole communications provider sponsoring NASCAR racing, and it is apparently on this basis that NASCAR refuses to permit RCR to alter the design of the #31 car,” the AT&T suit stated. Andrew Giangola, director of business communications for NASCAR, said the motorsports organization does not comment on litigation. However, Giangola pointed out that NASCAR’s contract with Sprint Nextel grandfathered both Cingular and Alltel Corp. into the competition, allowing Cingular and Alltel to participate in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series as team sponsors indefinitely as long as the firms did not change the scope of their sponsorship (beyond a team) or the actual name and brand on the race car. He said only the “Cingular” and “Alltel” brands are permitted on cars competing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. “This has been and remains NASCAR’s position,” said Giangola. The issue is notable as Cingular and Sprint Nextel have previously battled over a variety of issues, including advertising claims.(source: RCR Wireless News [NO affiliation with Richard Childress Racing]), see an image of the proposed Cingular/AT&T scheme on my #31 Team Schemes page.(3-20-2007) - New Chevy engine tested at Darlington: #24-Jeff Gordon completed 500 miles in one of the new Chevrolet R07 engine last week in a tire test at Darlington Raceway. “The thing looked real nice, very good,” Hendrick engine assembly director Jeff Andrews said Sunday. “We were real pleased with the performance of the engine. Jeff said the engine felt real good. It wasn’t a marketable difference in power. It was really just a reliability test of parts and castings. The encouraging thing is we’ve taken something that is virtually brand new and we’ve come out of the box with it very equal and close to that power-wise.” Chevrolet officials had hoped that teams would see RCR use the engine for a full race weekend and put it in their main cars in the next few weeks. That probably won’t happen. Wimmer likely will attempt the April 15 race at Texas with the new engine for another race simulation try. RCR engine builder Danny Lawrence speculated that RCR’s three fulltime teams could use the engine for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, a non-points event, before using the engine for a points-paying race weekend.(SceneDaily.com)(3-20-2007)
- Newman heading to a dubious record: #12-Ryan Newman won the pole for this past Friday for the Atlanta race. Doesn’t seem to translate into wins for Newman who is now on the brink of setting a modern-era record that he probably does not want. Newman has gone winless in the last 26 races that he has started from the pole. This places him in a tie for second with Ricky Rudd (who snapped his 26 race losing streak when he won from the pole at Pocono in 2001). Newman is one race shy of moving into a tie with the current record holder. Geoffrey Bodine started his losing streak at Daytona in 1982 and lost 27 consecutive races when starting from the pole. It was almost 8 years later before Bodine would be able to finally score a win from the pole (Martinsville 1990). Bodine went 0 for 27 to begin his career. He would go on to win from the pole three times in his career. Ricky Rudd went 0 for 26 to begin his career. So far, he has only one win from the pole position. Ryan Newman only went 0 for 3 before scoring his first win from the pole. He was hot for awhile, winning 3 times in his first 12 poles, then his current streak took over.(LTPicks.com)(3-20-2007)
- Robby Gordon can keep Motorola decals: Robby Gordon’s #7 Ford can run Motorola decals on his car in today’s race [at Atlanta Motor Speedway]. NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said late Saturday that an agreement had been reached that will allow Gordon to advertise Motorola’s digital audio player on his car. That solves the problem created by the original basic Motorola insignia, which was seen as a way of promoting wireless phone service. Nextel, the title sponsor of the Cup series, owns exclusive rights to promote wireless phone products. Only those wireless companies already in the sport when Nextel took over in 2004 can advertise competing products.(source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution), see the past news on Gordon having to remove the Motorola decals on my #7 Team News and Links page.
MORE: on SPEED’s RaceDay…Gordon’s car was shown, the hood now has the big Motorola logo on the hood and the name on the quarter panels, under each it reads “Digital Audio Players”.(3-18-2007)
IMAGE: and see an image of the car with the decals it ran on Sunday on the #7 Team Scheme Page.(3-20-2007) - Additech to be Featured on #80 JGR car: Additech, America’s No. 1 fuel system tune-up, expands its partnership with Joe Gibbs Driven and will be featured on a Joe Gibbs Racing Nextel Cup Car. Additech will be featured on the Joe Gibbs Driven Chevy, #80, driven by Aric Almirola. Almirola’s first attempt to qualify for a Nextel Cup race took place March 9 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where he finished forty first. Houston-based Additech has patented the only “tune-up at the pump” fuel system service. Additech’s unique fuel additive delivery system dispenses and blends world leading fuel additives into gasoline while consumers pump their gas, allowing consumers to conveniently perform routine auto maintenance while they fuel their vehicle. For more information, visit Additech’s website at www.additech.com.(PrimeNewswire)(3-20-2007)
- Sad News – Gerard Nadeau: Gerard Joseph Nadeau ‘Jerry’, 62, died Monday, March 19, 2007 at his residence. Born December 16, 1944 in Madawaska, ME, he was the son of Aurele and Imelda Nadeau. He was a veteran serving in the US Army. Mr. Nadeau was preceded in death by brothers, Robert and Reno Nadeau. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Pauline Cyr Nadeau; daughter, Debbie Fink and husband, David, of Parrish, FL; son, Jerry Nadeau of Davidson, NC; brothers, Gilman Nadeau and wife, Huguette, of Waterbury, CT, John Nadeau and wife, Rachel, Philip Nadeau and wife, Mildred, Ronald Nadeau all of Madawaska, ME, Roger Nadeau of New Britain, CT, and Norman Nadeau of West Palm Beach, FL; sisters, Patricia Prue and husband, Lewis, of Fort Fairfield, ME, Nancy D’Allaire and husband, Jean-Pierre, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Joan Medlin and husband, Wallace, of Maner, TN, Betty-Ann Caron and husband, Francois of Baker Lake, Canada, Rena-Mae Voisine and husband, Brian, of Fort Kent, ME; granddaughter, Pepere’s Little Angel, Natalie Kate Nadeau. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, March 23, at St. Therese Catholic Church. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00-9:00 pm at the funeral home. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Community Home Care & Hospice of Cornelius, 9606 Bailey Road, Suite 230, Cornelius, NC 28031. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Victory Junction Camp, 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, NC 27317 or Miry Brook Fire Department Company #13 Ladies Aux., Miry Brook Road, Danbury, CT 06810. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Nadeau family.(jerry-nadeau.com)(3-20-2007)
- Timothy Peters Returns to #21 at Bristol: Peters is scheduled to be behind the wheel of the #21 AutoZone Chevrolet for the next six races and 11 of the next 12. Between this weekend’s Sharpie Mini 300 and the June 23 AT&T 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, the May 11 Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington will be the only race he’ll miss.(RCR PR)(3-20-2007)
- Kevin Conway to Make Debut with Joe Gibbs Racing at Bristol: California Dreamin’ finally turns to racing reality for driver Kevin Conway this weekend as he straps himself behind the wheel of Joe Gibbs Racing’s #18 Z-Line Designs Chevy for Saturday’s Sharpie Mini 300 at Bristol. As the newest member of the JGR driver lineup, Conway feels more than ready for his greatest racing opportunity to date. Saturday’s Sharpie Mini 300 will be his first of eight scheduled Busch Series events of 2007 in the #18 Z-Line Designs Chevy.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(3-20-2007)
- Clauson to Make Stock Car Debut: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates development driver Bryan Clauson will make his stock car debut in the ARCA race Saturday at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla. The 17-year-old racer will pilot the #40 Memorex Dodge in his first stock car appearance, which will also mark Memorex’ first motorsports event as a primary sponsor. The Memorex brand will assume primary sponsorship of the #41 Busch Series Dodge later this year during the final 10 races of the 2007 Busch schedule. Clauson will drive seven of those 10 races, sharing the ride with Reed Sorenson.(CGRFS PR)(3-20-2007)
- Raybestos Rookie Notes for Bristol: Juan Pablo Montoya was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Nicorette 300 at Atlanta. Montoya finished eighth, his second top-10 finish in nine career Busch Series races. He took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second time this season and was the only first-year driver to finish inside the top-10. For the first time this season, Montoya took the lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings. He holds a five-point edge over Marcos Ambrose (58-53) entering the Sharpie Mini 300 at Bristol. FACT OF THE WEEK: Montoya is the only driver to simultaneously lead the Raybestos Rookie standings in both the Nextel Cup Series and the Busch Series since the rookie program was created in Busch in 1989. Two Raybestos Rookies rank inside the top-10 in the Busch Series championship standings. The most recent race where two or more rookies were in the top-10 was the 2006 Stater Bros. 300 at California (Todd Kluever was fifth followed by Burney Lamar in sixth). Ambrose is seventh in the series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.(Raybestos PR)(3-20-2007)
- Innovex Golf Joins Kevin Hamlin: Innovex Golf announced their alliance with NASCAR Busch Series driver Kevin Hamlin [#42]. The two way partnership is designed to help further Hamlin’s career while expanding the Innovex Golf brand to a wide audience.(Innovex PR) Hamlin will drive the #42 for Chip Ganassi Racing in all the Busch stand-alone events this year.(3-20-2006)
- Joe Ruttman named Co-Driver of the #18: The management team at Bobby Hamilton Racing, along with input from Fastenal and Dodge Motorsports, are proud to announce Joe Ruttman as the co-driver [along with Ken Schrader] for the #18 Fastenal Dodge. Ruttman, who is tied for seventh on the all-time NCTS race winners list, is no stranger to BHR. The Tennessee native piloted the #18 Dodge for the late Bobby Hamilton organization in 2000 and 2001. Ruttman is slated to drive the #18 Fastenal Dodge in seven of the final 22 races on the circuit. His first start will be next month in Kansas City. Texas, Milwaukee, Memphis, Kentucky, Nashville and Gateway are tentatively set to complete his schedule.(Bobby Hamilton Racing PR)(3-20-2007)
- Benson & 360 OTC team up at Martinsville: Johnny Benson will be sporting a green machine in two weeks for the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. He will be representing Team Green with 360 OTC adorning the sides of the #23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota for the first of a scheduled ten races with the sponsorship.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(3-20-2007)
- Officials check trucks at Atlanta: UPDATE: Also Rick Crawford’s #14: NASCAR officials tested the horsepower of five Craftsman Truck Series entries following the American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday night. Brendan Gaughan’s #77-South Point Racing Chevy, Ken Schrader’s #18-Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge, Todd Bodine’s #30-Germain Racing Toyota, Matt Crafton’s #88-ThorSport Racing Chevy and #13-Willie Allen’s ThorSport Racing Chevy were tested on the chassis dyno machine in the garage immediately after the race.(Scene Daily)(3-18-2007)
UPDATE: Rick Crawford’s #14-Power Stroke Diesel by Int’l Ford was also tested on the dyno following the race at Atlanta.(3-20-2007) - Lester to run Grand Prix of Miami: The Craftsman Truck Series has a weekend off but Bill Lester is scheduled to be behind the wheel of a Daytona prototype car [#12-RVO Motorsports Pontiac] in the Rolex Sports Car Series, Linder Industrial Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami race at Homestead-Miami Speedway’s 2.3 mile, 11-turn road course; March 22-24, 2007.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(3-20-2007)
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